By Tribune Sports Staff
September 9, 2021
Cooling system leaks could move Americans’ games
GREAT FALLS, MT – According to a Great Falls Americans press release, some issues with the cooling system needed to make ice at the Great Falls Ice Plex on Gore Hill may keep the NA3HL Frontier Division franchise from playing on their home ice early in the coming season.
The release cited a Facebook post by the Great Falls Community Ice Foundation, stating that the pipes that are part of the cooling system needed to make ice in the rink are leaking, meaning the surface would not be available to users of the rink, including the Americans.
The Americans open their 2021-22 Frontier Division season Friday night with a two-game series on the road against the Yellowstone Quake in Cody, Wyo. The Americans’ first home contests are slated for Sept. 24-25 against the Gillette Wild, but no decision has been made as to whether those games might be moved to another arena.
The Community Ice Foundation, which operates the Ice Plex, said several inches of sand needed to be removed to expose the pipes and make repairs.
“We are not sure precisely how long this repair process will take but, based on current estimates, we anticipate opening for the season in October,” the post said.
Funding for installation of a more stable concrete floor has become a top priority for the Ice Plex. The cost of the concrete floor is estimated to be between $700,000 and $1 million.
Story Courtesy: Great Falls Tribune: Regional Briefs: Ice-making issues at Ice Plex may impact Americans schedule (September 9, 2021)