The Let's Play Hockey Expo is described as the world's largest consumer hockey show, offering attendees access to over 100 exhibitors featuring the newest equipment, training gear, and hockey apparel. According to event descriptions, the expo is powered by the Minnesota Wild and held in conjunction with the Minnesota State High School League Boys Hockey State Tournament. The event features cutting-edge product demonstrations, celebrity appearances, and opportunities for hockey enthusiasts to test their skills at interactive stations. While the event is a trade show rather than a traditional free sample program, attendees have historically reported receiving a variety of free merchandise, door prizes, and promotional offers.
Event Overview and Access
The Let's Play Hockey Expo takes place at the Saint Paul RiverCentre in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Event schedules indicate that the expo typically runs on a Friday and Saturday schedule, with hours generally from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Friday and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday.
Admission policies for the event have been established to encourage attendance by families and youth players. According to event information, admission is $5 for individuals aged 19 and over, while admission is free for attendees aged 18 and under. Attendees are encouraged to park in the RiverCentre Parking Ramp, which offers skyway access to the venue. Traffic alerts regarding street closures in the surrounding area are sometimes issued, and patrons are advised to allow extra time and use alternate routes.
Promotional Offers and Freebies
Attendees of the Let's Play Hockey Expo can expect to find various promotional offers and free items from vendors. Sources indicate that with thousands of hockey fans in attendance, exhibitors compete for attention through deals and giveaways.
Reported Free Merchandise
Attendees have reported acquiring a variety of free merchandise and door prizes during the expo. Examples of freebies reported by attendees include:
- Apparel: Free t-shirts from retailers such as PureHockey.com, "Design Team" t-shirts from K1 jerseys won as door prizes, and scarves from the Minnesota Wild.
- Headwear: Kontinental Hockey League knit caps available for purchase or as part of promotional bundles (e.g., $5 from Torspo).
- Equipment Accessories: Hockey tape from Warrior, pucks from Shock Doctor, and free skate sharpening coupons from local Hockey Giant locations.
- Collectibles and Media: Signed photos from former NHL goaltender Andy Moog and 1960 United States hockey gold medalist Paul Johnson, hockey cards from the Minnesota Wild, copies of Puck Life magazine, and copies of Minnesota Score magazine.
- Event-Specific Items: Stickers for upcoming tournaments, bookmarks, and buttons in support of specific causes (e.g., Jack Jablonski merchandise).
Door Prize Drawings
The event features hourly door prize drawings. One attendee reported winning a USA youth hockey jersey by K1 as a door prize from Let's Play Hockey (the event organizer). Another attendee reported winning a Minnesota Wild backpack from Sport Sense. To participate in grand prize giveaways, attendees may be required to register for giveaways, which automatically enters them into the drawings.
Vendor Participation and Exhibitors
The expo showcases products and services from more than 100 exhibitors. Top brands and vendors mentioned in connection with the event include:
- Equipment Manufacturers: Warrior, CCM, True Hockey, Torspo.
- Apparel and Accessories: K1 Sportswear, Absolute Filth, Howie’s Hockey Tape, Goon Guard, Pulltab Sports, Cwench.
- Training and Facilities: Hockeyak, Nice Rink, NHL Sense Arena, Sport Sense, Vaughn.
- Media and Organizations: Minnesota Wild, MNHockeyTV, Sophie’s Squad, Minnesota Hockey, Lutch Jerseys.
Specific vendors mentioned in attendee reports include PureHockey.com and Hockey Giant. Additionally, the event features a "Warrior Hockey barbershop" where youth players can receive mohawk haircuts.
Event Logistics and Planning
Location and Traffic
The event is held at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. Attendees are directed to park in the RiverCentre Parking Ramp located on Kellogg Boulevard. During specific event dates, street closures may affect traffic patterns, specifically Washington Street from 5th Street to Kellogg Boulevard and 4th Street from Market Street to Washington Street. Attendees are advised to plan accordingly.
Virtual Expo and Vendor Directory
A virtual version of the Let's Play Hockey Expo is available online at letsplayhockeyexpo.com. This virtual directory allows users to browse vendors by category, including Apparel, Backyard Rinks, Equipment, Goalies, Hockey Training, Jerseys, Other, Skate Sharpeners, Novelties/Souvenirs, Retailers, Sticks, Teams and Leagues, and Photos & Videos. The virtual site also hosts a "Giveaways" section where users can register for offers.
Related Hockey Opportunities
While the Let's Play Hockey Expo is a consumer trade show, the provided data also references other hockey-related opportunities that may be of interest to hockey enthusiasts, though they differ in nature from the expo's freebies.
Try Hockey Free Program
An initiative described in the source data is the "Try Hockey Free" program. This program is designed to remove barriers to entry by providing gear and coaching at no cost to new players of all ages and backgrounds. Sessions are offered in both English and Spanish. This program focuses on participation rather than the distribution of consumer goods.
Prime Hockey Expo
A separate event mentioned is the Prime Hockey Expo (PHE). This is described as an invite-only, individual-entry showcase for top minor hockey players across Western Canada. It is a scouting event rather than a consumer trade show, providing exposure to coaches and scouts for players in specific age groups (bantam/prep academy or junior level). Participants are selected from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Conclusion
The Let's Play Hockey Expo serves as a major destination for hockey fans seeking the latest equipment and training innovations. Beyond the product showcases, the event offers significant value through free merchandise, door prizes, and promotional coupons. Attendees can expect to find free apparel, equipment accessories, and collectibles from major brands and retailers. The event is accessible to the public with a nominal fee for adults and free admission for youth. For those unable to attend in person, the virtual expo directory provides a resource for browsing vendors and accessing online giveaways.