For a smaller association, St. Louis Park isn’t acting as such.

The Association is in it’s third year fielding teams at the AA level for Bantam and PeeWee’s, and is growing the game among younger ages.  

In December, the Hockey Association and City of St. Louis Park will open a new outdoor refrigerated rink adjacent to the two indoor rinks at the Rec Center.  The Association committed over $1 million to the project and was the catalyst to building it.

Through grassroots marketing, and a strong charitable gaming operation, Park is able to recruit and retain families to the association by subsidizing every player to some degree, and offering generous scholarship program.

The Association is doubling down on youth hockey, which seems to be counter to what news has been out of other smaller, inner ring suburbs.  

“Park has a lot of pride, and from Eric Rassmussen, to the Passolt family, the history of hockey in the community is deep and rich,” St. Louis Park Association President Blois Olson said. 

The Association has made the strategic decision to field teams at the highest level offered, which aligns with the move of St. Louis Park High School to AA from A by the Minnesota State High School League.

“We are surrounded by Associations that have double or triple the numbers we do, but eventually we have to play them, we shouldn’t wait until high school,” Olson wisely said.

This year SLP will field 4 squirt teams, 3 pee wee, 3 bantam, a Jr. Gold and 3 girls teams in partnership with Hopkins.  

This summer the city replaced the refrigeration at both indoor rinks, as well as upgraded lighting and other amenities in both rinks.

The Association is exploring a more recreation-focused program trying to recruit squirt and pee wee age youth that didn’t start skating until later or want to try hockey on a less intensive level than traveling.

“The diversity here is unlike any other strong hockey suburb, we should take the opportunity to introduce these kids to this amazing game,” Olson said.

Park plans to provide association sponsored free hockey during winter breaks and on days off of school, as well as partnering with the city to ensure there is ample free hockey time.  In addition to adding ice time for practices, the Association will sponsor.

The ice is opening early, after the roof was delayed for this season, for the 2017-2018 season the new outdoor rink will be covered.  During the summer the facility will have turf for other sports teams in St. Louis Park, as well as host community concerts and events.