--- title: "Twig Fest: Growing Roots Beyond the Rink" description: Discover Twig Fest — a Nebraska youth hockey tournament that combines teamwork, leadership, and community service. Hosted by the Nebraska Aces with PlantNebraska. image: https://www.aceshc.org/hubfs/Twig%20Fest-3.png --- [![Aces Transparent](https://www.aceshc.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Aces%20Transparent.png?width=650&height=341&name=Aces%20Transparent.png "Aces Transparent")](https://www.aceshc.org/en-us/nebraska-aces-hockey-club) [Donate](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/back-the-aces-nebraskas-community-hockey-club) Posted By: [Hillary Swain](https://www.aceshc.org/blog/author/hillary-swain) Oct 31, 2025, 3:16:28 PM # Twig Fest: Growing Roots Beyond the Rink [youth hockey](https://www.aceshc.org/blog/tag/youth-hockey) [community service](https://www.aceshc.org/blog/tag/community-service) [hockey tournament](https://www.aceshc.org/blog/tag/hockey-tournament) [nebraska hockey](https://www.aceshc.org/blog/tag/nebraska-hockey) [spring hockey](https://www.aceshc.org/blog/tag/spring-hockey) [midwest hockey](https://www.aceshc.org/blog/tag/midwest-hockey) #### **What if the next tournament your athlete played in wasn’t just about goals? Or wins and losses?** What if it was also about giving back, growing community roots and helping shape the next generation of young leaders? Twig Fest is not only about hockey — it’s about rooting (literally and figuratively) young people in their community and environment. At the heart of the **Nebraska Aces** is a mission to bring players from across the region together — to learn, to grow, and to build lasting memories and friendships that will outlast any season. Our goal? To grow good humans. The kind who take time to learn about others with differences, lend a hand when someone is in need, and help build a strong community and foundation for life. We know maintaining perfect balance isn’t always possible, but if we can help our players move beyond their small circles — beyond the same teammates they’ve skated with since they first laced up — then we can build a stronger hockey community. One that surpasses rivalries, leagues, and (dare we say) even adult limitations and conflict.   ### **Breaking the Mold** One of the unique advantages of our small program is that we aren’t held back by “how things have always been done.” That freedom lets us broaden our horizons — and Twig Fest is the perfect example. This will be our **first-ever tournament**, and we’re doing it differently from the start.   In partnership and alignment with the mission of [PlantNebras](https://plantnebraska.org)[ka](https://plantnebraska.org)**[(formerly the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum)](https://plantnebraska.org)** — *“We plant Nebraska for healthy people, vibrant communities, and a resilient environment.”* — Twig Fest is about more than sport. We want youth athletes to take part in community-building, to see how their leadership on the ice translates into leadership off the ice and to make a positive difference locally. Through this one-of-a-kind event, we aim to bring youth athletes together not only to compete, but also to become **nature ambassadors**: planting trees, restoring landscapes, and giving back to the towns where they train and play.   ### **More Than a Game** Twig Fest serves as a reminder that the lessons learned on the ice — discipline, teamwork, and perseverance — are the same values that make for strong, compassionate citizens. So this spring, when the puck drops, we’re not just chasing goals — we’re planting roots. PlantNebraska offers wonderful educational resources for families, including [Gardening with Kids](https://plantnebraska.org/resources-events/tips-help-how-to/gardening-with-kids.html) and [community grants for tree and planting projects.](https://nfs.unl.edu/news/plant-grants-offer-communities-helping-hand/)   ### **Join Us!** **Twig Fest will be held April 18 - April 19, 2026 at Holland Ice at UNO's Baxter Arena. Open to 10U and 12U divisions (2013-2017 birth years). This individual registration tournament is open to all — house, select, and travel players. Teams will be drafted evenly to balance competitiveness and fun! Registration is open! Sign your player up here:[TWIG FEST 2026](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/twig-fest--2026)**   If you are interested in getting involved, partnering with us for Twig Fest, or learning more about our partnership with [PlantNebraska](https://plantnebraska.org), email hillary@freerangemarketingne.com. And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Let’s lace up, dig in, and grow something that lasts — on and off the ice. Share this article: - - - - - [mailto:?subject='https://www.aceshc.org/blog/twig-fest-growing-roots-beyond-the-rink'](mailto:?subject='https://www.aceshc.org/blog/twig-fest-growing-roots-beyond-the-rink') ## Read On [![](https://www.aceshc.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20-%20March%2013%2c%202026%20at%2009.45.19-2%20(1).png?width=352&name=Untitled%20-%20March%2013%2c%202026%20at%2009.45.19-2%20(1).png)](https://www.aceshc.org/blog/afterburners-on...the-road-to-fall) ### [Afterburners On...The Road to Fall](https://www.aceshc.org/blog/afterburners-on...the-road-to-fall) As we head into the second half of the summer, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of our... [![A Night of Community with the Omaha Lancers](https://www.aceshc.org/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_3475-2.jpeg?width=352&name=IMG_3475-2.jpeg)](https://www.aceshc.org/blog/down-syndrome-awareness-night-with-the-omaha-lancers) ### [Down Syndrome Awareness Night With The Omaha Lancers](https://www.aceshc.org/blog/down-syndrome-awareness-night-with-the-omaha-lancers) [![Save-Nebraska-Local-Member_150x150](https://www.aceshc.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Save-Nebraska-Local-Member_150x150.png?width=150&height=150&name=Save-Nebraska-Local-Member_150x150.png "Save-Nebraska-Local-Member_150x150")](https://www.aceshc.org/) Proud member of Save Nebraska Local, supporting Nebraska-based nonprofits and community organizations. Backed by local families and community supporters — and growing with every event. If you would like to support our growing organization, please email hillary@freerangemarketingne.com! Thank you! [![Aces Transparent](https://www.aceshc.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Aces%20Transparent.png?width=250&height=131&name=Aces%20Transparent.png "Aces Transparent")](https://www.aceshc.org/) Nebraska Aces Hockey Club is a registered 501(c)(3) Nonprofit. Our mission is to provide high-quality hockey experiences that are accessible and affordable for families, helping players develop their skills while building community. Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. [![53921640429541ccb8f353c2530788a8](https://www.aceshc.org/hubfs/53921640429541ccb8f353c2530788a8.png "53921640429541ccb8f353c2530788a8")](https://perch-merch.com/) Official outfitter of Nebraska Aces Hockey Club. © Nebraska Aces Hockey Club | All rights reserved. Social Links: [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578911570988) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/nebraska_aces/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Hillary Swain", "url" : "https://www.aceshc.org/blog/author/hillary-swain" }, "dateModified" : "2025-10-31T22:48:01.693Z", "datePublished" : "2025-10-31T19:16:28.000Z", "headline" : "Twig Fest: Growing Roots Beyond the Rink", "image" : [ "https://www.aceshc.org/hubfs/Twig%20Fest-3.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.aceshc.org/blog/twig-fest-growing-roots-beyond-the-rink", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject" } } } ```