The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild announced that it is partnering with the Prairie Island Indian Community and Treasure Island Resort and Casino to celebrate Native American Heritage Day on Friday, November 29, when it hosts the Chicago Blackhawks at 1 p.m.
In alignment with the Native American Heritage game on Friday, the Wild Foundation will host a Native American Heritage Celebration auction. The auction will feature Native American Heritage themed memorabilia including new, unworn jerseys, locker room nameplates, baseball hats and mini helmets autographed by the members of the 2024 Minnesota Wild. Proceeds will benefit the Wild Foundation. For more information go to www.wild.com/onlineauctions.
The Wild will showcase the Native American Heritage Game through various in-game presentations and community initiatives:
• All fans in attendance will receive a custom Native American Heritage Game mini-stick, distributed upon exiting the arena
• Tribal Council leaders and members of the Native American community will perform the “Let’s Play Hockey!” announcement.
• A special Native American song and dance will be performed during the first intermission at Gate 4 of Xcel Energy Center.
• The Prairie Island Indian Community will have a drum performance on center ice during the second intermission.
• The Wild is hosting a winter coat drive presented by ORORO that will benefit the American Indian Family Center. New or gently used coats will be collected at Gates 1-5 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• The Split the Pot Raffle beneficiary will go to the American Indian Family Center.
• The Hockey Lodge at Xcel Energy Center will have Native American Heritage Game inspired retail items available for purchase, while supplies last.
• The Minnesota Wild Foundation will be selling Native American Heritage Game inspired autographed mystery pucks outside of Section 104, while supplies last
The Prairie Island Indian Community and Treasure Island Resort & Casino are also working this hockey season to support The Big Assist Program. For every assist made by Wild players during regular season games, Treasure Island Resort & Casino will donate $200 to the Wild Foundation to support diversity in hockey programming. The program will support removing any barriers associated with playing hockey by providing scholarships, equipment and access to opportunities to play to youth from diverse backgrounds. As of November 26, Minnesota has registered 116 assists in 21 games this season, raising $23,200 for the Wild Foundation.
A proud partner of the Minnesota Wild for over two decades, Treasure Island Resort & Casino and the Prairie Island Indian Community have supported the Minnesota Wild Foundation through community giving since its inception in 2009. Through initiatives like The Big Assist Program, the Prairie Island Indian Community has donated over $1 million to the Minnesota Wild Foundation.
(info courtesy of Wild)
