Ralph Engelstad Arena (The Mini Ralph) (REA) is an indoor

arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...

located in

Thief River Falls, Minnesota Thief River Falls, sometimes referred to as Thief River or abbreviated as TRF, is a city in Pennington County in the northwest portion of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 8,749 at the 2020 census. Thief River Falls is the county ...

. It is used primarily for ice sports, such as

hockey Hockey is a term used to denote a family of various types of both summer and winter team sports which originated on either an outdoor field, sheet of ice, or dry floor such as in a gymnasium. While these sports vary in specific rules, numbers o ...

, and was built by Jim Kobetsky of Schoen Associates based in

Grand Forks Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the state of North Dakota (after Fargo and Bismarck) and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2020 census, the city's population was 59,166. Grand Forks, along with its twin city o ...

North Dakota North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the Native Americans in the United States, indigenous Dakota people, Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north a ...

. The Venue is the home arena of the

Thief River Falls Norskies The Thief River Falls Norskies are an American Junior A ice hockey team based in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. They participate in the Superior International Junior Hockey League, a Canadian Junior Hockey League member. History The Norskies were ...

of the

SIJHL The Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) is a junior A ice hockey league and a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and Hockey Canada. The league operates in the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. states of M ...

and the Lincoln High School Prowlers Hockey Programs (often referred to as the 'Thief River Falls Prowlers'). It replaced the older Huck Olson Memorial Arena which was home to the prowlers since 1970.

History

On February 4, 2002, it was announced the Ralph Engelstad and his wife Betty, whom were living in

Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...

at the time, had donated $10 million which was to be used for a new multi-purpose facility in his hometown Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The project was approved in a city council meeting on February 12, 2002. Despite the donation, it was clear that additional funds would be needed for the project to come to fruition. Thus, a local fundraising campaign began in September of that year, which raised approximately an extra $3 million which was enough money to finish the project. The Arena would be officially dedicated on November 29, 2003. Though Ralph Engelstad would not live to see this. He would die of

Lung Cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma (since about 98–99% of all lung cancers are carcinomas), is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissue (biology), tissues of the lung. Lung carcinomas derive from tran ...

on November 26, 2002 at 72 years old. In June 2005, The Construction of the Community room, or "Imperial Room" was finished. In the same year, A basketball floor and Arena decking were added. After Construction was completed, the Engelstad family would donate a further $13 million.

Features

*2,800 Theatre-style seats *281 Bar stools along the perimeter of the bowl *2 concession stands *8 bathrooms *Weight Room *Hall of Fame section, which includes a bronze statue of Ralph Engelstad from when he played high school hockey at Thief River Falls as a goaltender

References

External links

Ralph Engelstad Arena - Thief River Falls websiteVintage Minnesota Hockey - Ralph Engelstad ArenaThief River Falls Norskies Official Website
Indoor ice hockey venues in Minnesota Buildings and structures in Pennington County, Minnesota Sports in Thief River Falls, Minnesota {{Minnesota-stadium-stub