{"id":37655,"date":"2025-11-04T15:43:21","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T15:43:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/37655\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T15:43:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T15:43:21","slug":"ice-is-cold-again-in-westminster-as-new-owners-make-upgrades-add-teams-at-rink-orange-county-register","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/37655\/","title":{"rendered":"Ice is cold again in Westminster as new owners make upgrades, add teams at rink \u2013 Orange County Register"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Westminster<\/p>\n

Westminster Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen drops a hockey puck for an official puck drop ceremony with youth hockey players Isla Carracino, left, and Jack Carracion, of Orange during a grand re-opening of the Ice Realm rink, under new ownership and management, in Westminster on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Sofiia<\/p>\n

Sofiia Rudenko, 5, of Cypress, uses a balancing tool while ice-skating during a lesson with coach Kyla Brather during a grand re-opening of the Ice Realm rink in Westminster, under new ownership and management, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Paula<\/p>\n

Paula Rankin, an ice-skating coach at the Ice Realm rink in Westminster, works with Evelyn Nguyen, 5, of Westminster during a class at the newly re-opened rink, under new ownership and management, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The newly re-opened Ice Realm ice rink in Westminster, formally under Anaheim Ducks Rinks management, and now under new ownership and management, is complete with a fitness center for ice skaters and hockey players, as seen during a grand re-opening celebration on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The newly re-opened Ice Realm ice rink in Westminster, formally under Anaheim Ducks Rinks management, and now under new ownership and management, is complete with a new pro shop, offering rink merchandise and essentials for ice skaters and hockey players, as seen during a grand re-opening celebration on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Kai<\/p>\n

Kai Manalili, 3, of Huntington Beach gets help from her dad, Jason Manalili, right, and her coach, Jessica Sanders, during an ice-skating lesson at the newly re-opened Ice Realm rink in Westminster on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Westminster<\/p>\n

Westminster City Council members Caroline Velarde, Vice Mayor Carlos Manzo, Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen, Mark Nguyen and Amy Phan West, from left, hold up Ice Realm hockey jerseys with their names on the back during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly re-opened Ice Realm rink, under new ownership and management, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Ice<\/p>\n

Ice Realm Westminster owner Brian Lagestee, Westminster Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen, City Council members and members the rink\u2019s management and executive team participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly re-opened ice rink, under new ownership and management, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Members<\/p>\n

Members of the public enjoy complementary skate time during the grand re-opening of the Ice Realm rink, formerly under Anaheim Ducks Rinks management and new operated by new owners and management, during an opening celebration on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Sofiia<\/p>\n

Sofiia Rudenko, 5, of Cypress, uses a balancing tool while ice-skating during a lesson with coach Kyla Brather during a grand re-opening of the Ice Realm rink in Westminster, under new ownership and management, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Ice<\/p>\n

Ice Realm Westminster owner Brian Lagestee, Westminster Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen, City Council members and members the rink\u2019s management and executive team participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly re-opened ice rink, under new ownership and management, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Chris<\/p>\n

Chris Madsen, an award-winning on-air sports broadcaster, and original play-by-play voice of the Anaheim Ducks, acts as emcee, welcoming guests to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly re-opened Ice Realm rink in Westminster on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Members<\/p>\n

Members of the public enjoy complementary skate time during the grand re-opening of the Ice Realm rink, formerly under Anaheim Ducks Rinks management and new operated by new owners and management, during an opening celebration on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Ice<\/p>\n

Ice Realm Westminster owner Brian Lagestee welcomes guests and dignitaries to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly re-opened ice rink, under new ownership and management, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Paula<\/p>\n

Paula Rankin, an ice-skating coach at the Ice Realm rink in Westminster, works with Evelyn Nguyen, 5, of Westminster during a class at the newly re-opened rink, under new ownership and management, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Paula<\/p>\n

Paula Rankin, an ice-skating coach at the Ice Realm rink in Westminster, works with Evelyn Nguyen, 5, of Westminster during a class at the newly re-opened rink, under new ownership and management, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"April<\/p>\n

April Malden of Long Beach helps her daughter, Hudson Malden, 4, ice-skate using a balancing tool during a grand re-opening of the Ice Realm rink in Westminster, under new ownership and management, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 17<\/p>\n

Westminster Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen drops a hockey puck for an official puck drop ceremony with youth hockey players Isla Carracino, left, and Jack Carracion, of Orange during a grand re-opening of the Ice Realm rink, under new ownership and management, in Westminster on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

Temperatures have dropped again in Westminster.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are kind of welcoming everyone back fully now,\u201d said Jake Dyck, the marketing representative for Ice Realm, adding the owners have \u201cdone a ton of upgrades\u201d since taking over the rink.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The rink has also started a youth hockey team program, the California Surf, which is playing in the Southern California Amateur Hockey Association.<\/p>\n

A couple local high schools are using the ice, as well, Dyck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know how much this rink means to Westminster and our neighboring beach communities,\u201d Rick Hutchinson, Ice Realm executive vice president, said in a statement, adding the new owners have a mission to ensure the rink \u201conce again becomes a place where families can skate, play hockey, celebrate birthdays, and make lifelong memories.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

There are public skating sessions and also themed nights, including Thanksgiving and Ugly Sweater nights coming up, Dyck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSport provides a powerful vehicle to bring people together, strengthen families, and transform communities,\u201d Ben Frank, CEO of Ice Realm, said in a statement. \u201cWe feel blessed to create a space where those experiences can happen right here in Westminster.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Westminster Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen drops a hockey puck for an official puck drop ceremony with youth hockey…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":37656,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[163,165,164,7,179,23,611,6737],"class_list":{"0":"post-37655","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-anaheim","8":"tag-anaheim","9":"tag-anaheim-headlines","10":"tag-anaheim-news","11":"tag-california","12":"tag-community","13":"tag-local-news","14":"tag-orange-county","15":"tag-westminster"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37655"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37655\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}