Minnesota Special Hockey is a stand up ice hockey league for athletes of any age and hockey skill level with developmental disabilities. Currently there are 14 teams across the state of Minnesota with over 240 players. Minnesota Special Hockey exists for the enrichment of the athlete with a developmental disability. In addition to physical hockey skills, the program emphasizes the development of desirable individual characteristics such as dependability, self-reliance, concentration, teamwork, willingness to share and personal accountability. The game of hockey is used by Special Hockey to develop within each player the characteristics that will help the player to be more successful both inside and outside a hockey environment. Minnesota Special Hockey teams practice or play games on Sundays starting in November and ending in March.