Arena Bloomington Ice Gardens

Bloomington Ice Gardens "BIG"

The Bloomington Ice Gardens located at 3600 W 98th Street in Bloomington Minnesota opened in 1970 initially with one rink called the Bloomington Community Ice Garden. Recently in the Summer and Fall of 2007 new renovations were made to the 37 year old rink namely called "Rink 1". Construction included; new concrete flooring, new energy-efficient refrigeration system, extended players' boxes, and seamless glass to enhance spectator viewing. 1970 also happened to be the same year in which Bloomington Jefferson High School was erected. Today the Gardens, commonly referred to "BIG," has grown to three rinks, one of them Olympic-sized with a seating capacity of 2,500. The "BIG" rinks are used for the various Bloomington Boys and Girls youth hockey programs. It is also the home of the Bloomington Kennedy and Bloomington Jefferson High School hockey teams that have a rich hockey tradition, and history of producing some of the best high school hockey players the state has seen within the "State-of-Hockey". Jefferson having 5 state championships from 1981, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994 and Kennedy with 1 in 1987 the various banners hang from the rafters proudly in the Gardens arena. There is also numerous photos of all the former Bloomington teams, and a tribute to the late Bill Masteron whom was a Bloomington native at the time of his death on Met Center ice January 18, 1968. Following Bills death, the Masterton family- along with Bills friends' established the "Masterton Trust Fund" that awards scholarships to graduating Bloomington High School hockey players. The first Scholarship was awarded in 1969, and it's recipients are known as "William J. Masterton Scholars". Bloomington hockey has three history laden programs within the community, and the BIG stands a testament to the history revolving Jefferson, Kennedy, and the old Lincoln High School, along with the various D1 and NHL players whom once called the "BIG" home

Bill Masterton Jersey and Scholarship Memorial

St. Paul Vulcans Face-off at BIG Rink-1Photo Courtesy of USHL**

BIG Rink-1 flooding 1970**