Men's Hockey | 7/22/2015 3:51:00 PM

    Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State Athletic Department officials have announced the first gift received as part of a private donor campaign for Maverick hockey that will help provide furnishings and equipment for new team spaces at Verizon Wireless Center, along with addressing other important competitive needs of the program, such as funding full cost of attendance scholarships and summer school grant-in-aid support.

Kevin Buisman, Minnesota State Director of Athletics, welcomed a gift of $50,000 from the David Christensen and Jill Evans Fund at the Mankato Area Foundation.

"David and Jill's generosity is a great example of the passion they have for the community and the University," said Buisman. "Their enthusiastic support is greatly appreciated. Their gift is a nice starting point for us and we hope it will spur others to join the effort."

Head men's hockey coach Mike Hastings echoed those sentiments. "We are grateful to David and Jill for taking the lead on this. We have had good visits with a number of other prospective donors and we hope this commitment will ramp up further interest in helping us achieve our fundraising goals. This initiative is critical to our ability to sustain and build upon our current level of success."

David Christensen added, "There are a lot of great things happening with Verizon Wireless Center becoming the permanent home for Maverick Hockey this fall, a new long-term contract for Coach Hastings, and with a renewed level of partnership between the city and the University. Jill and I are proud to support this program and we hope that our gift might influence others to help shape the future of these outstanding student-athletes."