Preserving the State of Hockey: A Conversation with the Minnesota Wild's Mike Snee

from Puck Academy · host Mike Snee, Jason Jacobs

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).

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 13, 2026

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In this episode of Puck Academy, host Jason Jacobs chats with Mike Snee, Vice President of Foundation and Community Relations at the Minnesota Wild. The discussion highlights Snee's extensive experience and dedication to growing hockey through community engagement. Mike shares insights into Minnesota's unique community-based hockey model, its impact on player development, and the importance of maintaining this model to keep hockey accessible and affordable. They cover NCAA program expansions, the relationships between high school and youth hockey programs, and the influence of public investment in ice facilities. The episode also explores the challenges posed by the privatization of youth sports and emphasizes the need to protect Minnesota's local, community-driven approach to ensure the sport's continued vibrancy and success.

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Preserving the State of Hockey: A Conversation with the Minnesota Wild's Mike Snee

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This episode is 57 minutes long.

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This episode was published on January 13, 2026.

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