Maysa to Expand | Video

Rene Thibault | 3/20/2013

Skating and youth hockey are growing rapidly here in Minot. Maysa Arena had a record year in rink use during 2012. That success, along with projected numbers of future skaters, made the Minot Park District decide it was time to expand.

Whether it’s public skating, figure skating, or hockey, the Maysa Arena skating rinks seldom go unused. With a growing community, the Minot Park District felt it was time for Maysa to expand.

“Looking at their numbers, the number of users especially in the young programs, the programs are expanding, things are getting busier and busier, so the board decided it was time to give their support to the project,” said Ron Merritt, Director of the Minot Park District.

“We`re kind of behind the eight ball as far as the amount of ice time that`s out there, and we cleared that first hurdle yesterday with the Park Board`s support,” added Duffy Doubek, a coordinator for Minot Area Senior Hockey.

The Park Board has approved a third rink expansion plan for Maysa. The project would add 800 seats to the arena, and much needed ice time.

“It doesn`t need to be gaudy big, but it certainly needs to accommodate the events that we get here. The Minotauros hockey games, the Minot State club hockey team has drawn huge numbers the last few games,” stated Doubek.

Maysa saw a ten percent increase in rink use from 2011 to 2012, a rise that had a lot to do with the rapidly growing number of youth skaters.

“That`s the case for our other user groups as well, a lot more kids here in Minot and especially the younger age groups, the kindergarten class and those beginning ages, there are huge amounts of kids right now,” said Merritt.

The Park District does have use of the All Season`s Rink, but Minot hockey organizations say it would be nice to have all their skating in one place.

“Everybody wants to get their hockey under one roof, know where you`re playing, know you`ve got ice available, it`s not going to go out for a show, or rodeo, or Hostfest. We know there`s some consistency there,” said Doubek.

Merritt added, “We`ve got the young kids in the lower programs looking up to the older kids at the high school and junior hockey and college level, so they feel it`s really important to keep them together.”

The next step is for fundraising efforts to begin to expand the state`s only year round skating arena.

The Minot Park District has also committed up to $1.5 million to the estimated seven million dollar project.

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