Fun Factor

At a new outdoor rink in Twig, the only rule is that it’s for ‘Rink Rats’ only

By Glen Andresen

Structure and organization are important aspects of growing up. Hockey parents in Twig, however, won’t allow it at their home. Actually, it’s their “home away from home” where it’s not allowed, which is the Twig Ice Rink and, specifically, Rink Three at the outdoor ice facility in this small township just north of Duluth. Jim Kehtel spends six nights a week at the facility, and he’s got one important rule when it comes to Rink Three.

“Rink Three is for ‘rink ratters’ only,” says Kehtel, the Rink Director for the Twig Amateur Hockey Association and Twig Rink. “Other than that, there are no rules.”
Kehtel has been an integral figure in the preservation of Twig recreation and, in particular, the hockey community. He spearheaded a change to the local rink that makes the average hockey nut wonder, “Why didn’t someone think of this sooner?”

Prior to the summer of 2007, the Twig Rink was similar to countless other outdoor hockey facilities in Minnesota. There were a couple of hockey rinks used for practices, games and tournaments, and a pleasure rink surrounded by snow banks where sticks and pucks are not allowed.

Similar to other associations, Twig has supported teams from the Mite One level up through the Bantam B level, which means that outdoor ice time was typically at a premium, especially for the recreational hockey player.

As rink director, Kehtel became accustomed to watching kids come off of practice at one of the two 200' x 85' hockey rinks, and head right to the warming shack. He’d hear them wishfully thinking out loud how great it would be to go right back out there and horse around with their friends. Instead of skating and puck-handling drills, the youngsters just wanted to play—for fun.


Having a rink to be used exclusively for rink rat hockey has been very successful for the Twig Hockey Association.

Kehtel recalled the response he gave so often. “We’d have to tell the kids, ‘well, there are games on both rinks, or there’s a tournament, so you’ll just have to skate around on the pleasure rink.’”

Hockey players are told from the first time they lace up the skates and take those first few wobbly steps on frozen water that the best way to have fun, and improve, is just to play “shinny” or pond hockey with a group of kids.

Having played hockey at the Twig rink himself, Kehtel realized the need for another rink. His solution was to lead the charge in the construction of Rink Three, a slightly smaller rink for hockey, with no whistles or cones allowed.

“It’s 24/7, and it’s for fun only,” said Kehtel. “There is nothing scheduled on that rink.”

Kehtel and the association could have lobbied the city for support of a large state-of-the-art multiplex, which often leads to more haggling over ice time. Instead, Twig Hockey simplified the approach and they pulled it off through a grass-roots effort involving everybody in the community.

The installation of the third rink ran a grand total of $8,000 and was funded mainly by  association members selling pizzas and participating in a Skate-a-Thon in which kids skated as many laps as they could in an hour. Minnesota Power donated the poles and made a partial donation for the lighting. A local electric company sent a boom truck technician to mount the poles free of charge. A nearby lumber company supplied the wood at cost. The township, the county and the Minnesota Department of Transportation also provided miscellaneous necessities.

“We had 30 dads come out last summer, and we had the construction done in one weekend,” boasted Kehtel.


On just about any given night, groups of kids can be found on the Twig outdoor rink, playing hockey under the stars.

Now completed, Rink Three is in its first winter of existence, and Kehtel hasn’t run into a hurdle yet—not even the common problem of older skaters reluctant to share a rink with beginners.

In a township with a couple thousand people, the rinks have been completely filled, even on those bone-chilling nights in January. 

Said Kehtel, “I’ve talked to dads who are just so happy that their three- or four-year-olds can go out there and play with a stick and a puck. He or she won’t be intimidated by Peewee practice. We also have kids that are 17 that never grew up playing hockey, and they just want to get out and exercise and play a pond game a couple nights a week at 10:30 p.m.”

“There are kids that didn’t sign up in time for hockey. They come up to the rink and wonder if it’s too late to get in. No, it’s never too late to get in and play hockey.”

The sense of community was instrumental in the building of Rink Three, and it continues through its first winter of existence. The association implemented the Rink Rat program, which allows all skaters to fill out a form and log their hours at the rink. If the kids are members of the Twig Association, the hours only count from time spent at the rink that doesn’t include practices or games.

After 20 hours, each kid gets a $5 gift certificate for the concession stand. After 40 hours, they receive a Rink Rat T-shirt. Stauber Brothers, a Duluth sporting goods staple headed by former University of Minnesota star goaltender Robb Stauber, donated two composite sticks to the program. Any skater who logs over 50 extra hours has the chance to win one of the sticks at the end-of-the-season banquet. Additionally, the fees to become an association member are among the lowest in the state.

When Twig players grow up, the majority head to nearby Proctor, and some will eventually play for their high school team. If not, thanks to Kehtel, and the entire community, those kids will always have a place to play, and they’ll always be welcome to get out there and have fun.

They have to. It’s the rule.