Pat O'Donnell Civic Center celebrates reopening

By ZACHARY MARANO

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Ironwood - The Pat O'Donnell Civic Center celebrated its grand reopening on Saturday after being closed for renovations during the 2020-2021 winter season. Ice skaters and hockey players had the chance to explore the new facility and test out the new indoor ice arena.

The event started with a flag raising ceremony with JROTC cadets Brianna Rowe, Melissa Charles and Marissa Ritter from Luther L. Wright High School. Jim Mildren, a member of the civic center board and Ironwood City Commission, spoke to a crowd outside the building about the historical significance of the facility.

Mildren said that in the 1890s, there were skating rinks at the Norrie, Newport, Aurora, Ashland and Pabst mines. They progressed to a skating rink near where the former viaduct crossed over the railroad tracks in the middle of town. Then, civic organizations, city leaders and skating clubs worked together to build the Pat O'Donnell Civic Center.

"It's this history of our parents, our grandparents, our uncles and aunts, and now, we have this brand-new building," Mildren said. "We are so proud of this new building, we are so proud of God's blessings on our college, we are so proud of our grandparents and parents and the heritage that we get to enjoy, and we get to skate here over the years and years. So, thank you all."

Ironwood Mayor Annette Burchell also addressed the crowd before cutting a ribbon, signifying the re-opening of the civic center.

"On behalf of the city of Ironwood and my fellow commissioners ... we are so grateful for this brand new and improved ice arena which is such an important asset for our community," Burchell said. "We have to especially thank Mark and Denise Stephens, who – although they no longer live in our area – continue to remember Ironwood and the wonderful memories they built in our civic center and generously supported this ice arena with another generous gift."

Burchell said that the Stephens's previous gift was "at least" $150,000 for the purchase of the facility's Zamboni ice machine and they donated another $50,000 for enhancements to the project. She said that these donations made it possible to include windows at the northwest corner of the building, a flagpole, the stonework and concrete entryway, some concessionary improvements, a television and an AV system.

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, there was open skating in the ice rink, a "learn to skate" event with the Ice Crystals Figure Skating Club, a "try hockey for free" event with the coaches of the Polar Bear Hockey Club, open hockey for Mites and Squirt levels and open hockey for Pee Wee and Bantam levels. There were also two alumni hockey games with former players of local school hockey teams.

Danielle Grayson attended the grand opening with her son, Caleb, 15, and daughter, Emma, 11. She said that they visited the civic center frequently before the roof collapsed in March 2019 and during the 2019-2020 winter season under a temporary dome, because Emma is a member of the Ice Crystals and Caleb was a player on the Polar Bears.

"It's been an amazing transformation from what we had before to where we are now," Danielle said about the renovations. "This is definitely an improvement, and it's an absolutely beautiful facility."

Caleb also played in game two of the alumni hockey games on Saturday with other former players from the Polar Bears, Gogebic Chiefs, Ironwood Fighting Yoopers and other teams.

The grand opening was also attended by Bethany Tarnaski and Mike Clark, of Ironwood. They said that their son R.J., 11, plays on the Polar Bears' Pee Wee team.

"It's a lot more spacious in here. There's a lot more room," Tarnaski said about the new facility.

"There's a lot more light, too," Clark said. "[The old civic center] was really dark and kind of dirty. This seems like a better environment for everybody, especially for the kids."