Rink

ITUATED IN THE HEART OF NORTH TEXAS within the town of Northlake, a brand- new multisport facility is creating recreational opportunities across a rapidly growing area once defined by pastoral land and sweeping ranches. The 225,000 square-foot Children's Health StarCenter Multisport Northlake, opened in the Spring of 2026 in the southwest corner of Denton County, and sits along Interstate 35W and State Highway 114, just 15 miles from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. The facility is the latest example of the ice sports boom that has continued since the Dallas Stars moved to the Lone Star State in 1993, when, at the time, only one ice rink existed in the area. Driven by the Stars' StarCenter Properties arm, which manages 11 sports facilities in the state, and buoyed by a public-private partnership, a hockey-loving mayor and a supportive local business community, the new StarCenter has already become a fixture in Northlake. "We want to grow along with the community," said Dan Morris, senior vice president of StarCenter Properties, which had previously opened facilities in Euless, Farmers Branch, Frisco, Lewisville, Mansfield, McKinney, Plano, Richardson and Valley Ranch. "We've got the big name, the Dallas Stars brand behind us, but our goal is to be part of these communities and create long-lasting relationships. It's truly a community rink. It has to work that way, or it won't be successful." Growing the Game Increasing from one sheet of ice to around two dozen in such a short window of time is a testament to not only the Stars' mission of and investment in growing the popularity of ice sports in Texas, but also the excitement of hockey itself, which has helped nurture a new generation of passionate fans and players. The Stars say there are now more than 15,000 North Texas children and 9,000 adults skating and playing recreational hockey in the area annually. "It starts with one person at a time and it grows from there," said Morris. "We had more than 95,000 visitors to the Northlake facility in the month of April. This past Sunday we had a 12-team tournament made up of close to 200 kids at the 8U level and the place was packed. Seeing the smiles on the faces, the red cheeks, everyone is so excited to be there. That's what makes it all worthwhile, when you see that connection to our great game." According to Morris, "if you create a hockey player, you create a hockey fan." To support that mantra, the StarCenter offers a variety of programs designed for all abilities and ages, to introduce kids and adults to the ice—including Learn to Skate, Try Skating for Free, figure skating classes, youth and adult hockey leagues and more. For the more experienced skaters, there are competitive leagues, advanced skill classes and conditioning programs. "Youth hockey is booming here," Morris said. "Our youth rec league plays in the Dallas Stars' Metro Hockey League and right now we have registrations open. We're expecting to have over 200 kids signed up for their first year which is an amazing number. We also run our very successful Little Rookies program, a free entry level program for kids aged 4-8, and then our Hockey Academy is the next step. We also do an Adult Rookies program as well. It's been a very positive category in our growth." A "Wow" Facility The StarCenter in Northlake features two NHL-sized (200x85) ice rinks—the Montini Rink, named after Northlake Mayor Brian Montini, with seating for close to 400, and the Nieuwendyk Rink, named for former Stars' player and NHL Hall of Famer Joe Nieuwendyk, with seating for more than 600. Team Dallas, a Tier I hockey program for players at the 13U, 14U, 16U and 18U levels and the Texas Scorpions of the Colonial Hockey League call the StarCenter in Northlake home, along with several local high school programs. Beyond hockey, the StarCenter also provides opportunities for figure skaters and broomball players, and also offers public and drop-in skating times. USICERINKS.COM SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER.2026 / 19 PHOTOS: CHILDREN'S HEALTH STARCENTER MULTISPORT NORTHLAKE

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