TUCSON, Ariz. -- Dignitaries joined Tucson officials, residents, and other guests Monday, July 23rd to celebrate the grand opening of the new William J. Dawson Memorial DEK Hockey Rink at Doolen Middle School in Tucson.
Arizona Coyotes and Tucson Roadrunners sought a unique partnership with KuKaZi to bring an outdoor DEK hockey rink to Doolen Middle School. The Coyotes graciously donated the rink to TUSD and will program the rink with Boys and Girls Club of Tucson. This rink is the first municipal DEK hockey rink of its kind in Tucson and the fourth rink in Arizona build in the past 15-months. Other rinks are planned in conjunction with the YMCA and other Boys and Girls Clubhouses.
“We’re thrilled to unveil the first of hopefully many new DEK hockey rinks in Tucson,” said Coyotes’ President & CEO Ahron Cohen. “The Coyotes are committed to Arizona and to growing the game of hockey in our state. We are excited to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson and hope that kids fall in love with our great sport.”
“We’re very pleased to open our first DEK hockey rink in Tucson,” said Roadrunners President Bob Huffman. “Our first two seasons in Tucson have been incredible and we are very encouraged by the tremendous support that we’ve received from fans and corporate partners. This new DEK hockey rink will teach kids how to play hockey and continue to grow our game. We look forward to a strong partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Tucson.”
Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, City of Tucson said of the project, “This is an example of good corporate citizenship. On behalf of the students at Doolen, their parents, and the entire community, I want to thank the Tucson Roadrunners and all the other organizations that made this hockey rink happen. It may be the hottest day of the year, but hockey in the dessert - no problem!”
“It has been a long road, but ultimately, exceedingly satisfying – especially after witnessing the ear to ear grins on the faces of the thousands of kids playing on these unique multi-purpose rinks” said Kelly Kalichman (Kelly K) President, KuKaZi and Founder of EMPowerplay, “This DEK rink was actually constructed in record time, faster than any other in the United States, due to the community collaboration.”
Debbie Wagner, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson thanked the Tucson Roadrunners, community partners and Boys & Girls Club Emeritus Board Member, Mark Irvin who were all instrumental in bringing The William J. Dawson Memorial DEK hockey rink to its Club members at the Frank & Edith Morton Clubhouse housed in Doolen Middle School and the neighborhood.
Bill Dawson was the Clubs’ Executive Director in Tucson for 30 years and before that in New York where he and family came from to Tucson in 1980. “Bill was both a leader and inspiration to tens of thousands of kids at Boys & Girls Club of Tucson and across the community. Our kids are excited about this new sports and fitness opportunity allowing them to learn and play hockey in their sneakers,” said Wagner.
Bill Dawson’s wife of 44-years, Carol-Lynn, was on hand at the ceremony to accept the first souvenir hockey stick and puck for the DEK Rink named in honor her husband who passed away in 2014. Bill Dawson basically built the Boys & Girls Club of Tucson from one clubhouse to six before retiring in 2008 after nearly 40 years of dedication to the Boys & Girls Club movement.
Wagner also thanked Mark Irvin, emeritus board member for the Boys & Girls Club of Tucson, Vice Chair & Secretary of Rio Nuevo Board and Owner of Mark Irvin Commercial Real Estate Services who was the champion of the project and helped to coordinate the volunteer and community efforts. The new title designation, “Superhero” was instated by Wagner on behalf of the Boys & Girls Club of Great Tucson.
Sundt Construction donated its time and skills over the past month to construct the outdoor DEK rink. The Sundt team partnered with Hardrock Concrete, Concord Construction, CEMEX, Sunstate Equipment, Harvey’s Trucking, and Penhall to clear an underutilized sports field and construct the rink foundation that includes a foundation and slab system comprised of nearly 200 cubic yards of concrete. DEK Hockey, the manufacturer of the rink system, arrived shortly afterwards with the components for the rink. A group of volunteers helped to install the rink elements, which included dasher boards, player benches, penalty boxes, and a flooring system.
Collaboration by many made the work go faster than expected. A process they were told could take 2 days or more to complete for the installation of the floor system was completed by 2:00 pm that same day.
“We appreciate the opportunity to help out an organization like the Boys & Girls Club of Tucson,” said Ian McDowell, Sundt’s Tucson Regional Director for the Building Group’s Southwest District. “They provide a unique service to the Tucson community. I had the opportunity to meet a couple of the kids from the Boys & Girls Club recently. They’re an impressive bunch of kids who deserve something cool on their campus like an outdoor hockey rink.”
Over 18 business entities and over 100 volunteers came together to make the rink a reality, not to mention the ones who jumped spontaneously to help the helpers, like the pizza company who seeing the workers, brought 30 pizzas over for lunch.
Tucson Roadrunners thanked the following businesses for their gracious assistance on the project:
The Arizona Coyotes | Tucson Roadrunners |
EmPowerPlay | Mark Irvin Commercial RE Services |
City of Tucson Parks and Recreation | Tucson Unified School District |
CEMEX | Doolen Middle School |
Harvey’s Trucking, Inc. | Sundt Construction, Inc. |
Penhall Companies | Hardrock Concrete Placement |
Sunstate Equipment | Concord General Contracting |
Brent Kyte / Pizza Hut | Swain Associates, Ltd. |
Salpointe High School Football Team | Tucson Party Rentals |
The Boys and Girls Clubs will operate a snack bar with their Keystone Kids through the roll up window already in place at the clubhouse. Kids learning business will be a bonus to the DEK Rink as they run “The Keystone Kids Snack Bar”.
The rink is now open for kids and adults to learn and play DEK hockey, just in time for school to start next week.
For related articles on the construction process over the past month see: https://realestatedaily-news.com/ribbon-cutting-ceremony-monday-for-dek-hockey-everyone-plays/
and https://realestatedaily-news.com/new-dek-rink-at-doolen-middle-school-is-underway/