Mankato, MN (August 27, 2024)—The Hockey Day Minnesota (HDM) 2022 Grow the Game Fund of the Mankato Area Foundation announced its largest grant since its inception to support the mission of growing the game of youth hockey in the Greater Mankato Area. 

The Mankato Area Hockey Association (MAHA) will receive $50,000 to support its capital campaign to create a new dryland training room as part of the renovations at All Seasons Arena. The new space will provide more off-ice opportunities for players to grow and develop their skills.

The Fund also pledged an additional $50,000 in matching funds for the Dryland Training Room project to encourage community involvement with the MAHA’s fundraising campaign.

“The Hockey Day Minnesota 2022 Grow the Game Fund committee is proud to support MAHA to help grow the game of hockey by providing young athletes with the training and resources needed to develop their skills off the ice, fostering a deeper love for the sport and building the foundation for the next generation of hockey players in our community,” said Michelle Schooff, Co-Chair, Hockey Day Minnesota, Mankato. “We are proud to invest in the future of the sport, offering young players the tools and environment to improve their strength, agility, and passion for hockey, both on and off the ice.”

The Hockey Day Minnesota Grow the Game 2022 fund was established at the Mankato Area Foundation through of the generous support and sponsorship of Hockey Day Minnesota, Mankato.

Committee members created the fund to support growing the game of hockey in the area so that everyone has a chance to play. The Mankato Knights Adaptive Floor Hockey Team received the first grant from the fund earlier this year.

“Our partnership with the Mankato Area Foundation to help manage grant requests and awards from our Hockey Day 2022 Grow the Game fund has been paramount in helping us address the needs of our local hockey community,” said David Wittenberg, Co-Chair, Hockey Day Minnesota, Mankato. “Our collaboration has helped us fund programs that positivity impact adaptive floor hockey and youth hockey needs. We are proud to support the development of young athletes, but also foster a sense of community, teamwork, and shared commitment to the future of the sport.”