Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/482029
14 / MARCH.APRIL.2015 RINKMAGAZINE.COM S ioux Falls, South Dakota. Known as the Gateway to the Plains, it's the largest city in the Mount Rushmore State. Sioux Falls is also one of the nation's fastest- growing cities. With growth comes a need for change. In recent years, more and more people have started frequenting the local rinks. It quickly became apparent that one of the city's biggest needs for change laid in the arena department. "For a town of 200,000 people, we had the worst rinks in the state of South Dakota," said Brian Prisbe, manager of the newly opened SCHEELS IcePlex. "It served the purpose and we were still able to play but we needed something better." That something better came in the form of the 98,935-square-foot SCHEELS IcePlex. The latest Sioux Falls addition is complete with three NHL-size sheets of ice, 12 locker rooms and full conces- sions. For the grown-ups, beer is served at SCHEELS IcePlex during the adult men's league, curling leagues and open skate. Even with all that's available, Prisbe said the amount of skaters the facility has coaxed out is "mindboggling." "Our public skate sessions at the Sioux Falls Ice and Rec Rink probably averaged 75 to 100 per skate session," Prisbe said. "Our numbers at SCHEELS IcePlex have been higher than we could have imagined. We've actually had to cap some of our stick-and-puck sessions. "The facility is huge and new, and people are super excited about it. They just keep coming back and continue to have fun." Stampede Gains Steam In 1999, the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League — the coun- try's premier junior league — nestled into the community. Success, entertainment and a passionate fan base drove attendance into the Sioux Falls Arena each night. It also exposed the city's need for an upgraded rink. The Stampede organization was gifted with the Denny Sanford Premier Center. On the heels of its opening in September 2014 came the SCHEELS IcePlex. "We wanted to make SCHEELS IcePlex a destination facility for tournaments, camps and people in the community who wanted to come out and skate anytime," said Prisbe. It appears SCHEELS IcePlex has achieved just that. The arena is home to hockey camps such as Rhino Hockey, Planet Hockey and Legend Hockey, the Sioux Falls Youth Hockey Association and the Sioux Falls Figure Skating Club. The Stampede also calls SCHEELS IcePlex SCHEELS IcePlex provides new home and new opportunity in Sioux Falls, S.D. by JESSI PIERCE Sioux Featured Rink SCHEELS IcePlex | | Sioux Falls, South Dakota PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SCHEELS ICEPLEX