Blizzard Keeping Muskegon Pro Hockey Alive in New Building
June 11, 2010 - All American Hockey League (AAHL)
Indiana Blizzard News Release
Muskegon, MI - The West Michigan Blizzard proud member of the All American Hockey League (AAHL) has announced today that they will be playing out of a 2,500 seat arena planned to be built inside the Norton Pines Athletic Club in North Shores, Michigan.
Bill and Sandy Vitale, owners of the West Michigan Blizzard, plan to finance the project set at a cost of close to $2 million.
The rink would include eight or nine rows of arena seats on all four sides the second floor of the arena will feature private boxes, restaurant and bar.
The building would be similar to the building that houses five indoor tennis courts at Norton Pines. The ice surface would be a standard 85 feet by 200 feet, and the entire building would be 190 feet by 270 feet.
Norton Pines is a full-service athletic club with tennis courts, a pool, basketball gym, weight room, and child and adult climbing walls, among other amenities.
The Vitale's say they hope for completion of the arena in early October. The start of the All American Hockey League season is set for the weekend of Oct. 22.
"This area (Muskegon Area) is somewhere we feel at home" Sandy Vitale said. "We want to keep Muskegon pro hockey alive and we feel our loyal fans want that to."
Current Blizzard head coach Sergei Kharin would be the facility's general manager. "This project won't only open doors for our hockey club, but it will also be a way to grow minor hockey in the Muskegon area" stated Kharin.
Tickets for the 2010-2011 Blizzard season will go on sale in the next two
All American Hockey League Stories from June 11, 2010
- Blizzard Keeping Muskegon Pro Hockey Alive in New Building - Indiana Blizzard
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