Mike Snee stepped to the stage in Minnesota with the steady presence of someone who has spent his entire career building hockey from the ground up. His work with the Minnesota Wild Foundation, his years guiding College Hockey Inc., and his long history within Minnesota’s grassroots hockey system give him a unique perspective on what makes the game thrive at every level.
"Community hockey is not perfect, but it is a special place."
Snee opened his session by introducing Skate It Forward, an initiative designed to preserve, strengthen, and celebrate community hockey across the state. For Snee, this mission goes far beyond nostalgia. It is about protecting a model that has served generations of players and families.
Snee described what defines Minnesota’s community hockey structure. It is built on nonprofit local associations, a vibrant and connected statewide culture, and a network of not for profit arenas that keep the game accessible. He even extended this identity to parts of western Wisconsin and North Dakota, where the same values guide how communities approach the sport.
To measure the health of this model, he outlined five areas that matter most.
- The number of players in the system
- The quality of their development and how many reach their potential
- The financial cost for families and the additional hidden costs that affect accessibility
- How meaningful and inspirational the experience is for young people.
He supported each point with hard data, showing exactly where Minnesota stands and where the warning signs appear.
Every slide and visual Snee used in his presentation is available here.
Even with the state leading the country in participation and arena development, Snee reminded us that nothing is guaranteed. More arenas are being built or upgraded in Minnesota than the rest of the nation combined, but the pressure from for profit programs, distant Tier 1 teams, and travel heavy models continues to pull boys away from their hometown communities. Prep schools, academies, online schooling and relocation all contribute to a growing trend that could erode the foundation that built Minnesota hockey in the first place.
He made one comparison that stayed with us.
"The way Minnesota plays its hockey is the way the rest of the country plays its football."
That line captured the entire message. Community hockey is cultural. It is part of the identity. And if the model shifts too far toward business, the community connection that makes it special will fade.
Snee closed with a clear challenge. We need to work together to preserve, strengthen, and celebrate community hockey. We need to understand the numbers, recognize the risks, and take action before the model becomes something unrecognizable.
Coaches’ Challenge: Take an honest look at the system around you. Who can access the game easily and who cannot. What opportunities are available in your community and which ones are drifting away. Use Snee’s five measurements to guide your thinking and look for one action you can take to help keep community hockey strong, accessible, and meaningful for the next generation.
Noteworthy timestamps:
- 0:00 Background
- 2:15 Community hockey in Minnesota
- 4:35 How healthy is it?
- 6:00 The State of Hockey stats
- 14:10 Much more than just development
- 19:30 Statewide culture of not-for-profit arenas
- 22:30 Reasons for concern
- 28:05 Skate it Forward
