Fourth Annual Minnesota Wild Leadership Summit to be held on July 13

ST. PAUL --The National Hockey League's (NHL) Minnesota Wild today announced the Fourth Annual Minnesota Wild Leadership Summit, presented by West Bend Mutual Insurance, will be held virtually on Monday, July 13 from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

High school hockey captains and their coaches from Minnesota and around the country are invited to participate in the Leadership Summit. This event is a great opportunity for hockey captains and coaches to learn from a wide-ranging, inspiring and influential group of leaders. The Leadership Summit is free of charge and is open to the first 500 boys and girls high school hockey captains and coaches. Teams will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Coaches can register their teams at wild.com/leadership.

"We are thrilled to be able to host the fourth annual Minnesota Wild Leadership Summit virtually in July," said Wayne Petersen, Director of Community Relations and Hockey Partnerships. "Even in these unprecedented times, the virtual Summit allows us to bring industry leaders, not just from the State of Hockey, but across the country to the homes of our high school hockey players and coaches for a great learning experience."

The Minnesota Wild Leadership Summit will be hosted on Zoom. Registrants will receive the Zoom meeting link after they register. Coaches and captains from the same team are encouraged (not required) to join the Zoom webinar together from the same location while practicing safe social distancing procedures.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from hockey leaders, coaches and former captains from the State of Hockey and beyond. Speakers scheduled to participate in this year's Summit include: David Backes (Current Anaheim Ducks forward, Minnesota State University, Mankato and 2002 Minnesota Mr. Hockey finalist); Blake Biondi (Hermantown High School boy's hockey captain and 2020 Minnesota Mr. Hockey winner); Elsa Bruestle (White Bear Lake High School girls' hockey coach); Addie Burton (The Blake School girls' hockey captain); Kim Davis (Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs - NHL); Bill Guerin (Minnesota Wild General Manager); Stephanie Jackson (Director of Diversity & Inclusion - USA Hockey); Sophia Jamieson (Bloomington Jefferson High School girls' hockey captain); Bill Lechner (Hill-Murray High School boy's hockey coach); Paul Martin (former NHL defenseman, two-time Minnesota State University, Mankato national champion and 2000 Minnesota Mr. Hockey winner); Lee Stecklein (three-time University of Minnesota national champion and Olympic gold medalist); Charlie Strobel (Hill-Murray High School boy's hockey captain); Allie Thunstrom (Minnesota Whitecaps, Boston College, Team USA and 2006 Minnesota Ms. Hockey winner); Melissa Volk (Andover High School girls' hockey coach); Steve "Moose" Younghans (St. Paul Johnson High School boy's hockey coach), and more.

Minnesota Wild Media Advisor and FOX Sports North Analyst Ryan Carter, a former White Bear Lake High School hockey captain, Minnesota Wild player and Stanley Cup champion, will host the Summit. FOX Sports North broadcaster Kevin Gorg will serve as moderator.

The Minnesota Wild Leadership Summit is supported by the NHL, NHLPA, Minnesota Hockey, the Minnesota State High School League, the Minnesota Boys and Girls Hockey Coaches Associations and the Positive Coaching Alliance. The schedule and speakers for the Leadership Summit are subject to change.

West Bend Mutual Insurance Company, headquartered in West Bend, Wisconsin, provides property/casualty insurance products throughout the Midwest. The company offers a broad personal lines coverage package, a full range of commercial products and services, insurance for specialty lines, and bonds. West Bend employs more than 1,300 associates and is represented by approximately 1,500 independent insurance agencies throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The company has been rated A (Excellent) or better by A.M. Best since 1971. West Bend also consistently ranks higher than its competitors in an agency loyalty survey.