It may be an Olympic Year, but ice sports in Sioux Falls has never been more top of mind and February wraps up national skating-month.  All three rinks at the SCHEELS Iceplex are booming with Curling, Figure Skating and Hockey. This community facility became a reality four years ago thanks to the unified efforts of all ice user groups, countless private donors, Sanford Health, SCHEELS, the City of Sioux Falls, and the business community in the Sioux Falls area.

 “The outpouring of enthusiasm for ice sports has been remarkable, says Brian Prisbe, General Manager for the SCHEELS Iceplex, we knew there was a need for our three -sheet ice facility, but couldn’t have asked for such a warm welcome. People have been super excited about it and keep coming back.”

The SCHEELS Iceplex sits on the far north corner of the Sanford Sports Complex and is open year round. Over the weekends and during holiday and school breaks, families can take advantage of “Culver’s Family Open Skate,” “Hockey Headquarters Stick-n-Puck and open hockey. A huge attraction is the Friday night “Cosmic Open Skate,” the lights go down, and the strobe lights and tunes go on. “It’s a hit for all ages,” says Prisbe. In addition to the weekend open skating there is daytime skating nearly every day.

“The ice sports community is close knit, whether you are a figure skater, recreational skater or have been playing hockey for years, we look out for each other and the enthusiasm at every level is so alive,” says Prisbe.

The SCHEELS Iceplex has so many opportunities to feed your inner Olympian. The Sioux Falls Figure Skating Clubs Learn to Skate program that takes place on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays is for all ages. “You can learn basic skating skills, take adult lessons or learn to twirl like a figure skater,” says Michelle Carlson, SFFSC president. The Learn to Skate program is the first step to becoming a competitive figure skater and avid hockey player. Sioux Falls Figure skaters compete throughout the upper Midwest and host a competition March 3-4 where skaters will compete for their own hardware. Another opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of this beautiful sport is to attend the spring figure skating show in early May. Check out www.sffsc.com for more information.

To say hockey has grown in Sioux Falls is an understatement.  With nearly 600 skaters, the Sioux Falls Youth Hockey Association (www.siouxfallsflyers.com) has leagues for ages 4-18 and any skill level. Hockey Day in South Dakota will be celebrated on February 10, the second day of the winter Olympics. In conjunction with the Sioux Falls Flyers Youth Hockey Program, the Sioux Falls Stampede and the SCHEELS Iceplex. The Sioux Falls Flyers will play league games at the Denny Sanford Premiere Center and SCHEELS Iceplex. Even after the Olympics, hockey players can participate in camps all spring and summer to up their game and improve on skills, check it out at www.scheelsiceplex.com under our hockey tab.

Curling is another cold weather sport and for our neighbors in ND and MN it’s their go to week night winter sport, it is now becoming a winter past time for many in Sioux Falls as well.  The North rink in the SCHEELS Iceplex keeps curling ice year round.