New ice rink ready to go! Published Dec. 11, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Wesley Wright Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The new base ice rink is ready to go! After three months of construction, base volunteers finished laying down the final coat of ice Dec. 7., and the new ice rink, which also doubles as a hockey rink, is ready to go. The "massive" rink is fully lighted, has two heavy-duty hockey goals and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The rink also has safety boards surrounding the perimeter for hockey games. It is approximately half the size of a football field. More than 30 volunteers, including Airmen, spouses and dependants from here have contributed more than 450 hours in efforts to construct the rink, located between the base pool and the Professional Development Center here. Construction started Sept. 1. and the quality of life fund from the 91st Space Wing has donated more than $6,000 toward the project. The project was led by Chief Master Sgt. Mark Brejcha, 91st Space Wing command chief master sergeant, and members of the base Airman's Council. Now that the project is complete, Outdoor Recreation and Team Minot volunteers will manage the rink. "The idea of the ice rink was brought up in an Airmen's council meeting about a year ago." said Airmen 1st Class Thomas Starling, 5th Comptroller Squadron. "I believe the ice rink is great for Airmen here. It's in a good centralized location and very near to the Airmen's dorms." Chief Brejcha stressed the importance of the team effort that went into the ice rink's construction. Airmen from the base fire department donated time and equipment for icing the rink. "This was an Airmen project and it will take a good team effort in building it," he said. The ice rink is free and open to anyone at Minot AFB; both hockey and ice skating are supported by the ice rink. During summer months, the rink will also be used as roller hockey rink or arena soccer. More plans for the area will be discussed at a later time depending on the use of the rink in the winter. Chief Brejcha and Airman's Council members said if Airmen and families show enough support, another full-scale ice rink could be constructed as well. "On behalf of outdoor recreation and team Minot, we were very pleased with the volunteerism displayed by so many, and the quality of the new ice rink is second to none," said Chief Brejcha. "This was truly a team Minot initiative and we hope that the base will come out and use it throughout the winter." [Airman 1st Class Joe Rivera contributed to this story]