Ice is cold again in Westminster as new owners make upgrades, add teams at rink

Temperatures have dropped again in Westminster.

Community leaders recently celebrated the grand reopening of an ice rink in town with Ice Realm taking over a 36,000-square-foot facility on Springdale Street that dates back to 1996 when a former grocery store made way for the Westminster Ice Arena.

For about 15 years, since 2009, the Anaheim Ducks operated the rink as part of their system, but the pandemic slump led to its closure in early 2024.

Ice Realm, which also has a rink in Carlsbad, acquired the facility and over the past year has been making improvements and upgrades that the new owners showcased with a ribbon-cutting over the weekend.

“We are kind of welcoming everyone back fully now,” said Jake Dyck, the marketing representative for Ice Realm, adding the owners have “done a ton of upgrades” since taking over the rink.

After several months of being closed, the ice had to be refreshed, and a restaurant and lounge with a full menu of food and beverages was added, along with a gym and pro shop, Dyck said.

The rink has also started a youth hockey team program, the California Surf, which is playing in the Southern California Amateur Hockey Association.

A couple local high schools are using the ice, as well, Dyck said.

“We know how much this rink means to Westminster and our neighboring beach communities,” Rick Hutchinson, Ice Realm executive vice president, said in a statement, adding the new owners have a mission to ensure the rink “once again becomes a place where families can skate, play hockey, celebrate birthdays, and make lifelong memories.”

There are several opportunities for the public to try ice skating and hockey with free programs on many Saturdays, including one partnering with USA Hockey that offers free gear to participants, and another with figure skating instructors helping out.

There are public skating sessions and also themed nights, including Thanksgiving and Ugly Sweater nights coming up, Dyck said.

“Sport provides a powerful vehicle to bring people together, strengthen families, and transform communities,” Ben Frank, CEO of Ice Realm, said in a statement. “We feel blessed to create a space where those experiences can happen right here in Westminster.”