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Group aims to build ice rinks in Ohio Valley

ENJOYING THE RINK — Local hockey youth get some ice time at Wheeling Park’s skating rink. - Joselyn King

WHEELING — A group promoting hockey has plans to bring more ice rinks to West Virginia, and this could involve establishing a relationship with the Ohio County Development Authority to build one in conjunction with a proposed sports complex at the Highlands.

Ohio County Commissioner Randy Wharton, also president of the development authority, said there presently are no plans for an ice rink within the sports complex.

“We’ve made it clear — an ice rink is not a consideration at this time, nor is a swimming pool,” he said. “I can’t say it wouldn’t be, but it has not been figured into our plans. It’s a very expensive investment.”

Wheeling native Dalton Haas — an upcoming graduate of West Liberty University — is serving as the vice president in West Virginia for the USA Hockey-Mid-America. The group describes itself as “the governing body and premier developer of youth and amateur hockey talent in Ohio, Indiana, Western Pennsylvania, Kentucky and West Virginia.”

“We’ve been looking at expanding hockey in the Ohio Valley for a long time,” Haas said.

He said he has been working with West Liberty officials to develop an arena on the WLU campus, as well as a second rink locally at the Highlands. This would either be constructed in conjunction with the proposed sports complex or built separately nearby. He said the group also is looking to establish a third rink in West Virginia in the Charleston area.

Haas said he has yet to meet with any Ohio County officials about the skating rink, but he believes a partnership to construct a rink would be beneficial.

The success of the Pittsburgh Penguins has led to an increased interest in hockey, and in response there was a proliferation of rinks built in the Pittsburgh area, according to Haas. Over time, many of these rinks closed because of lack of patronage.

He said a rink needs to be “something transformable” that could be used for other athletic interests in the off-season, and Haas sees a need to expand hockey in the Wheeling area.

“We have a professional hockey team here that is an affiliate of a five-time championship team, and interest is growing,” Haas said. “We are going to see a huge increase in the number of children wanting to get involved.

“Ice hockey, roller hockey and even figure skating will be growing.”

In late October, the Ohio County Development Authority approved the sale of up to $30 million in bonds to build a sports facility on county-owned property at the Highlands. The development authority is looking at constructing the sports complex on a 15-acre parcel of ground behind Marquee Cinemas.

The Mills Group of Wheeling has been retained as architects for the project.

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