NEWS RELEASE

St. Louis County to Pass the Puck on Hockey Arena Property

On Thursday, July 29, 2004, at 1:00 PM, St. Louis County officials will pass the puck, and the deed, to the Hibbing Youth Hockey Association (HYHA) for the Hibbing Ice Arena. Although St. Louis County owned the property, the non-profit Hockey Association has held a lease on the land since 1972, developing and maintaining a hockey arena on the site.

The Hockey Association has invested over $60,000 in the property in the past 30 years, including installing artificial ice in 1983. The arena is used by many area groups, including the Hibbing Community Education Association, the Hibbing Figure Skating Club, USA Hockey, the Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association, Gopher State Hockey, and the Hibbing Youth Hockey Association.

On May 4, 2004, the St. Louis County Board voted to transfer the property to the HYHA for $1, in honor of the groupís longtime contributions to area youth initiatives and their improvement of the site. "The Hibbing Youth Hockey Association has proved a true partner with St. Louis County in providing a venue for youth activities over these many years" said Board Chair and 7th District Commissioner Steve Raukar. "It is truly an honor to convey this property to them and I am confident the future of youth hockey in the Hibbing area, as it has always been, is in good hands."

Join St. Louis County and HYHA officials on Thursday, July 29, 2004 at 1:00 PM at the Hibbing Ice Arena, old fairgrounds, Highway 169, Hibbing as they "pass the puck".

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