NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund, Red Wings donate Zamboni to Michigan rink

The inaugural Detroit Red Wings Learn to Play partnership at the Cedar Rock Sportsplex wasn’t the only new thing on the ice at the community-oriented rink in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Sunday.

Skaters in the Red Wings’ Little Wings Learn to Play presented by the Rams Hockey Association and other rink patrons were surprised when a much-needed new Zamboni rolled onto the ice, a donation by the NHL and NHL Players’ Association Industry Growth Fund (IGF).

“It was awesome,” said Aaron Ala, president of Rams hockey at the rink. “There were probably 40-50 kids out on the ice, and they brought everybody into the middle. And some gentlemen from the NHL … just kind of drove it out there.”

Travis Mikulenas, a Cedar Rock board member, said the new Zamboni replaces an aging machine whose increasing unreliability was impacting the rink’s ability to operate.

“The biggest thing is it eliminates the level risk to the continue operations, to continuing to be able to serve all these people that our current Zamboni always presents,” Mikulenas said.

The donation is supported by the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund, which was created to support and accelerate NHL and Club business initiatives and projects that promote long-term development, increase participation at all levels of hockey with an emphasis on youth, and bring hockey to communities across North America.

“Moments like this are what the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund is all about -- working with Clubs, communities and local partners to create meaningful pathways into hockey and ensure those opportunities can continue long after a single event,” said Rob Knesaurek, NHL senior vice president, youth development and industry growth. “Cedar Rock Sportsplex has become an important gathering place for this community, and through this donation we are proud to support the rink’s ability to serve young players and families for years to come.”

Chris Campoli, NHLPA Divisional Player Rep., said the Cedar Rock Sportsplex “represents the kind of community rink where young players get a chance to fall in love with the game of hockey.”

“Through the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund, and in partnership with the Detroit Red Wings, we are proud to provide this donation to keep the Cedar Rock Sportsplex thriving and serving the hockey community in Western Michigan,” said Campoli, a former NHL defenseman.

The surprise donation was presented following the debut of a Learn to Play program in partnership with the Red Wings and the rink to introduce new players to the fundamentals of hockey in a fun, supportive and welcoming environment.

Learn to Play clinics reflects the ongoing commitment of the NHL, NHLPA, and Red Wings to reduce barriers to participation in hockey, strengthen local hockey infrastructure, and inspire the next generation of players and fans.

And the new Zamboni becomes the lynchpin of the effort at Cedar Rock Sportsplex, a nonprofit, multivenue facility in Michigan’s second-largest city and home of the Red Wings’ American Hockey League affiliate.

Mikulenas said he isn’t sure of the exact age of the since-replaced Zamboni. All he knows is it has a 1989 Volkswagen 1.8-liter engine and was prone to breaking down in the middle of ice during resurfacing, if it would start at all.

“A wheel fell off on ice at one point,” he said. “We’ve occasionally had engine failures and things like that. We’ve put a lot of maintenance into this thing, and it runs OK, but we lose several nights of activity a year due to Zamboni failure.”

Mikulenas said the donation will benefit more than hockey, figure skating and curling at Cedar Rock.

“If the ice side goes down, that hurts the soccer and the walking clubs and the dog show guys, lacrosse and all these other things,” he said. “So, it's a huge part of the puzzle for us to continue operations, continue offering programming at a cost that's affordable and, you know, allows us to keep serving our community.”