Bloomington Teen Named NHL Power Player
Lauralai Zink, a 17-year-old Normal West senior, was chosen from more than 1,000 applicants for the league's teen fan advisory board.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Hockey
Lauralai Zink, a 17-year-old Normal West High School senior, was selected as one of 27 NHL Power Players, a board of teenage hockey fans that advises the league. She was chosen from a pool of more than 1,000 applicants after advancing through a questionnaire, a video round and a virtual interview.
Why it matters
The NHL Power Players program is designed to attract more young people to the game by giving teenage fans a direct voice with the league. Zink's selection highlights the growing role of local youth hockey involvement in Bloomington and Central Illinois.
The NHL Power Players board of 27 teenagers aged 13 to 17 was chosen from more than 1,000 applicants, with 15 spots open for the 2027 board. The extraction does not state the exact date of selection or how many applicants advanced past each round.
The players
Lauralai Zink
A 17-year-old Normal West High School senior from Bloomington who volunteers in local special hockey and plans to attend Maryville University in the St. Louis area with hopes of working in the NHL.
NHL Power Players
A board of teenage hockey fans aged 13 to 17 that advises the National Hockey League on how to attract younger fans to the sport.
Bloomington Bison
An ECHL minor league hockey team based in Bloomington, Illinois, for which Zink serves as an off-ice statistics official.
The details
Zink advanced past an initial questionnaire to a second round that required a video on growing the NHL's teenage fan base, then was selected after a virtual interview with an NHL representative. She also volunteers with the Central Illinois Special Hockey Association, coaches the Central Illinois Courage, keeps statistics as an off-ice official for the Bloomington Bison, and interns with the Peoria Rivermen.
Timeline
2024: The Bloomington Bison arrived in town, sparking Zink's interest in keeping statistics.
2027: 15 NHL Power Players spots are available for the next board.
Season Trajectory
The NHL Power Players program offers a formal channel for teenage fans to advise the league on engagement, a strategy aimed at building the sport's next generation of viewers. Zink's path from local volunteer work to national selection reflects how the league is recruiting youth fans beyond traditional broadcast audiences.
Local hockey fans in Bloomington and Central Illinois can follow Zink's role with the Bloomington Bison as an off-ice official and her volunteer work with special hockey. Teens interested in a similar league advisory role should note that 15 spots open for the 2027 board.
The takeaway
Zink's selection shows that local youth involvement in hockey, from volunteering to statistics keeping, can lead to national opportunities. Young fans who document and support their local teams may build a path toward careers in the sport.
What happens next
15 spots are available for the 2027 NHL Power Players board, according to the extraction.
Further reading
For more on local ice sports, explore Hockey coverage across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wglt.
