Habitat Veteran Families Experience Military Appreciation Night

On March 3, 2014, the Minnesota Wild hosted Military Appreciation Night at the Xcel Energy Center. CarVal Investors' Lucas Detor and his family hosted a private suite, in which I had the pleasure of inviting all of our Veteran families who have partnered with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.

For many of these families, this was their first live hockey game.  What a treat it was for them! With help from Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity board member, Yvette Mullen, we were able to give a Wild hat to every attendee, as well as, foam fan claws to cheer with. The children were especially fond of the foam claws. They spent much of the time playing, eating all the chicken fingers a kid can handle, and cheering on the Wild.

Lucky for us, the wild took an early lead and the smiles and celebration from seeing their first live goal was wonderful to be a part of.  Xcel Energy Center really lights up when the Wild score a goal! Not only did these families get to see their first hockey game, but it was in the State of Hockey, on Military Appreciation night, and they got to see a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames. What a night-- “night he will never forget”, according to Donald Broz, who was able to get permission to leave the VA hospital to attend the game. I was very pleased to be the liaison between Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s Veteran partner families and CarVal for a very special and rewarding evening of fun!  The gratitude from these families was really out of this world. 

-Alex Schueller
Veteran Outreach Coordinator