In this episode of Puck Academy, host Jason Jacobs interviews Mike Snee, Vice President of Foundation and Community Relations for the Minnesota Wild. Mike speaks about his extensive career in hockey, including his tenure as Executive Director of College Hockey Inc. and Minnesota Hockey. He discusses the unique community-oriented model of hockey in Minnesota, emphasizing the importance of public ice facilities and local participation. The conversation also explores the challenges of maintaining this model amidst the privatization of youth sports, and why it is crucial to preserving and growing the sport in Minnesota. Additionally, Mike explains the new 'Skate It Forward' initiative aimed at making hockey more accessible and ensuring continuous player participation across the state.

00:00 Introduction to Puck Academy

00:15 Meet Mike Snee: A Hockey Visionary

01:34 Mike's Journey in Hockey

01:58 The Minnesota Hockey Model

02:06 Community vs. Privatized Youth Sports

06:20 Mike's Early Life and Hockey Passion

12:07 The State of Hockey: Minnesota's Unique Approach

23:05 The Role of Community Ice Facilities

30:38 Comparing Rink Ownership Models: Massachusetts vs. Minnesota

32:20 Philanthropy in Minnesota Hockey: The Skated Forward Initiative

33:52 Making Hockey Accessible: Overcoming Cost Barriers

36:35 The Big Wild Program: Introducing Kids to Hockey

38:14 The Minnesota Model: Community-Based Hockey Development

39:44 Historical Context: The Evolution of Hockey in Minnesota

43:16 Challenges and Opportunities: Privatized vs. Community Hockey

45:38 The Importance of Youth Participation in Hockey

47:48 Minnesota's Success: Producing Top-Level Hockey Players

56:38 Concluding Thoughts: The Future of Minnesota Hockey

Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

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