MN Wild Deaf/HOH and Players from the US Women's National Deaf Team Scrimmage

We conducted a closed adult only scrimmage between our team, some players from the US Women’s National Deaf Team and some outside former high school/college level players on Saturday, March 30th. The scrimmage was originally scheduled to help build some camaraderie between the US Players before they head off to the World Championship in Buffalo next week.  The scrimmage was our first for our group and provide a good workout and taste of what’s to come for them.

The three women are:

1. Paige Downey (Freshman at White Bear Lake High School, member of the Varsity Team and one of our program participants)

2. Kailey Niccum (Sophomore at UW River Falls and a member of the 2024 Women’s National Championship and undefeated Team)

3. Jessica Goldberg (Former Hamline University Player, was co-captain and played on several US Gold Medal winning deaf teams, and currently is an assistant coach in Eden Prairie youth program.)

From our team we had: Shawn Vriezen, Billy May, David Uzzell, Alex Zeibot, Cullen Keath, Justin Small, Chris Smith, Kole Kaemer and Will Cariveau.  In addition, we had BJ Vriezen and Lisa Holton as our interpreters.

Photo Credit: Paul Downey

Minnesota Wild Hold Diversified Hockey Celebration on Sunday, March 10

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Wild today announced details of a Diversified Hockey Celebration presented by Gillette Children’s on Sunday, March 10, when it hosts the Nashville Predators at 2:30 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center on TNT and KFAN 100.3 FM.

Minnesota Diversified Hockey enables athletes to participate with other skaters with similar interests and abilities in the disciplines of: Blind Hockey, Deaf/Hard of Hearing Hockey, Special Hockey, Sled Hockey, and Warrior Hockey. Each of these programs incorporate elements that are unlike the typical sport of hockey, but at their core, they are designed to ensure hockey truly is for everybody.

The Wild will dedicate several elements of its game to various Diversified Hockey organizations that provide opportunities for as many people as possible to play hockey:

• Brady Hadfield, a 15-year-old blind hockey player from Annadale, Minn., will be the Flag Bearer. He will be skating out with his dad, Nick Hadfield

• Jimmy Trenary, a 16-year-old member of the Minnesota Wild Sled Hockey team from Bloomington, Minn., will perform the “Let’s Play Hockey!” call.

• Diversified Hockey players will take the ice during the first and second intermissions and will be selling game programs and receive a $1,500 Minnesota Wild grant to benefit their respective programs

• 1st intermission will be Blind Hockey

• 2nd intermission will be Special Hockey

• Fist Bump, Bench Buddies, and some Zamboni rides will also be filled by Diversified Players

• Proceeds from the “Split the Pot Raffle” will benefit the Edina Community Foundation for MN Sled Hockey.

The following groups will have information tables throughout the concourse:

• Minnesota Wild Deaf/Hard of Hearing Hockey

• Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey

• Minnesota Warriors Hockey

• Minnesota Wild Sled Hockey

• Minnesota Wild Special Hockey

• Gillette Children’s

• Hendrickson Foundation

The Minnesota Wild and the Minnesota Wild Foundation continue to support numerous programs and initiatives that help provide as many people as possible the opportunity to play hockey in a positive and inclusive environment. Some of the programs and initiatives the organization supports include: Hendrickson Foundation, Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey, Minnesota Wild Sled Hockey Association, Minnesota Wild Special Hockey, Minnesota Warriors Ice Hockey Program, and Minnesota Wild Deaf/Hard of Hearing Hockey.

Tournament Prep Session

The Tournament Prep Session is free and designed for those players of all ages and abilities interested in participating on the MN Wild Deaf/HOH Hockey Team. The Tournament Prep Session will be finalized later in the year and details will be announced on our website www.MNWildDeafHockey.com and social media channels @MNDeafHockey

The tournament prep sessions are designed to help prepare players for game strategy and situations with a goal of playing several scrimmage games in May/June with other teams. The major events are in June and include the Hendrickson Foundation Hockey Festival in early June at the Blaine Super Rink and the American Hearing-Impaired Hockey Association (AHIHA) Hockey School in Bensenville, Illinois. The AHIHA Hockey School is a weeklong event held from June 9 through June 16, 2024. There is no charge to attend the AHIHA Hockey School, however you will be responsible for travel, meals, and lodging expenses. The Hendrickson Foundation Festival and the AHIHA Hockey School are independently run organizations and are not affiliated with the MN Wild Deaf/HOH Hockey Association.

More information regarding Hendrickson Foundation and AHIHA Hockey School can be found at hendricksonfoundation.com and ahiha.org.