Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1527047
Goals & Assists Goals & Assists 08 08 Albert Lea-based Rink Systems is woven into the fabric of Minnesota Hockey All Systems Go MADE IN MN M H J ON L I N E . C O M | O C T O B E R 2 0 2 4 IF YOU'VE FOUND YOURSELF INSIDE A HOCKEY RINK and heard the ever-present sound of pucks banging against the boards, there's a good chance those boards were designed, developed and installed by Albert Lea-based Rink Systems, a family-owned and operated business for more than 30 years. A leader in the dasher board system industry, Rink Systems is one of few companies that can proudly claim to serve clients across the country at a variety of levels, from pro to college to high school to residential. Rink Systems specializes in new construction, renova- tions and maintenance of dasher boards, indoor facilities, outdoor community spaces and even some backyards. In addition to hockey rink boards, the company also manufactures sports walls, inline rinks and parks, soccer stadium walls, skating paths, portable rinks and offers arena accessories such as cleaners, edgers, ice maintenance and marking, goal frames, pads and netting and more. From its humble beginnings in the 1990s in manufacturing and metal fab- rication, with fewer than 10 employees, Rink Systems has evolved those capa- bilities to become a major player in the sports world. "We're an engineering company too, so we're able to design systems and do the type of custom work that other companies can't," said President Stacey Overgaard, a University of Minnesota engineering graduate. "We've done work for the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and high-end places looking for a partner to help them with design and build, not just serve as a supplier." While Rink Systems has completed projects across the U.S.–including New York, California, Missouri, Florida and many points in between– Overgaard said there's something special about being "Minnesota made," and serving programs and organizations in his home state. FOR EXAMPLE, RINK SYSTEMS: · Developed new lockers for the Memorial Arena in Hibbing, the IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids and the St. Croix Valley Rec Center in Stillwater. · Added an automatic vertical lift gate with wireless remote to Mankato's All Seasons Arena dasher board system. · Custom-built the Inline Xtreme Pro rink at the White Bear Lake Sports Center. · Upgraded the rink at the Andover Community Center. · Installed new stadium seating system at the Fergus Falls Community Arena. · And much more throughout the State of Hockey. "We love seeing the game of hockey grow and especially here in the state of Minnesota," said Overgaard. "Hockey is booming here and it's awesome to be a part of that. I don't see it ever slowing down." Perhaps no jobs meant more to Overgaard and his team than its work on the University of Minnesota over the last two years. When the Gophers decided to shift to a smaller ice sheet at 3M Arena at Mariucci, Rink Systems was hired to collaborate in supplying and installing the new dasher board system, which included aluminum dasher boards, penalty boxes and player benches, rubber flooring and safety netting. Upon completion of the men's rink, work began on the women's rink at Ridder Arena, which will be ready to go for the upcoming 2024-25 season. "It's been amazing," said Overgaard. "We took a lot of pride in what we did and took a lot of care to make sure what they got was the best there is. The best system you could ever get is installed at both of these rinks, with the best safety features and a lot of the same things you see at the NHL level. Even for those members of our team that didn't go to the school, they understand the prestige of the program and what it means." By Steve Mann Left to Right: Rob Chatleain, Spencer Overgaard, Stacey Overgaard and Chris Farr of the Rink Systems team were proud to help renovate 3M Arena at Mariucci and Ridder Arena at the University of Minnesota. Photos / University of Minnesota, Rink Systems