Cranberry's Dek hockey rink praised
CRANBERRY TWP — Monday was a great day for hockey in the township, officials said.
Pittsburgh Penguins, Highmark and township officials were on hand to dedicate Graham Park's new Dek hockey rink at a ceremony held in the afternoon.
The Penguins Foundation and Highmark have partnered to build 12 Dek hockey rinks in the region. The one in Cranberry Township is the seventh to be completed, but the first outside of Allegheny County.
Mike Manipole, vice chairman of the Cranberry Township board of supervisors, addressing the children in attendance, said the rink represents an investment in the township's future.
“The important people are the ones in front of us, they are the residents and the participants and all the great people that may be coming out and using this great facility,” he said.
By building facilities like the rink and continuing to offer a variety of programs to its residents, the township is hoping to create a place where its children will want to stay and one day have families of their own. The Highmark and Penguins initiative matches that philosophy, he said.
“The Penguins show a lot of teamwork on and off the field and this is a great example of the philosophy that they have of investing in great communities,” Manipole said.
“We are very fortunate to have these type of people take interest in our community.”
Dave Morehouse, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Penguins, said that Dek hockey is an affordable alternative to ice hockey that can get more children active.
The Penguins and Highmark arrived at the idea after making two observations, he said.
“One was kids were sitting on the couch. They weren't becoming active, they didn't have enough things to do, enough things to keep them physically active and the other is the sport of hockey is a great sport, but it's expensive. It's hard to get to play anywhere.”
About 2,000 children around the region are already playing in Dek hockey leagues and the township should expect its new rink to be greatly popular, Morehouse said.Highmark Executive Vice President Dan Onorato said the partnership with the Penguins is aimed at giving children something to do and keeping them healthy.“Our mission is to keep people healthy, not just treat them once they're sick,” Onorato said.Cranberry Township is lucky to be one of the first municipalities in the area to get a rink, since they are becoming increasingly popular, he said.The idea for the rink was first conceived in November of 2013 and through “phenomenal teamwork” the township was able to meet its goal of having it completed and ready to use by October of this year, said Pete Geis, Cranberry's parks, recreation and community service director.The rink and scoreboard are completely finished, though the township still needs to finish installing lights.The fall league started over the weekend, though the department is still accepting registrations and will also have a spring league.Children ages 4 to 12 can sign up to play in three different age divisions.The department is also looking at adult leagues, open times when the public can shoot around and hockey clinics.For more information on the Dek hockey league, visit cranberrytownship.org/dekhockey.
