A frigid, three quarter-sized ice rink without locker rooms or plumbing, covered by a thin tent-like structure is the current home to Vandal Hockey and all ice related events on the Palouse.
But the future is bright, full-sized and has indoor plumbing.
After many delays due to the rise of building material cost, construction and renovations are underway as of Feb. 16, 2022 for the new ice rink in the existing building at 2009 S. Main St. in Moscow.
Christina Randal has been the fundraising consultant for the new ice rink since 2018.
“The project has been in the works for a good 20 years,” Randal said. “Our hope is to be able to open the new facility in the Fall of 2022.”
The new rink, which will be named the Parks Activity Recreation Center, will feature a full-size sheet of ice, insulated walls, multiple locker rooms, permanent bathrooms, room for spectators and potentially concession stands and food vendors.
All things the Palouse Ice Rink doesn’t have.
Wyatt Tatakis, assistant captain and president of the Vandal hockey club, is in his fifth season playing for the Vandals.
“It can be tough playing four-on-four hockey and trying to get fans down here,” Tatakis said. “It’s great because we have a really tight-knit team with an under-dog bond, but at the same time we definitely want a new rink.”
The full-size rink will allow the Vandals to host meaningful tournaments and games, opposed to the exhibition games the Vandals are limited to at Palouse Ice Rink.
Harrison Smith, a sophomore defenseman from Lewiston, grew up playing hockey at the old rink.
“We are obviously super excited and grateful,” Smith said. “We are all bigger dudes, playing on the small ice makes it difficult to get the full experience. And me personally, I’m excited to play without freezing my toes off.”
In recent years the Vandals have struggled recruiting players to the club and hope the new facility will improve numbers in coming seasons.
“Not having to drive an hour and a half out of town to play games at a full-size rink and being able to have fans in the building will be a huge attraction to incoming freshmen that play hockey,” Smith said. “We want to grow the team and the new rink should help a ton.”
Though the new rink is exciting for the Vandal hockey club, they will not be the only ones benefiting from this long-awaited project.
“We have teams and leagues for all ages, from 4-year-old kids all the way up 75 year olds,” said Randal. “But hockey is just one of the many things that the rink will provide. We have figure skating, curling, roller derby and roller hockey in the summer and many other programs involving leadership and education.”
The project carries a hefty $4 million price tag. As the cost of building materials climbs, the budget for the project does as well and raising money has caused delays.
Randal said the project is now about $200,000 short, but she isn’t concerned about the rink being finished. Once the rest of the $200,000 is raised through donations and sponsorships the City of Moscow will release their $1 million donation and ICCU will assist with loans. “We have some amazing partners, community partners, business partners and lending partners who are very passionate about making sure that this happens, she said.
The project has come a long way and the community and surrounding area can look forward to various on-ice activities, including watching the Vandals take on opponents like Washington State in a brand rink with high-intensity, physical college hockey unfolding before their eyes.
“We really just want our fans to be able to enjoy D-2 college hockey as it is supposed to be, instead of an exhibition game every now and then,” Tatakis said.
For more information on how to donate and what programs the new facility will offer, visit palouseicerink.com.
Brock Craven can be reached at [email protected]