The need for the Brett Arena continues to grow

During my first few years as sports editor of the Frontiersman, I could spend an entire day at the Brett Memorial Ice Arena. It was the only indoor rink in town.

Houston, Colony, Palmer, Wasilla.

I could catch back-to-back-to-back-to-back high school games and fill the next edition. Nothing but pure hockey goodness.

Things are different these days. There are rinks spread across the Valley. There’s the MTA Events Center in Palmer. Wasilla is also home to the Menard Sports Center. There’s also the Big Lake Recreation Center in Big Lake.

With that much indoor ice in the Valley, some wonder why money from a bond package up for vote in Tuesday’s Mat-Su Borough election should be appropriated for the much-needed repairs at the Brett. The answer can be found by looking at the ice time schedules of some of these rinks around the Valley.

These places stay busy.

There’s a reason for the construction of three separate facilities that feature a sheet of indoor ice during the last 15 years. There was a demand for it. The need is still there.

The only thing that’s changed is the total number of users of these facilities.

That number grows each year.

It may have been entertaining for a hockey fan like me to hit four games on a Saturday at the Brett. But it wasn’t always fun for the players in those days, having to scramble for ice time. Early-morning practices were a typical thing for many teams.

A potential $3.74 million that would go to a myriad of repairs at the Brett is part of bond proposition No. B-4, that also includes needed improvements at the Palmer and Wasilla pools, as well as a number of trails projects. But the bulk of the discussion about the $22.16 million bond has been centered around work at the Brett and at the pools.

Far too common is the idea that these facilities, the Palmer and Wasilla pools, and arenas such as the Brett cater to just the high schools. Yes, the Wasilla Pool is attached to Wasilla High School, and the Palmer Pool is part of Palmer High’s facility. But in terms of usage, high school swimmers represent just a small percentage of who is using these facilities.

Mat-Su Borough Parks and Recreation Manager Hugh Leslie recently told the Frontiersman that an average 32,000 swimming lessons are taught each year at the Wasilla and Palmer pools.

Those aren’t high school kids taking those classes.

And yes, the Brett is home ice for the Wasilla Warriors hockey team. But again, high school hockey represents a small percentage of the overall usage of the facility.

The Mat-Su Amateur Hockey Association uses the Brett as its primary facility. MAHA currently includes about 170 players. Another youth hockey association, the Junior Avalanche, also use the rink.

Brett Memorial Ice Arena manager Joe Miner said the registration for the Valley Adult Hockey League recently ended, and there will be more than 250 people playing in that league alone.

And that’s just part of a long list, Miner said.

There’s public skating, learn to skate classes, hockey clinics and figure skating. A number of local schools utilize the facility, he said.

If the bond does pass, Miner said they will finally have the resources for the first major repairs since 2004. A large chunk of the money is needed for a new refrigeration system. Miner they are essentially using the same refrigeration system that was there when the facility opened in 1984.

The biggest problem, Miner said, is the refrigerant they need to use for the system to keep the ice cold is being banned from production world-wide because its effect on the ozone layer.

“The biggest thing, we need to replace it before 2020, because we won’t be able to by (the refrigerant) anymore,” Miner said.

Miner said they need to secure funding to plan ahead for the much-needed work.

Miner said the loss of a facility in the Valley, such as the Brett, could put pressure on the other rinks, similar to what the Brett faced 15 years ago.

Youth hockey has enjoyed tremendous growth throughout the Valley in the last decade. There are now at least four associations. MAHA has a dozen teams, the Junior Avalanche have 15 teams and the Pioneer Amateur Hockey Association currently has 11 teams. There’s also the Wasilla Wild, which has about a half-dozen squads.

Plus, the Brett has been a staple in the community for more than 30 decades. Brett officials strive to offer healthy activities for Valley residents, Miner said.

And being a part of the community is important to those at the Brett, Miner said.

“I’ve been in the recreation business for a long time. The Brett has the most community support that I’ve ever seen, hands-down. We really appreciate that,” Miner said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.