Schwan Super Rink
Encyclopedia
The Schwan Super Rink is a 300000 square feet (27,870.9 m²) ice rink
facility that features eight sheets of ice and is the largest ice arena complex in the world. It is located on the National Sports Center
campus in Blaine, Minnesota
, a northern suburb
of Minneapolis – Saint Paul. The title sponsor of the Super Rink is the Schwan Food Company
, a Minnesota corporation based in Marshall, Minnesota.
, Bethel University
, and eleven local hockey organizations, which are Arden Hills, Blaine
, Centerville
, Circle Pines, Forest Lake
Coon Rapids
, Centennial, Lino Lakes, Mounds View, New Brighton
, and Shoreview. Ramsey County
Anoka County also helped in funding. The Super Rink since its construction has not received any additional funding; it is completely self-sufficient through private ice rentals and in-house programs. The original facility opened in 1998 and included four Olympic
-regulation-sized ice sheets
(98 × 200 ft):
The Super Rink was expanded in 2006; the expansion included the Herb Brooks Training Center,a figure skating training room, concession area, 32 locker rooms and four NHL regulation-sized ice sheets (85 × 200 ft):
Herb Brooks Training Center
The Herb Brooks Training Center (HBTC) is a state of the art hockey training center that was part of the Super Rink expansion that occurred in 2006. The HBTC was created to improve the game of hockey through proper player development via off-ice and on-ice skills training protocols. The facility has many off-ice hockey specific training stations, including a skating treadmill. The HBTC is run and operated by the Flexx Hockey Institute of Training (FHIT). FHIT offers memberships to the HBTC and year-round training programs.
, speed skating
, figure skating
, broomball
, recreational ice skating
, and off-ice training at the Herb Brooks Training Center.
The Super Rink is home to various youth, high school, and adult ice hockey teams and is also home to U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team, Bethel University Royals men's and women's ice hockey teams competing at the NCAA Division III level in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
(MIAC).
The Super Rink hosts a number of events throughout the year including:
, the national governing body for hockey in the U.S., named the Schwan Super Rink as the home of the Women's National Team. The team trained in residence at the facility for two years leading up to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. That team was coached by Mark Johnson, who played on the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" gold medal team from the 1980 Lake Placid Oympics. The U.S. team won the silver medal in Vancouver, losing to archrival Canada 2-0 in the gold medal game. Since the Olympic Games, Team USA has returned to their training home at the Super Rink at least twice a year for training and team selection camps, with the most recent camp being held in August of 2011.
programs. With a full experienced and professional staff they program and work year-round on leagues, tournaments and development programs. Offering programs for all levels and ages of hockey players, both male and female.
Ice rink
An ice rink is a frozen body of water and/or hardened chemicals where people can skate or play winter sports. Besides recreational ice skating, some of its uses include ice hockey, figure skating and curling as well as exhibitions, contests and ice shows...
facility that features eight sheets of ice and is the largest ice arena complex in the world. It is located on the National Sports Center
National Sports Center
The National Sports Center is a 600-acre multi-sport complex located in Blaine, Minnesota, United States, that includes a soccer stadium, over 50 full-sized soccer fields, a golf course, a velodrome, a meeting and convention facility, and an eight-sheet ice rink, the Schwan Super Rink, which is...
campus in Blaine, Minnesota
Blaine, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,942 people, 15,898 households, and 12,177 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,330 people per square mile . There are 16,169 housing units at an average density of 477.6 per square mile...
, a northern suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Minneapolis – Saint Paul. The title sponsor of the Super Rink is the Schwan Food Company
Schwan Food Company
The Schwan Food Company is a multibillion-dollar, privately owned company with 17,000 employees in the United States. Based in Marshall, Minnesota, the company sells frozen foods from home-delivery trucks, in grocery-store freezers, by mail and to the food service industry...
, a Minnesota corporation based in Marshall, Minnesota.
Facility
The Super Rink was constructed in two stages with a total cost of $21 million, with funding of just $1 million from State of Minnesota grants. The remainder of the funding comes from the partner organizations. Revenue from ice rentals covers the annual construction bond obligation. The Super Rink was a combined project of the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission (MASC), The Herb Brooks Foundation, National Sports CenterNational Sports Center
The National Sports Center is a 600-acre multi-sport complex located in Blaine, Minnesota, United States, that includes a soccer stadium, over 50 full-sized soccer fields, a golf course, a velodrome, a meeting and convention facility, and an eight-sheet ice rink, the Schwan Super Rink, which is...
, Bethel University
Bethel University (Minnesota)
Bethel University is a Christian higher education institution with approximately 6,000 students from 36 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs...
, and eleven local hockey organizations, which are Arden Hills, Blaine
Blaine
- Places :In the United States:* Blaine, California* Blaine, Indiana* Blaine, Kentucky* Blaine, Maine* Blaine, Minnesota* Blaine, North Dakota, former name of Menoken* Blaine, Ohio* Blaine, Washington* Blaine , Wisconsin...
, Centerville
Centerville
Centerville may refer to:In the United States:*Centerville, Alabama*Centerville, Faulkner County, Arkansas*Centerville, California *Center Ville, California*Centerville, Florida*Centerville, Georgia...
, Circle Pines, Forest Lake
Forest Lake
-Places:In Australia:* Forest Lake, Queensland, a master planned community within the city of Brisbane in QueenslandIn New Zealand:* Forest Lake, New Zealand, a suburb of HamiltonIn the United States:* Forest Lakes, Arizona...
Coon Rapids
Coon Rapids
Coon Rapids is the name of some places in the United States:* Coon Rapids, Iowa* Coon Rapids, Minnesota...
, Centennial, Lino Lakes, Mounds View, New Brighton
New Brighton
-Canada:* New Brighton, Calgary, Alberta, a neighborhood* New Brighton , a settlement in British Columbia-United Kingdom:* New Brighton, Merseyside, a seaside resort in Wallasey, England**New Brighton A.F.C., the current football club...
, and Shoreview. Ramsey County
Ramsey County
There are two places in the United States named Ramsey County:*Ramsey County, Minnesota, the seat of the state capital, Saint Paul*Ramsey County, North Dakota...
Anoka County also helped in funding. The Super Rink since its construction has not received any additional funding; it is completely self-sufficient through private ice rentals and in-house programs. The original facility opened in 1998 and included four Olympic
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
-regulation-sized ice sheets
Ice rink
An ice rink is a frozen body of water and/or hardened chemicals where people can skate or play winter sports. Besides recreational ice skating, some of its uses include ice hockey, figure skating and curling as well as exhibitions, contests and ice shows...
(98 × 200 ft):
- Rink #1 - Coon Rapids Arena
- Rink #2 - Blaine Arena
- Rink #3 - Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission/Centennial Arena
- Rink #4 - Ramsey County Arena
The Super Rink was expanded in 2006; the expansion included the Herb Brooks Training Center,a figure skating training room, concession area, 32 locker rooms and four NHL regulation-sized ice sheets (85 × 200 ft):
- Rink #5 - Bethel University Arena
- Rink #6 - Herb Brooks Foundation Arena
- Rink #7 - Blaine Youth Hockey Arena
- Rink #8 - Centennial Youth Hockey Arena
Herb Brooks Training Center
The Herb Brooks Training Center (HBTC) is a state of the art hockey training center that was part of the Super Rink expansion that occurred in 2006. The HBTC was created to improve the game of hockey through proper player development via off-ice and on-ice skills training protocols. The facility has many off-ice hockey specific training stations, including a skating treadmill. The HBTC is run and operated by the Flexx Hockey Institute of Training (FHIT). FHIT offers memberships to the HBTC and year-round training programs.
Events and Programs
The Super Rink hosts a number of ice sport events year round, including: ice hockeyIce hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, speed skating
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
, figure skating
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
, broomball
Broomball
Broomball is a recreational ice game originating in Canada and played around the world. It is played in a hockey rink, either indoors or outdoors, depending on climate and location. Broomball is popular in the Canadian province of Manitoba, where Glenella is the Broomball Capital of the World...
, recreational ice skating
Ice skating
Ice skating is moving on ice by using ice skates. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including leisure, traveling, and various sports. Ice skating occurs both on specially prepared indoor and outdoor tracks, as well as on naturally occurring bodies of frozen water, such as lakes and...
, and off-ice training at the Herb Brooks Training Center.
The Super Rink is home to various youth, high school, and adult ice hockey teams and is also home to U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team, Bethel University Royals men's and women's ice hockey teams competing at the NCAA Division III level in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. As the name implies, member schools are located in the state of Minnesota...
(MIAC).
The Super Rink hosts a number of events throughout the year including:
- 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
- 2010 ACHA Women's Ice Hockey Championship TournamentAchaAcha is a HINDI word for OK.Acha is also an Ewokese word for OK. Ewokese is a language used in the Star Wars Ewok Adventures: Caravan Of Courage / The Battle For Endor* Acha, Argyll and Bute, Scotland...
- ISI World Figure Skating Championships
- North American Hockey League Showcase TournamentNorth American Hockey LeagueThe North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
- US National Sport Track Speedskating Championship
- 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 Team
In 2008, USA HockeyUSA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
, the national governing body for hockey in the U.S., named the Schwan Super Rink as the home of the Women's National Team. The team trained in residence at the facility for two years leading up to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. That team was coached by Mark Johnson, who played on the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" gold medal team from the 1980 Lake Placid Oympics. The U.S. team won the silver medal in Vancouver, losing to archrival Canada 2-0 in the gold medal game. Since the Olympic Games, Team USA has returned to their training home at the Super Rink at least twice a year for training and team selection camps, with the most recent camp being held in August of 2011.
Hockey
The Super Rink offers many Ice HockeyIce hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
programs. With a full experienced and professional staff they program and work year-round on leagues, tournaments and development programs. Offering programs for all levels and ages of hockey players, both male and female.