By Lori EhdeThe Luverne Hockey Association has had a contract with Luverne School District since 1998 to manage the high school program. It costs more than $20,000 budget to run the high school program for both girls and boys teams, who play as members of the Minnesota State High School League.According to Association President Mary Gehrke, that budget is self-sustaining through registrations and other revenues.She provided an update to Luverne School Board members at their July 24 meeting last week.It costs $225 per year per player for girls high school hockey and $325 for boys. The Association furnishes jerseys, but the players must pay for equipment.The ice arena has a 500-person seating capacity, and Hockey Association keeps gate receipts from all events. However, it honors district activity passes for high school games.There are more than 20 varsity games per season, and the teams travel to cities as close as Worthington and far away as the Twin Cities area. The Blue Mound Ice Arena was built in 1991 through efforts of the Luverne Hockey Association and with help from a LEDA loan.That loan is being steadily repaid, thanks to reliable revenue and generous donations."Hockey players and their families work very hard on their fund-raisers through the season," Gehrke said.The well-maintained facility has attracted groups in addition to hockey players. Among those is the Blue Mound Figure Skating Club.Outside interest in the facility has provided additional sources of revenue.For example, for the past few years, Dordt College, Sioux Center, bought ice time from the Ice Arena for practice and games. "We were their home arena," Gehrke said.Sioux Center just built a new arena, so Dordt will play there, but Gehrke said other parties have expressed interest in the Luverne facility.For example, Avera McKennan Hospital may use the Blue Mound Ice Arena for acceleration camps."That would be very good visibility for our ice arena," Gehrke said. "Plus it would give us a whole month more ice time.Ice in Luverne is typically ready between mid-October and mid-March. The facility is available for community functions, such as the Home Show, when the ice is melted.Most local hockey players participate in a summer league in Marshall during that time.If the Avera contract materializes, the ice would be ready as early as September.Gehrke said if that happens, the Sioux Falls Stampede Hockey Team may stage a scrimmage in Luverne on Sept. 19. The Luverne Hockey Association would get to keep 100 percent of the gate receipts."They prefer our facility over the Stampede practice facility in Sioux Falls," Gehrke said."It’s well-kept, well-lit and it’s managed well. … There’s plenty of space around the bleachers."
