The Iowa Wild have been presented with the Community Relations Excellence Award by the American Hockey League, acknowledging their extensive charitable work throughout the 2025‑26 season.
A Season Defined by Service
During the season the club raised a total of $263,684 for a variety of local causes, from youth hockey programs to cancer care and food security.
A centerpiece of the effort was Cal Petersen’s Goalies Give Back campaign, which alone generated $12,859 for the Des Moines Youth Hockey Association.
Jersey auctions contributed $143,801, supporting organizations such as the ALS Association and the John Stoddard Cancer Center, while also benefiting the Mid‑Iowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
The team’s Teddy Bear Toss collected 4,064 stuffed animals, and a partnership with the Des Moines Public School SUCCESS Program delivered 50,000 meals to students in need.
Additional outreach included the Wild About Reading initiative, which engaged 11,730 participants, and a floor‑hockey program that saw 6,385 youngsters take part. A new outreach tour, Hockey In The Wild, reached more than 200 children across the region.
Partnerships with local businesses like Kwik Star and FloHockey amplified the impact, linking community support with broader regional networks.
The award underscores the Wild’s commitment to using hockey as a platform for social good, a mission that will continue into the next season.