Iowa Wild's Cal Petersen Launches Goalies Give Back, Pledges $1 Per Save

Iowa Wild goaltender Cal Petersen has turned his crease work into a fundraising engine for young netminders in central Iowa by launching Goalies Give Back, a program that pledges $1 per save from Petersen this season and a dollar-for-dollar match from SCHEELS. The initiative aims to remove two big barriers to participation - the cost of goaltending equipment and the expense of ice time - while funneling gear and instruction through the Des Moines Youth Hockey Association.

The program was announced as Goalies Give Back and begins with an equipment drive at the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex in West Des Moines, scheduled for Dec. 13-19. Collected items will be redistributed by DMYHA to local players free of charge. Petersen and Iowa Wild teammates will volunteer at DMYHA evening goalie clinics on Wednesdays, and the program will provide funds to reduce clinic costs. Petersen and the Wild also plan to distribute floor-hockey equipment to local schools and after-school programs.

“SCHEELS is proud to partner with the Iowa Wild and Cal Petersen on the Goalies Give Back initiative, supporting the growth of central Iowa hockey by ensuring that cost isn't a barrier for aspiring young goalies in the Des Moines Youth Hockey Association,” said Eric McEntee, Events and Community Relations Coordinator at SCHEELS. Scott Long, DMYHA director of operations, added that the association is “incredibly grateful to the Iowa Wild, Cal Petersen, and SCHEELS for their generous support and commitment to growing the game of hockey in our community. Their contributions to goalie development will provide opportunities for young athletes to learn, compete, and fall in love with the sport. Partnerships like this make a lasting impact on the future of hockey in Iowa.”

Petersen’s pledge applies during the 2025-26 season, with SCHEELS matching each dollar per save. That corporate match gives the initiative immediate fundraising scale and signals a broader trend of retail partners underwriting youth-sports pipelines as a way to expand participation and brand affinity in regional markets.

The program also carries local meaning for Petersen. Born and raised in Waterloo, Iowa, he is one of only four Iowa-born players to make the NHL. His college numbers at Notre Dame underline his pedigree: a 55-39-15 record, 11 shutouts, a 2.30 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. Petersen returned to the Hawkeye State in October 2017 for his professional debut with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, stopping 25 of 27 shots in a 3-0 loss at what was then Wells Fargo Arena while his parents Eric and Mary watched from the stands. Petersen has described Iowans with pride, saying, “Iowans are sincerely nice, and they want to help you. They put on a smiling face. They don’t have ulterior motives. Iowans will help you as much as they can.”

On the ice, Iowa Wild staff and fans will welcome Petersen’s presence after a six-week absence that has been noted in team reports; the outline of that absence is unrevealed in current materials. His return coincides with the Wild enjoying the climate-controlled comfort of Casey’s Center following an outdoor game in Minnesota, and Petersen’s performance this season will convert directly into gear and reduced fees for local youth.

For fans and families, Goalies Give Back links saves to tangible benefits: every stop by Petersen during the 2025-26 season, whether against the Milwaukee Admirals, Rockford IceHogs, Springfield Thunderbirds or Chicago Wolves, will translate into equipment and lower ice-time costs for aspiring goalies in central Iowa. The initiative is a practical step toward widening the sport’s base and giving the next generation a clearer path to the crease.