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MN hockey teams aiming to help pediatric hospitals
Through the nonprofit, Hockey Kids4Kids, local youth hockey players have been raising money for pediatric hospitals. FOX 9's Leah Beno has the story.
ROSEVILLE, Minn. (FOX 9) - Coaching for mor than two decades, and with the Roseville Raiders since 2017, the scoring and stick handling are only part of what coach Mike Nelson and his team are proud of.
"I'm so proud of the kids because they've gotten to the point now where they know if they're going to play on our team at the beginning of the season, that that's going to be part of it," says Nelson.
Nelson’s team, and parents work season after season to help some of the most medically fragile kids in the metro who may never lace up a pair of skates. Through the nonprofit Hockey Kids 4 Kids, the Raiders have been surpassing fundraising records year after year for Gillette Children's Hospital.
To date, the bantam team has raised $29,000. Last year alone, it raised more than $10,000. Players help with anything the team can think of: raffles, leaf raking, and new this season, a goal of $12,000, and bracelets as fast as the puck drops.
"I think a game or two, we got like we raised $180 in one game, and it was great," says Gabe Young, first year player on the team. "We're going to keep chipping away at our goal. I think it was like $12,000? We're going to keep chipping away at it over and over and over this entire season."
Who are they helping?
By coincidence, one player on the Raiders happens to already know the value of medical personnel at Gillette Children's Hospital. His brother, Easton, is a patient who spent 109 days in the ICU when he was born, and the family moved to the metro years ago, in large part to the closer to the hospital. Last year, Easton took center ice to help celebrate his big brother’s team's ongoing fundraising efforts.
"I feel grateful for a lot of stuff that shows me how grateful I should be of what I can do, all for I am, and all that kind of stuff," says Kayden Zietlow.
"He's got a degree and loves to teach, and it kind of helps people see like, 'hey, I can walk just fine on my feet. What if I look over at this kid? He's struggling.' ‘I can go over there. and I can help him.’ And it helps teach him more empathy," says Easton and Kayden’s mom, Lisa Zietlow.
Fundraising totals
Since Hockey 4 Kids started, it’s grown to include 150 teams who have collectively raised roughly $200,000. Each team that raises more than $500 gets their name added to a drawing for a suite at a Wild game.
"I just feel it’s a part of our duty, and a part of making a difference. And helping those who are in valleys in life," says Blaze Credit Union CEO Dan Stoltz "We’ve all been in the valley’s, so this program, it teaches youth how to give back, but it’s also a greater good for Minnesota."
How is the money used?
As Stephen Bariteua, Gillette Children’s Executive Vice President of Philanthropy explains, the money from this and any similar youth fundraising mainly goes toward research and helping patients financially afford critically needed care.
"The ability to provide pet therapy, child therapy, none of that is reimbursable, so the funds need to come from somewhere and our donors step up and help with that," says Bariteua.
Back at practice, inspired players and parents are thankful for what this team is offering the team in a variety of ways, while Coach Nelson has his sights set on a new season goal, the biggest goal yet… and that's the point.
"Growing up, you know, playing sports, we're competitive., and what we did last year isn't good enough," says Nelson. "So we've got to continue to grow. That's kind of a message that we teach our hockey players on the ice is, you know what, what was good enough last week isn't going to be good enough this week. And we got to continue to progress and get better. And that's the same. We have to, we have to do that same thing in life if we're going to try to teach it in hockey."
Why you should care:
If you or your hockey team are interested in getting involved, there is still time this season to get involved.
The Raiders have a fundraising event they are organizing, coming on Jan. 16 and 25.
To get involved in Hockey Kids 4 Kids, and enter to win a suite at a Wild game click here.