A $10,000 check for rink upgrades at Bernick’s Arena will be presented Tuesday, July 16, after Sartell’s runner-up finish in the Kraft Hockeyville competition.
Bernick’s Arena was the only Minnesota arena to advance as a finalist.
To thank the community for support in the contest, there will be free pizza, hot dogs, chips and beverages from 6 to 6:45 p.m. followed by the check presentation at 7 p.m.
The food will be provided by House of Pizza, Coborn’s, Kraft and Bernick’s.
Kraft Hockeyville is an annual competition sponsored by Kraft Foods, the National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association in which communities compete to demonstrate their commitment to hockey.
“The passion for hockey in this community is like none I have ever seen,” Sartell Youth Hockey Association Board President and Assistant High School Coach Cory Oberg said in a press release. “This passion is fueled by active association members and extremely generous local sponsors. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who assisted in the competition as well as the sponsors who make events like this possible.”
The award will be put toward the rink’s capital campaign. In April, the rink received a lead campaign gift from Scheels All Sports and is now developing plans for construction.
The expansion is spurred by the tremendous growth the city has experienced in youth hockey and athletics.