Goalie challenge draws potential players

Next to the Bingo tent at the Waseca County Fairgrounds was a tent set up for a hockey challenge and raffle. Grant and Jen Popp were volunteering on Saturday, July 11 with the hope they will raise funds for local area hockey teams and add players to their roster.

Grant was sitting on a fold-up chair wearing a baseball hat and glasses. He explained, “Our goal is to get children to come in, try this out, hold a hockey stick for the first time.” Baskets of hockey-themed raffle prizes stood nearby: Some held hydrating drinks, others had specialized hockey pucks or hockey gear. Jen explained, “Prizes were donated by the Waseca Hockey Association.” Nearby the bingo caller yelled, “B-4,” but received no “bingo” in reply, and continued calling.

 

A family approached and 9-year-old Lindsey Swanson grabbed a hockey stick and had three hockey pucks placed on the ground in front of her. The goal was to launch one of the pucks through one of eight holes in a 5x8 board that was painted to look like a blue goalie. Despite Swanson being unable to land a puck, she was instructed to fill out a raffle ticket anyway, said Jen, “It’s a free thing kids can do and maybe win a prize, I can’t think of us having a full, ten-minute stretch today without a child coming up and wanting to give it a shot. There’s been a few kids who’ve come here every day to try this again.” She said some of the children were actually showing improvement, they were trying the goalie challenge so often.

 

Jacey Jensen, a fair-going teenager, approached with a friend and took a few shots, but also wasn’t successful. Jacey handed the hockey stick back to Grant and left while Grant continued, “My daughter Zoe, 12, plays hockey, she’s been doing it since she was 7. My other child/hockey player switched up and became a swimmer.”

 

Both Jen and Grant were volunteering at the fair to help out. Said Jen, “The Bingo next door is for Varsity Hockey, we’re here for the Waseca Hockey Association. I don’t know how many player sign-ups we’ll get this week; I can’t wait to find out. We’ve been rotating shifts between all us volunteers and with how hot it’s been, when you get off work it’s nice to find a cool spot.” She was asked how many were donating their time for both the association and varsity and she replied, “I bet between Wednesday though Sunday there’s at least 100 people volunteering, that includes Grant and I. I think it’s mostly parents of hockey players, and some that just want to help out.” From a few feet away, a woman excitedly called out, “Bingo” while Grant and Jen patiently waited for the next child.