Duluth Heritage Sports Center

HOME OF
SEITZ AND SILL ARENAS
 

• Two 200x85 Hockey Rinks
• Seating for 1,300 fans in Sill  Seating for 800 in Seitz Arenas
• Turf in Seitz Arena April through Mid September
• Turf in Pioneer Hall At the DECC in the Winter
• 200 Meter Walking Track
• Concessions
• Conference Room
• Wireless Internet
• Stewarts Sport Shop 1 block away with Skate Sharpening and Sporting Supplies
• Next to the Clyde Iron Works Restaurant
• We will be constantly updating our website and adding in new features all the time, so keep checking back with us.

It was the second day in May, 2008 when the first skater stepped on to the ice at Sill Arena in the Duluth Heritage Sports Center. It was a time that those skeptical about the project were willing to bet would never come. It was a time when those who believed and diligently lent their support were smiling. Today, five years later, the skeptics have disappeared into their realms of negativity while the supporters are still beaming with pride. The Duluth Heritage Sports Center and all it means to our community and its youth is here to stay!

Seitz Arena (then known as the Pavilion) opened its doors in January 2009, making the DHSC the only medium sized two ice sheet facility north of the Twin Cities. With all of the amenities it offers, Duluth has always been the “preferred” place to come for youth hockey tournaments, especially during the summer months, when the entire family could enjoy both the scenery and the weather. Adding the DHSC to the mix made for a perfect recipe to attract visitors from nearly every state in the union who come to play hockey and stay to enjoy all of the benefits of a northland vacation. During 2012, nearly 375,000 adults, students and children visited the DHSC to attend one or more of the youth, high school and junior hockey games, to enjoy physical activities on the ice or turf or to attend one of the corporate picnics and other social events. On a day-to-day basis, it’s the busiest arena in the area.

In addition to participants and spectators, the DHSC receives many visitors during the summer months. According to the DHSC’s President & CEO Jerry DeMeo, these visitors include former Duluthians, who just want to see the facility. “They enjoy looking through the historical displays for a photograph of a friend or relative.” said DeMeo. “They also check out the commemorative brick walls searching for the name they know and quite often want to purchase a brick either for themselves or for a family member or friend. They always leave impressed.”

DeMeo said that while visitors find the facility itself impressive, they are further impressed to learn that the DHSC was built through a collaboration of public and private funding, with the majority of the funds coming from the private sector. “They are amazed to hear that the DHSC receives no funding at all from tax dollars.” DeMeo said. “Many can’t believe that, in a facility like ours that benefits the entire community, we must operate strictly through user fees and any additional donations we may receive from the private sector. Those from outside the area and unaccustomed to the Duluth tradition of ‘giving back’, claim this is unheard of.”

When it was first constructed, the DHSC, as a part of the Clyde Park development project, made a significant difference to the landscape in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Today, it continues to be the icon for additional neighborhood development but has also carved its own niche in the entire community.

DeMeo summarizes the past five years by saying  that even those most skeptical at the start cannot deny that the DHSC has made a positive difference, not only for all those who benefit through its use, but as an economic benefit to the entire community and the surrounding areas. “After all,” said DeMeo, “It’s not possible to think of the Duluth Heritage Sports Center, without first thinking of ‘Duluth’!”

One of the ways we would like to show our thanks to the many players that have played for Duluth teams and have brought us many nights of exciting games throughout the years is to build a "Wall for Champions."   
We are currently at the ground floor with this project.  Our wall will be displayed on the Northwest wall just past concessions.  Well lit with pictures of all teams that have won state tournaments. You will be able to read the names of the players and coaches on each of these teams. We have a few pictures now but are in need of many more. A list below are the missing champion pictures we are in search for.  If you have any of these teams photos please mail or drop them off at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center.  After scanning them we will return them. We also need to have the players and coaches in the photos identfied for the display.  All help will be most appreciated. 

State Champion Photos Needed            Preferably with all players and coaches identified 

1928 Duluth Gateleys Senior A

1975 Duluth Senior B

1980 Duluth Spot Bar Senior B

1981 Duluth Spot Bar Senior B

1930 Duluth West End Seniors

1952  Duluth 402 Lounge Seniors 

1966  Duluth Zephyr – Pee Wee A

1974 Duluth East – Pee Wee A

1979 Duluth Stewarts – Pee Wee A

1981 Duluth Stewarts - Pee Wee A

1991 Duluth Stewarts – Pee Wee A

2002 Duluth East – Pee Wee A 

1955 Duluth Midgets -Bantam A

1981 Duluth Sports Locker -Bantam A 

1977 Duluth Heights -Bantam B 

1961 Duluth Lower Chester -Midget A

1962 Duluth Longview -Midget A

1967 Duluth Glen Avon -Midget A

1974 Duluth -Midget A

1993 Duluth Selects -Midget A 

1972  Duluth Congdon- Junior Gold 

Standings as of MAY 12, 2013

Sammy's Pizza  16 points
Subway               10 points
Ameripride            8 points
Blackwoods           6 points
 

Schedule for May 19th Playoffs.

Sammy's Pizza vs Blackwoods 
       1:30pm  Mars Lakeview Arena
Subway vs Ameripride    
        3:00 pm  Mars Lakeview Arena

Loser Game 1 vs Loser Game 2    
         5:45pm Mars Lakeview Arena
Winner Game 2 vs Winnter Game 2 
         7:15pm Mars Lakeview Arena

May 13-17, 2013

There will be a Noon Open Hockey this week on Tuesday, Thursday.

Come check us out!

All players need to pay at the office prior to dressing for open hockey. 
Must have 10 players for Open Hockey. Cost is $6.00

Jerry DeMeo. Duluth Heritage Sports Center President/CEO announced today that Gordy Atol, the DHSC’s Arena Manager, will be leaving that position at the end of April. Tom Kowalik, currently the DHSC’s assistant Arena Manager will assume arena management duties while a search is begun for Atol’s replacement. “Tom is very capable of filling the Arena Manager’s  role.” commented DeMeo. “This will afford us the time to carefully review our needs before we begin a search for a replacement”.

Atol was the first to lay the ice in Sill Arena in April of 2008. At that time he was employed by the Duluth Amateur Hockey Association (DAHA) and under contract to the DHSC. He became the Arena Manager for the DHSC in 2009.

DeMeo said that any search for a new arena manager will likely begin later this summer.