Scheels IcePlex repairs will take at least 8 weeks

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The Scheels IcePlex has been forced to close because of a problem with its chiller system temporarily.

Staff at the Scheels IcePlex started noticing issues with all three of their rinks last Wednesday.

“Typically, we run at about 18 and 19 degrees. Well, they were starting to climb up into the twenties,” Scheels IcePlex general manager Brian Prisbe said.

When they called for a repair, they realized there was a major problem.

“It’s an issue inside of our chiller unit that’s deep inside this vessel that we don’t know what the exact issue is yet other than the ammonia and the brine are contaminated, and that can’t happen to run an efficient system,” Prisbe said.

The chiller is a critical piece of their operation.

“Without the chiller, or really without any of that mechanical room back there, but the chiller being the most important part, you can’t make ice. That’s kind of important when you’re operating in an ice rink,” Prisbe said.

“The issues with the ice have left figure skaters, curlers and hockey organizations like the Sioux Falls Flyers and the Sioux Falls Stampede looking for a new place to skate.

“Augustana has been great as they’ve opened their doors since last January. They’ve started to take on some customers, sell some hourly ice to other customers. Well, when news, started coming out about our issue here, I know their phone was ringing off the hook,” Prisbe said.

In the meantime, staff at the IcePlex are hard at work.

“We actually had someone come in with with a truck and a blade, and he scraped along the concrete and then pushed out as much as we could of what was left of the ice. Now, it’s just all liquid,” IcePlex employee Rick Freemark said.

“It has been a little hard work, but we turn up the music. We all know each other pretty well, so the best work of people that I could to do this with, honestly,” IcePlex employee Raegan Klein said.

The IcePlex is now estimating that it will take at least eight weeks to get the rinks back up and running. They will not know just how extensive the damage is to the chiller until they tear it apart.

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