Summer ice hockey underway in Hayward

The Northern Lights Hockey Big Musky Tournament got underway over the June 14-16 weekend at the Hayward Sports Center south arena, with games involving boys teams from 14U through 19U.

The tourney will continue this coming weekend, June 20-23, with games between girls teams from 14U through 19U.

Three years ago the Hayward Sports Center and Community Park Board of Directors moved forward with a new chiller system and subsequent new rink floor in the South Arena, as mechanics were put in place to hold ice during the Midwest Summer. This is the first year that the Hayward Sports Center is offering summer ice.

The schedule for summer ice includes open skate, open hockey, community skate parties, high school open ice, Hayward Hockey Camp -Goalie, Hayward Hockey Camp -Girls Skills, Hayward Hockey Camp-Defense skills camp, Bukac European Hockey Camp, Big Muskie Boys Tournament, Big Muskie Girls Tournament, Winner’s Edge Developmental camp, LEAD Hockey Elite Girls Camp and LEAD Hockey Camp Hayward, and private ice rentals.

The June 14-16 and June 21-23 Big Musky Tournament is put on by Northern Lights Hockey (Patrick Brennan of Hayward).

Also this summer, the Hayward Sports Center is constructing a Performance Center (dryland training facility) above the South Arena. It will be ready for team usage this fall.

Additionally, a solar array will be installed on the Sports Center roof top. The array is estimated to produce at least 40% of the facility’s electrical needs.