Schwan Super Rink facts for kids
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The Super Rink
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| Location | Blaine, Minnesota |
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| Owner | National Sports Center |
| Operator | National Sports Center |
| Capacity | 1,000 (hockey) |
| Surface | Rinks #1–4: 200 ft × 98 ft (61 m × 30 m) Rinks #5–8: 200 ft × 85 ft (61 m × 26 m) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1998 |
| Expanded | 2006 |
| Construction cost | $21 million |
| Architect | Rozeboom Miller Architects |
| Tenants | |
| U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team Bethel University Irondale High School, Mounds View High School |
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The Super Rink at National Sports Center is a huge ice sports complex in Blaine, Minnesota. It's a northern suburb of Minneapolis – Saint Paul. This amazing facility has eight sheets of ice, making it the largest ice arena complex in the whole world! It covers about 300,000-square-foot (28,000 m2) of space.
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About the Super Rink Facility
The Super Rink was built in two main parts and cost $21 million. Many groups worked together to make it happen. These included the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission, The Herb Brooks Foundation, and Bethel University. Eleven local hockey groups also helped out. The money for building and running the Super Rink mostly comes from renting out the ice. It doesn't get much money from the state.
The first part of the Super Rink opened in 1998. It had four large ice rinks. These rinks are the size used in the Olympics. They are 100 by 200 feet.
- Rink #1 - Coon Rapids Arena
- Rink #2 - Blaine Arena
- Rink #3 - Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission/Centennial Arena
- Rink #4 - Ramsey County Arena
In 2006, the Super Rink got even bigger! This expansion added four more ice rinks. These new rinks are the size used in the NHL, which are 85 by 200 feet. The expansion also added 32 locker rooms and a snack area.
Herb Brooks Training Center
The Herb Brooks Training Center (HBTC) was part of the 2006 expansion. It's a special place for hockey players to get better. The HBTC helps players improve their skills both on and off the ice. It has many cool training tools, like a skating treadmill. The Flexx Hockey Institute of Training (FHIT) runs this center. They offer programs and memberships all year long.
Events and Programs at the Super Rink
The Super Rink is a busy place! It hosts many different ice sports events all year. You can find ice hockey, speed skating, figure skating, and even broomball here. People also come for fun recreational ice skating. The Herb Brooks Training Center offers off-ice training too.
The Super Rink is home to many teams. It hosts youth, high school, and adult ice hockey teams. It's also the official home for the U.S. Women's National Hockey Team. The Bethel University Royals men's and women's ice hockey teams also play here. They compete in NCAA Division III sports.
The Super Rink hosts many exciting events throughout the year, such as:
- Schwan Cup Hockey Tournament
- Stick-It to Cancer Women and Girls Tournament
- The Rush 3v3 Festival
- Walleye Chop Adult Tournament
- All-American Girls and Women Hockey Tournament
- The Cup Adult Tournament
- USA International Hockey Tournament
- Ironman Adult Tournament
- Minnesota Wild Adult Hockey League
- Wal-Mart Hockey Cup 3v3 Tournament
- Super Rink Spectacular
- Wal-Mart Hockey Cup High School Festival
- AARP Senior Hockey Championship
- North American Hockey League Showcase Tournament
- US National Sport Track Speedskating Championship
- 2001 Women's World Hockey Championship
- Minnesota Sports Federation's Indoor State Brooomball Championships
- USA & Global Broomball Championships
Home of the U.S. Women's National Hockey Team
In 2008, USA Hockey chose the Super Rink as the home for the U.S. Women's National Team. This is the main group that plays for the United States. The team trained here for two years before the 2010 Winter Olympics. Mark Johnson, who was on the famous 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team, coached them. The U.S. team won a silver medal at those Olympics. Since then, Team USA has often returned to the Super Rink for training and to pick players for their team.
Hockey Programs
The Super Rink has many different Ice Hockey programs. They have a team of experienced coaches and staff. They work all year long on leagues, tournaments, and training programs. There are programs for all ages and skill levels, for both boys and girls.
Figure Skating Programs
The Super Rink is also home to the Schwan Super Rink Skating School. It also hosts the Northern Blades National Sports Center Figure Skating Club. Figure skaters can use a special dance and fitness center. This 6,200-square-foot (580 m2) training area was built during the 2006 expansion. It helps skaters practice off the ice.
