Last evening, the Gopher women's hockey team hosted the Gopher Give Back Holiday Event at Ridder Arena. Youth hockey players from around the metro area joined the Gopher players in a fun night of activities, including making blankets for children in need, making decorations for elderly people in nursing homes, and making cards to send to Minnesota National Guard troops serving in the Middle East. In addition to the community service projects, the Gopher players gave tours of Ridder Arena, and the youth players participated in a scavenger hunt and trivia contest. At the end of the night, there was a prize drawing.
As an "admission fee", the youth players brought donations of Toys for Tots, Second Harvest, and clothing items.
Each youth player received a goodie bag with some treats, as well as photos and a poster. The Gophers were busy signing autographs all night, with the youth players taking special joy in getting an autograph from the Gopher player who shares their jersey number.
Nikki Ludwigson led the blanket-making station, and along with her teammates and the youth players, they completed about a dozen blankets. Many players helped at the craft station, where they wrote notes and made and impressive stack of Christmas tree decorations.
The card-making station was upstairs in the club room, where many players helped to make nearly 150 holiday cards. Glitter, glue and stickers were flying everywhere! Kelly Seeler, who joked that she might be interested in an arts and crafts major if there was one offered at the U, made some very creative cards. Some of the cards turned out more beautiful than others, but we think all will be appreciated, even the one with the oddly-shaped Christmas tree drawn by Katie Frischmann. (Sorry Katie, I just had to mention it!). Coach Frost and his boys got in on the action too, there were some very nice cards made by Micah, Jonah and Josiah.
The event was planned by several members of the team, headed by junior goalie Alyssa Grogan. We know Alyssa doesn't like to get attention for her community service work, but she certainly deserves credit for all her efforts in planning and executing the Give Back event. We think she and her teammates did a great job! Also helping with donations of supplies were Power Play Club members, GWH parents, and other supporters of Gopher women's hockey. A special thanks to David and Bob from the Power Play Club, who helped during the entire event, from set up to clean up.
A photo album from the event can be found on the Gophers' Facebook page at facebook.com/MinnesotaWomensHockey.
As an "admission fee", the youth players brought donations of Toys for Tots, Second Harvest, and clothing items.
Each youth player received a goodie bag with some treats, as well as photos and a poster. The Gophers were busy signing autographs all night, with the youth players taking special joy in getting an autograph from the Gopher player who shares their jersey number.
Nikki Ludwigson led the blanket-making station, and along with her teammates and the youth players, they completed about a dozen blankets. Many players helped at the craft station, where they wrote notes and made and impressive stack of Christmas tree decorations.
The card-making station was upstairs in the club room, where many players helped to make nearly 150 holiday cards. Glitter, glue and stickers were flying everywhere! Kelly Seeler, who joked that she might be interested in an arts and crafts major if there was one offered at the U, made some very creative cards. Some of the cards turned out more beautiful than others, but we think all will be appreciated, even the one with the oddly-shaped Christmas tree drawn by Katie Frischmann. (Sorry Katie, I just had to mention it!). Coach Frost and his boys got in on the action too, there were some very nice cards made by Micah, Jonah and Josiah.
The event was planned by several members of the team, headed by junior goalie Alyssa Grogan. We know Alyssa doesn't like to get attention for her community service work, but she certainly deserves credit for all her efforts in planning and executing the Give Back event. We think she and her teammates did a great job! Also helping with donations of supplies were Power Play Club members, GWH parents, and other supporters of Gopher women's hockey. A special thanks to David and Bob from the Power Play Club, who helped during the entire event, from set up to clean up.
A photo album from the event can be found on the Gophers' Facebook page at facebook.com/MinnesotaWomensHockey.
