Hockey Day Minnesota: February 27, 2021
Image: (Left) IZ (Isaiah) Forman, Squirt A, with (right) fellow Capital, Benjamin Bjardi, Pee Wee C. Photo Credit: Gina Forman
Hockey Day MN 2021:
Matt Dumba's Hockey Without Limits camp celebrates diversity & inclusion
by Gina Forman (mom to Isaiah)
"Hockey day is especially special this year for the Forman family. My brother, Caleb Theesfeld #44, played for Johnson High School in the very first MN Hockey Day in 2007. Isaiah was able to participate in his very first MN Hockey Day events and camp 14 years to the day that his uncle paved the way to play in the first hockey day game.
Today, Matt Dumba held a camp specifically for bringing diversity to hockey. This camp had girls, Native Americans, Latinos, African Americans, Creoles, Asian Americans, Jewish, White, multiracial, and many other cultural groups. It was beautiful to see all these kids and families all joined together united as one to play hockey. It was even more special being there representing Saint Paul Capitals and being able to have meaningful conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
We met a new Caps family with a player named Ben Bjardi and his mother Kimberly that were able to celebrate with us and had great conversation. Kimberly and I realized we have so much more in common than different. We realized our sons go to the same school, both have ties to Jonson High School, and have family with the same names!
There was a man from Forest Lake whose family looks a lot like ours ( with a brown mama and a white dad) you never see that at most hockey events- but it was normal at Dumba’s Camp. One little girl's mom told me that her daughters were so excited to go to the Dumba camp to play on the ice on a day where they would blend in and not stand out culturally or with their gender. This day meant a lot even to the youngest players.
A Native dad showed me the pictures of him as a youth playing hockey. He was so proud to be a part of the sport and was clear that his people, Native Americans also love hockey.
This has been a challenging year for all Americans but especially for those in our country that have historically been oppressed or marginalized and deal with racism every day all day in their lives. Hockey Day MN at the Matt Dumba Camp allowed hockey players and families to have a few hours to be free of the pain, trauma, and burdens they may have felt this past year and let them feel diversity being celebrated in hockey. What a amazing blessing to receive. Thank you Matt Dumba for working hard so that all Caps families can enjoy this experience together next year. Go Caps! "
View WCCO Coverage of Dumba's Hockey Day MN Camp & Isaiah