Indoor ice rink offers respite from smoke
When the hazardous impacts of wildfire smoke hit in the late summer, even lounging on the beach can seem like a bad idea. Many residents head indoors at the hottest time of year, when they want to be there the least.
The Stumptown Ice Den in Whitefish is one local amenity that offers an opportunity to get both exercise and some relief from the heat and smoky doldrums of late summer.
The facility is owned by the city of Whitefish and managed by the nonprofit Whitefish Sports Facility Foundation. It has been operating year-round for the last three years after a long history of closing down for the summer months.
Chad Goodwin, who is currently the skating director for the Las Vegas Golden Knights professional hockey team, has been involved with the Stumptown Ice Den and administering a summer hockey camp there since 2013.
Back then, the ice rink would only open for a few weeks in the summertime for the camp. That was so popular that a few years ago they got city approval to expand the months of operation to be open all year.
“Over the years it has kind of grown to what it is now,” Goodwin said. “This will be the third full summer. It’s the only rink open year-round between Calgary and Spokane.”
The camp Goodwin helps put on has a July and August section. He said the July session drew 125 kids from all over the western United States and Canada, and the August session has about 50 kids that are mostly local.
The rink also runs programs for those interested in figure skating, and offers open skate times for people wanting to learn or skate independently several times a week.
“It went from running seven months a year with a deficit to now being run by a nonprofit for the city 12 months a year with a surplus,” Goodwin said.
Mike Fitzgerald is a Whitefish resident who has been going to the Ice Den for years, and was involved with encouraging the project back when it was still a winter-only, open air rink.
He said it is great to have a family friendly space that is open year-round where kids can come and play.
“I just brought my grandson in here after being at the beach,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s an incredible facility. You can let your kids run crazy and it’s the safest place in the world. It’s boys and girls and moms and dads of all age groups.”
Garret King, maintenance tech at the Ice Den, said that while the rink always has people using it, it is still a bit of a hidden gem in the valley.
“I know the public hasn’t really caught on much, especially in these hot smoky months,” King said. “I thought attendance would go way up, but it really hasn’t.”
He said the best time for non-experienced skaters to come enjoy the ice is during open skate times, which vary by day but happen frequently.
For a schedule of events, prices and schedule for when the rink is available for open skate, visit www.stumptowniceden.org.
Reporter Peregrine Frissell can be reached at (406) 758-4438 or pfrissell@dailyinterlake.com.