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New arena wins over players, coaches

It wasn't enough to build it and they would come.

For hockey and facilities management expertise, Mount Prospect Ice Arena developer Nick Papanicholas Sr. hired Paul Kuczek, a former maintenance supervisor with Palatine-Schaumburg Township District 211, as general manager and Ryan Zanon, a hockey coach at Notre Dame College Prep, as assistant general manager and director of hockey operations.

All the care, energy and attention to detail the trio have put into the center were on full display Wednesday night. Walking into the lobby, which Zanon called "probably one of the biggest lobbies of any hockey facility that we have seen in the area," one met with a steady rumble of activity.

The familiar thwack of a puck against the boards resounded in each of the two NHL standard rinks, while ice in grating along the boards reflected the 20-degree temperature on the rink floor.

Bryce Stalesky, 10, of Lake Zurich, and a goalie with the Northwest Chargers, said he liked the feel of the ice - "not too soft."

St. Viator High School sophomore Brian Lolli, 16, said he especially appreciates the pro shop.

"We can get our skates sharpened here, and they have a lot of sticks, tape and equipment," he said. Zanon described it as a one-stop shop for parents and children in a hurry.

St. Viator Varsity Assistant Coach Leo Bigott said he loves the building.

"It's magnificent for the fact that we have our own locker room. It's perfect for high school hockey. We have got big enough stands to support our crowd and everyone that comes out," he said.

The facility is ADA accessible and the Chicago Hornets sled hockey team and the Chicago Blackhawks Warriors sled team of wounded veterans are slated to play at it.

And the rink has forged a partnership with the Chicago Blackhawks.

"It's an opportunity for us to offer programming or marketing or different things to get more kids engaged in hockey," said Annie Camins, senior director of development for the Blackhawks. "It's a great rink."

With the success of the Blackhawks and the team's marketing - it has 64 partnership deals in the Chicago area - interest in ice hockey has blossomed, creating demand for rink space.

"When they opened this up, that gave us an opportunity to gain additional ice," said Mark Dieker, a coach with the Northwest Chargers. "Everybody's organizations are growing, so there is a need for more ice."

- Steve Zalusky

  The ice surface at the new Mount Prospect Ice Arena is popular with hockey players, who say it's not "too soft" for the game. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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