BladeRunners Ice Complex
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| Location | Bethel Park, Pennsylvania |
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| Owner | Kratsa Properties[1] |
The BladeRunners Ice Complex was a group of ice hockey rinks and sports facilities which were located in Western Pennsylvania.[2]
History
[edit]BladeRunners' first location opened in Harmarville, Pennsylvania in 1992; it was the first twin-ice facility in the Pittsburgh region.[3] Two other locations opened in Warrendale, Pennsylvania in 1994 and in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania in 1995.[3] The Harmarville location gained a third rink in 2003.[3]
BladeRunners hosted the 2005 American Collegiate Hockey Association Division III Men's National Hockey Championships and the USA in-line Girl's 16 and under national team.[3] It was the home ice for several collegiate hockey programs, including Slippery Rock University, California University of Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh Panthers.[4]
In 2012, the owners considered selling the Warrendale facility to the Grace Community Church.[5][6] However, the sale did not proceed and nearly all tenants returned.[7]
In 2015, all of BladeRunners' locations were sold: the Warrendale rink became Baierl Ice Complex, the Harmarville location became Alpha Ice Complex, and Bethel Park location underwent a conversion to a YMCA.
Leagues
[edit]Bladerunners Ice Complex hosted a variety of ice hockey leagues, from junior age to college.
- PIHL (Pennsylvania high school league)
- American Collegiate Hockey Association – College Hockey Mid-America
- North Pittsburgh Hockey League
- Various inline and ice hockey adult leagues
Other activities
[edit]Select Bladerunners Ice Complexes offered on-ice bumper cars. Figure skating, sticktimes, pickup hockey, learn to skate, learn to play hockey, and various other activities were also offered.
Tenants
[edit]Several teams called their local Bladerunners their home rink:
- Bethel Park High School
- Shaler Area High School
- Mars Area High School
- North Allegheny High School
- Fox Chapel High School
- Seneca Valley High School
- University of Pittsburgh
- California University of Pennsylvania
- Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
- South Allegheny School District
References
[edit]- ^ Sciullo, Maria (March 16, 2012). "Zoning puts chill on ice rink land in Bethel Park". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
- ^ "Where to go ... BladeRunners Ice Complex". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 3, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
- ^ a b c d "History". BladeRunners Ice Complex. Archived from the original on June 26, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
- ^ "Links". BladeRunners Ice Complex. Archived from the original on June 26, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
- ^ Kissel, Jennifer (March 15, 2012). "Youth hockey may be out in cold if Marshall rink is sold". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 3, 2012./
- ^ Conway, Rachael (March 15, 2012). "Church bid to use ice skating facility rejected in Marshall". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
- ^ Conway, Rachael (July 3, 2012). "Skating rink to remain; former tenants to return". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
