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It was a long time coming, but Scott Harman could finally soak in the moment. The DinoMights' new refriger- ated rink, a yearslong project filled with stops and starts, was complete. "It's a total game changer," said Harman, executive director of the Twin Cities youth development program. "It probably increases the kids' ice time by 40-50%, so that's going to be big." The ceremonial ribbon cutting was held on Feb. 5 at the new and improved Billy Lindsay Rink, with the Lindsay family in attendance, on the Midtown Greenway in South Minneapolis. The renovation will greatly improve the ice quality and extend the outdoor season. "It's huge—just huge," said Julie Pleshe, volunteer coach of the DinoMights' Penguins team. "This gives the kids so much more ice time. There's something really special about playing outside that makes you feel closer to the sport, in a spir- itual way almost. It has just been really fun watching them in that environment." More Than Hockey But the benefits of the Billy Lindsay Rink extend far beyond the ice, Harman says. DinoMights is planning to leverage the outdoor ice sheet with drop-in tutoring, so kids can skate for an hour or two after school and get their homework done. After all, DinoMights, which has been around since 1995, is not just a hockey club. It's about supporting youth devel- opment of physical, social, academic and spiritual excellence. That's why Pleshe got involved with DinoMights in the first place. "This program is a lot more than hock- ey," said Pleshe. "You learn how to fail and you learn how to try hard and how to be humble and take constructive criti- cism and feedback. You learn how to be a team player and you learn life lessons." Twin Cities Team Effort Pleshe, who works at Tradition Companies, jumped at the chance to sup- port DinoMights when she learned of the company's longtime partnership of the program. Tradition helps out financially, skates with the kids, helps secure equip- ment, and more. Tradition Mortgage President Erik Hendrikson is a Burnsville and Gustavus hockey alum. He was hooked on DinoMights after seeing the organiza- tion's academic impact. DinoMights is proud to boast a 100% graduation rate three years in a row. "Talk about a difference maker," said Hendrikson, who has brought his daughters' hockey teams to skate with DinoMights. "They're making these kids the biggest and best version of them- selves. For me it's like, wow, how can you not want to support that?" Pleshe is savoring every moment with the DinoMights in her first season. "I love speaking Spanish. I love working with kids. I've always had a huge passion for hockey and then just giving back is really important to me," said Pleshe, who played club hockey at the University of Wisconsin Lacrosse. "I feel like we're the Mighty Ducks. I love every one of these kids and they give it everything they have." The growth and success of DinoMights makes it easy for the Twin Cities commu- nity to rally around them, but Harman doesn't take anything for granted. "I can't thank our supporters enough," Harman said. "From the Lindsay family in honoring their grandpa Billy Lindsay's legacy, everyone at Tradition, the Minnesota Wild—they embrace our mission deeply and see the value of what we're doing. I really hope DinoMights can continue to make an impact on the larger hockey and sports world, and this rink will be a part of that." New outdoor refrigeration system gives DinoMights a boost Goals & Assists Goals & Assists 08 08 M H J ON L I N E . C O M | M A R C H 2 0 2 3 The DinoMights Peewees, along with the Lindsay family, cut the ribbon on the newly refrigerated Billy Lindsay Rink. Game Changer RINK RATS