Original story appeared in Press Publications on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016.

On the weekend of Feb. 5-7, Stillwater will play host to the first-ever Sticks in Stillwater mite hockey tournament. All of the games will played on outdoor rinks, located at the St. Croix Valley Recreation Center on Market Drive in Stillwater. 

The games themselves are surrounded by an outdoor festival that includes food, music and evening events. The mite hockey tournament will take place throughout the weekend. The organizers have attracted about 50 teams to participate.

A number of former NHL professionals will be present at the festival, along with Stillwater real estate agent Jim Boo, who was coached by Herb Brooks as a player for the University of Minnesota and the North Stars. As a member of the Herb Brooks Foundation board, Boo is one of the organizers of the tournament. 

‘The Herb Brooks Foundation does great work to broaden the base of hockey,” Boo said. The foundation sent invitations to mite teams hailing from South Dakota, Wisconsin, the Twin Cities and northern Minnesota. Another 50 girls teams will be competing in the Skate for the Roses tournament the same weekend, sponsored by the Stillwater Hockey Association. While Skate for the Roses is not associated with the Herb Brooks Foundation event, it will be taking place at the indoor rink at the St. Croix Valley Recreation Center and the Lily Lake ice arena from Feb. 4-7.

“The event seems to be growing,” Boo said. “Our vision was to have it downtown, but instead we’re bringing the people downtown for events while having the tournament at the Rec Center. It seems to be a much better venue than trying to make our own rinks when we don’t know what the weather will be like.” 

Pastor Jarvis Glanzer, who preaches at Watermark, is also responsible for coming up with the idea and helping to organize the event. Glanzer saw the need for a winter event to promote Stillwater, and reached out to his friend Boo, who was able to contact some of his hockey connections to make appearances at the festival. 

“I’d say there will be 15 to 20 guys who have played,” Boo said, including renowned coach Bill Butters, who will present a free kids clinic for festival players on Saturday. 

Friday will include a movie and popcorn night, with a screening of the Herb Brooks biopic “Miracle.” Another festival guest is hockey player Dave Hanson, who had a role in the Paul Newman comedy “Slap Shot.” 

Another much-anticipated event is the Heroes Hockey Game between the local military and the Stillwater police department, fire department and Lakeview Hospital emergency medical services. Boo also expects the live band and auction at Rafters—which offers unique experience prizes such as a riverboat ride with Jack Carlson—to be a big hit. On Sunday, Bill Butters, Jack Carlson and Boo will speak at Watermark Church for a special “Hockey Sunday” service, presenting attendees with free hockey pucks and autographs afterward. 

For the duration of the festival, a shuttle will be offered from Stillwater Area High School (where attendees are encouraged to park) to the St. Croix Valley Rec Center, and to downtown Stillwater. 

“It should be an action-packed weekend,” Boo said. 

Proceeds from the tournament will go toward the Herb Brooks Foundation, which focuses on creating hockey programming for kids, making the game accessible and affordable and instilling a love of the game. 

“It’s a great match,” Boo said. “Herb was my coach and mentor, and the event will provide resources to students that will pass that on.”

For a full schedule of tournament events, visit Sticksinstillwater.com. For information about Stillwater and the surrounding area, visit Discoverstillwater.com.