History of Ice Skating and "The Rink" in Delta Junction, Alaska
1978- Skating began on a tennis court near the Delta High School's modular classrooms. New resident, John Warren, and parents of a dozen kids, ages 10 to 12 organized a team. They lost every single game, except to Dot Lake.
1979- New teacher, Ron Liewer, moved to Delta Junction from Dot Lake and took over John Warren's team. Ron was deemed “Ice Man” because of the many, many hours he dedicated to perfecting ice with a hose and a mop. That year the first outdoor rink was built, courtesy of volunteers and donations for the “Buy a Board” project.
1981- A second outdoor skating rink was built.
1981 to 1982- Men's hockey was established in Delta
1982- Hockey was sanctioned as an official High School sport in Delta Junction and the Delta- Greely Skating Association was born
1980 to 1983- A women's team was established
1983-1984- Delta started with a youth team. One more team and another level of play was added each year. By 1983, Delta had its first high school team.
1984- The first Zamboni arrives, courtesy of the Delta High School. No more hot mopping by hand.
1989 to 1990- Frosty Follies began. For the next fifteen years, Debbie Cook drove from Two Rivers to Delta to offer figure skating lessons.
Early 1990’s-. $999,999 was secured from the state legislature to build an indoor ice arena. Insufficient funds and a fire marshall prohibited the project's completion. Nearly 200 volunteers spent two years on a fund drive and sprayed retardant, finished locker and viewing rooms, installed heat and electricity, repurposed old carpet to lay a path for skaters to access the ice. With no well, the skating community depended on the fire department to use their pumper trucks to build ice each year.
1993- The Liewer-Olmstead ice arena opened! Delta's very own indoor skating facility. - a covered ice rink! Out of the bitter cold and open the entire winter, the indoor facility was a dream come true for the Delta Community.
2004- The City Council purchased a new Zamboni, courtesy of federal impact funds, to redevelop Fort Greely. $2,000,000 of impact funds paid to repair and upgrade the arena by reinforcing its steel frame, improve the overhead door, install a well, add concrete around the rink, build heated restrooms, and ice/ water drain, boiler room, and a Zamboni room.
Feeder groups continue to grow, thanks to so many volunteers who dedicated themselves to the youth of our community. Delta was well known across the state of Alaska for its competitive hockey team. By the early 2000s, Delta youth branch out to participate in the Arctic Winter Games. Many played up on various levels I.E Ice Dogs, hockey clubs, and college teams.
2011 to 2012- new outdoor rink/ basketball court with lighting built next to the Liewer-Olmstead Ice Arena courtesy of the City government.
April 26th, 2013- 20th anniversary open house, celebrating 20 years of indoor skating in Delta Junction
2019- A Skate Shack was built by Jacob and Ana White and donated to the community to support the outdoor rink.
2019 to 2021- the Geritol Gang (Todd Zachgo, Bill Smith, Jerry Zachgo, Tim White) and multiple volunteers completed upgrades to the arena, including a handicap accessible tiny house with wheelchair ramp, moving the team benches, installing a poly rink, replacing dashboards, repairing the outdoor rink and numerous other tasks.
2022- Todd Zachgo and Les Frietas led the paving project with the support of the City of Delta Junction. McKenna Brothers Paving poured the big rink with asphalt. This will allow ice to freeze faster and get kids skating sooner. It will also allow for a multipurpose facility.