Youth Hockey Teams Raise $26K for Gillette Children's

Thirteen youth hockey teams throughout Minnesota used the same teamwork so important for success on the ice to support kids with bone, brain, and movement conditions being treated by Gillette Children’s in Saint Paul. This year’s total was $26,576.83.

Blaze Hockey Kids4Kids, an award-winning collaboration between Blaze Credit Union, the Minnesota Wild, and Wild captain Jared Spurgeon, inspired youth hockey teams to use their own creative ideas to raise awareness and funds for Gillette Children’s. This is the sixth year for the program which was introduced during the Wild’s 2017-2018 season. In the six years that Hockey Kids4Kids has been in existence, over $175,000 has been raised for Gillette Children’s.

Teams that raised $500 or more qualified for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind team party in a suite to see the Minnesota Wild vs. the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, March 30. The 12U girls team from Princeton/Becker/Big Lake was selected at random from all eligible teams to receive the party, rides on the Minnesota Wild Zamboni, and a meet-and-greet with Jared Spurgeon and his teammates. 

Every player from a team that raised at least $500 received a custom Minnesota Wild - Hockey Kids4Kids cap and all participating teams were invited to a private skating party, at the Xcel Energy Center, compliments of Blaze Credit Union.

Roseville Bantam B1 team led the overall fundraising efforts for the season, bringing in $10,247 for Hockey Kids4Kids. Five other teams - West St. Paul Warriors, White Bear Lake 10U, Osseo Maple Grove (OMGHA) U12A, Chanhassen Chaska (CCHA) Pee Wee B1 Purple, and Eden Prairie 12U - all raised over $1,000. Hockey Kids4Kids also received a $5,000 contribution from the Minnesota Wild Foundation.

“Each year we see teams and communities throughout the State of Hockey make a commitment to support kids who can’t do so many of the things that we take for granted due to serious medical conditions and injuries,” said Dave Boden, Blaze Credit Union President and Chief Transformation Officer.  “Hockey Kids4Kids was created to help young athletes learn the power of teamwork and joy of community service.  Gillette Children’s is a special place and the work they do is incredible. We thank every player, coach and parent from every team who gave their time and effort to support the patients and families at Gillette Children’s.

Hockey Kids4Kids is open to youth hockey teams in Minnesota certified by Minnesota Hockey, and/or the Minnesota State High School League. This year’s participants include:

Bemidji PeeWee B1 Blue
Chaska Chan PeeWee B1
Eden Prairie 12UA
Greenway MiniMite White 
Hibbing-Chisholm PeeWee B       
OMGHA U12A
Pine City Dragons
Princeton BBL 12U
Rogers YHA Sharks
Roseville Bantam B1
Waconia Wildcats PeeWee 
West St. Paul Warriors
White Bear Lake 10UA

About Gillette Children's

Founded in 1897, Gillette Children's, based in St. Paul, MN was the first hospital in the nation for kids who have disabilities. Last year, nearly 25,000 families with children facing such complex medical conditions as cerebral palsy, epilepsy and traumatic brain injury, trusted Gillette to help their children thrive. Gillette tailors its care model specifically to the needs of its patient and family community so they can achieve their highest potential.