Memorial Fund Honors Local Hockey Legend Through Youth Program Support

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown Hockey Association (WHA) is set to honor the enduring legacy of one of its own during this year’s Mite Jamboree. The event will pay tribute to Chris Rieb, a former standout athlete whose passion for the sport continues to shape the local hockey community.

Rieb, a 2007 graduate of Watertown High School, was a key member of the Watertown varsity hockey team that secured the South Dakota State Championship that same year. Following his passing in 2015, his family and friends established the Christopher (Chris) Rieb Memorial Fund through the Watertown Area Community Foundation. The fund was created to provide opportunities for youth in athletics, reflecting the joy and sense of belonging Rieb found on the ice and the baseball diamond.

In a recent contribution to that mission, the Memorial Fund provided $2,500 to the WHA to purchase jerseys for the “Learn to Play” program.

“Success is not in monetary gain, but in the happiness you obtain, or you bestow on others,” Rieb’s mother, Susan, noted in the fund’s founding story, quoting her son. “This fund will help him continue to do that.”

The Learn to Play program serves children ages 5–10, introducing them to skating and fundamental hockey skills. By providing the necessary gear and a supportive environment, the program aims to build confidence and encourage physical activity in young athletes.

The WHA’s Mite Jamboree celebrates these early experiences in the sport—values that align with Rieb’s lifelong commitment to his hometown and his passion for youth sports.