SAINT PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild, in partnership with Hy-Vee, Inc., Minnesota Hockey, CCM, Pure Hockey, the NHL, and the NHLPA announced today that registration for the 2019 Little Wild Learn To Play Program will open at 10 a.m. CT on Monday, May 20 at www.wild.com/littlewild. In its sixth season, the 2019 Little Wild Learn To Play Program will visit 20 locations across the State of Hockey.
     The program has helped Minnesota Hockey grow its participation numbers for 8U players to more than 18,800 in each of the past two seasons, the most in the country. The Little Wild Learn To Play Program, presented by Hy-Vee, is for first-time boys and girls hockey players. Eligible participants must be between the ages of 5-8 as of Sept. 1, 2019. There is a limit of 60 participants per location.
     Previous Little Wild participants and children who have played organized hockey are ineligible to participate. Those in violation of this rule will not be able to participate and their registration fees will not be refunded.
     For $130, participants will receive four, one-hour on-ice sessions led by the Minnesota Hockey American Development Model team, a full set of CCM hockey equipment, and a free ticket to a Minnesota Wild pre-season home game. Kids who do not have skating experience are encouraged to take skating lessons prior to their first Little Wild on-ice session. Keith Ballard will continue as the NHL Alumni Learn to Play Local Manager. He will assist with on-ice instruction and provide guidance for first-time hockey parents at as many locations as possible.
     The Minnesota Wild will host Little Wild Appreciation Night at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019.
     Each Little Wild participant will receive a free ticket to the Wild preseason game that night. Each participant may purchase up to two additional tickets. 
     Equipment fittings will take place at Pure Hockey in Burnsville August 9-11 and 16-18. Registered participants will receive an email this summer with details on how to schedule a fitting. Dates are subject to change. 
     The EDHC program dates are held on four consecutive Sundays, starting on September 8. All sessions start at 2:45 PM and last one hour.