I.C.E., the nonprofit organization behind Centre Ice Arena, will host a fundraiser this Sunday, April 29, to help defer the costs of a planned $220,000 facility renovation. The event, dubbed Sticks & Skates for I.C.E., will feature an Open Skate on one rink and a Sticks & Pucks session on the other. There will be two sessions for both skating events, occurring simultaneously on both Centre Ice rinks. The first session runs from 11am-12:20pm, while the second goes from 12:30-2pm.

Admission for the event is $5 per person or $20 per family and includes a skate rental and a complimentary lunch of hot dogs, chips, soda, and cake. Each Sticks & Pucks session is limited to 35 skaters and all participants are expected to bring their own helmets and sticks. Skaters may be limited to one session each, depending on the number of attendees. There is no need to pre-register.

In addition to the skating sessions, the event will feature a raffle and complimentary workouts at Centre Ice Fitness. There is also a “Twilight Skate” event planned from 2-3:30pm for an additional $5 admission. Centre Ice Twilight Skates featured a darkened rink with disco ball lighting and music.

Proceeds from the Sticks & Skates for I.C.E.fundraiser will go toward Centre Ice improvements that will help the rink maintain its long-standing relationship with the Detroit Red Wings. Every fall for the past two decades, the Red Wings have held their annual training camp and prospect tournament in Traverse City. However, thanks to a recent NHL mandate, Centre Ice no longer meets the safety requirements necessary to accommodate the Red Wings camp. It will cost $220,000 for Centre Ice to comply with the NHL’s new safety rules.

So far, Centre Ice is about halfway to the total renovation budget. Most of the money raised so far came in the form of a sizable donation from Traverse City Tourism. Events like Sticks & Skates for I.C.E. are meant to help raise the other half. Proceeds from Centre Ice’s annual golf outing – scheduled this year for Saturday, June 2 – will also go toward the renovations. Locals wishing to help with the fundraising effort can donate to Centre Ice’s crowdfunding campaign on GivingGrid.

The Red Wings have committed to holding their training camp in Traverse City for another five years if Centre Ice can pull together the funds for the necessary improvements. Renovation work at the rink is currently scheduled to begin on May 14.