Rink

September / October 2016

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AFTER 70 YEARS, eight NCAA titles and 17 conference titles, the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks' legacy continues. The storied men's hockey program has flourished since World War II. Former UND players have progressed to the National Hockey League and other pro leagues in the United States and abroad. The Fighting Hawks may have changed their name last year—they stopped calling themselves the Fighting Sioux after longtime pressure from the NCAA—but their spirit has not. UND's passion for the game trickles down to the youth who share their city. For many in Grand Forks, the Fighting Hawks might as well be an NHL team. University alum are their parents and coaches. Young players flood into Learn to Skate programs, in-house leagues and traveling teams with dreams of someday joining the team. Until about a year and a half ago, the city couldn't handle its strong youth numbers. Young players practiced past bedtimes until 10 p.m. and early mornings before school. Families trekked miles out of town for tournaments. Lack of ice time had leagues turning hundreds of kids away. That was until the community raised $11 million to build the ICON Sports Center. The 91,500-square-foot facility now serves legions of young athletes in Grand Forks Youth Hockey and Border Blades Figure Skating Club. "With building the ICON Sports Center, we're able to increase numbers in our Learn to Skate Program. We were 16 / SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER.2016 RINKMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS: ICON SPORTS ARENA A North Dakota hockey town builds ICON Sports Arena // by EMILY ZAK Fountain of Youth (Hockey) Featured Rink ICON Sports Arena | | Grand Forks, N.D.

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