PUBLISHED BY: STT R PublicationsPuPubblic Hockey Storm n’ Sabres MINNESOTApage 4B January 19-20, 2018 Tending the rinks Patterson works as warming house attendant BY ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER SAUK RAPIDS – Driving by the and sidewalk plowing.” Pleasantview Park ice rink in the dead Patterson does not mind the job. of winter, one will see many people, ages “It’s nice to have a job,” Patterson said. young and old, skating around the ice. There Being a warming house attendant allows are children learning how to skate or play Patterson time to take in casual hockey hockey and there are high schoolers and games and skate around. It also offers much- young adults playing pond hockey. needed homework time on occasion. A small one-room building serves as a “It’s really just a time for me to hang warming house and an area to change into out,” Patterson said. “I have a lot of people skates. That is where you will À nd Kade I know who come just to hang out. There Patterson. are a lot of shifts where I’m out on the ice Patterson works for the Sauk Rapids- taking in a game of hockey with a bunch of Rice Community Education Program as a guys. Hockey was my thing until I was told warming house attendant. I couldn’t play anymore.” “It’s an easy job, really,” said Patterson, Patterson played hockey from the time a senior at SRR high school. “I really just he was 4 until he was 16. Then a medical have to unlock the building, turn on the condition made his bones too brittle to play. heat, shovel the hockey rink if needed and Patterson enjoys watching those who make sure there isn’t anyone misbehaving.” come to the rinks. He feels he has been a The warming house coverage is a part of their memories. partnership between community education “I’ve seen a lot of things here that are and the Sauk Rapids Public Works fun to be a part of in a way,” Patterson said. department. Public works director Pete “There’s a lot of parents who bring their Eckhoff appreciates the partnership. young kids to the rink. I often think, ‘Wow, “I usually just send an email to Phillip I’m watching a kid learning to skate for Klaphake [community recreation director the À rst time,’ or ‘I’m watching this cool at SRR schools] a few weeks prior to the family-bonding time.’ It always brings a planned opening dates of the rinks, and he smile to my face knowing I get to witness takes care of scheduling people to be there,” some of that.” Eckhoff said. “I’m glad Phillip takes care of Patterson rotates his time between the the scheduling. A snowstorm would make it Oak Ridge rink, located at 2008 Highview tough for me to coordinate the attendant’s Drive, and the Pleasantview rink. schedules. I’m focused on the general street “Hardly anyone goes to Oak Ridge,” PHOTO BY ANNA SALDANA plowing operations, then the sidewalks Patterson said. “For the residents around and then the rinks. Not having to À nd rink Kade Patterson clears the Pleasantview Park hockey rink of snow Jan. 8. Patterson is a warming Patterson page 2B house attendant for two rinks in Sauk Rapids – Pleasantview and Oak Ridge. attendants allows me to focus on the street Friday, Jan. 19 schedule @ Lake George, St. Cloud 5 p.m. – St. Cloud Ice Breakers vs. Sartell-Sauk Rapids Storm n’ Sabres – Girls HS Saturday, Jan. 20 schedule @ Herb Brooks National 7:30 p.m. – St. Cloud State University Alumni Hockey Center, St. Cloud 5 p.m. – Minnesota State University-Mankato vs. St. Saturday, Jan. 20 schedule @ Lake George, St. Cloud State University – Men Cloud 10 a.m. – St. Cloud vs. St. Cloud Cathedral – Boys HS Saturday, Jan. 20 schedule @ Xcel Energy Center, 1 p.m. – St. Cloud State University vs. University of St. Paul Minnesota-Duluth – Women 8 p.m. – Minnesota Wild vs. Tampa Bay Lightning – 4:30 p.m. – Moorhead vs. Centennial – Boys HS NHL 7-10 p.m. – Fabulous Armadillos – Free concert. Gates open at 6 p.m. DON’T SCHEDULE MISS IT! PAGE 2B | HOCKEY DAY MN 2018 HOCKEY DAY MN Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck looks to block a shot Jan. 8 at Sports doubling down Arena East. on defense play the position of goalie. are helpful, Heck said most said. “… If I can make one the game is one aspect that Heck protects as “Not a lot of people times players do not cut him of these guys who have a lot keeps drawing Heck back wanted to do that; when I slack. of talent throw their hands to the ice. In addition to his played with my friends I “There are some pretty up in disgust at some point, I Sunday night play, he plays goalie, sheriff would play goalie, too,” talented guys who play (on know I have done my job.” at St. Cloud State University he said. “Somebody has to in the summer months and BY NATASHA BARBER these teams),” Heck said. Heck said the highlight opponent’s goal. In both, stand there in front of the has added a Tuesday night STAFF WRITER “One in particular, has got a of his hockey career was hard work and dedication puck, right?” shot you would not believe. playing ice hockey in the league where he plays give you the satisfaction of The teachers were such … He can put that puck 2012 Can-Am Police-Fire forward rather than goalie. SAUK RAPIDS — knowing you have protected big fans of the game that inside that coffee cup (size Games in St. Cloud. Heck also enjoys Many Benton County your team and community.” education sometimes came area) and it just amazes “That was really a lot of learning more about the community members know Heck never played second to the sport. me. They take advantage fun because we spent a lot game. Sheriff Troy Heck as a man organized hockey as a “School would basically of whatever they can when of time not only playing, but “You go out there and who has led the county’s law youngster. Growing up in stop during the state high they are shooting at me. I we would practice regularly work as hard as you can for enforcement ofÀ ce for the the metro area his interest school hockey tournament,” think some of them are just as a group,” Heck said. a shift whether it turns out past three years. Heck has in the game was something Heck said. “When those entertained at the fact they “We got what I thought was good or bad,” Heck said. sworn to protect and serve that came independently. afternoon games came on, get to shoot the puck at the pretty good at the game. … “The good news is you can the public, and he has been Heck remembers wanting we got to just sit and watch sheriff.” Even though it didn’t turn go sit on the bench for a little doing so since he began his to play hockey around the the hockey games.” But, Heck does not let it out so well for my team as bit and think about what went career as a patrol deputy in time he was 7 years old. Although Heck never get the best of him. far as win-losses [Heck’s well, what didn’t go well and 1994. His parents found him a joined his high school team, “There have been a few team took third in his pool you can come out and try it Heck’s defense does pair of skates and brought when he was a junior he times I have been fortunate of three], it still was a lot of again. I like the fact that it not stop there. In a different him to local rinks where he attended all three of the enough to score some goals fun to have other groups of seems the harder you work role, the 47-year-old Foley taught himself how to skate. games at the St. Paul Civic out here and there have been hockey players come down and the more effort you put resident puts up his guard Eventually, he began playing Center as his high school — a few times I’ve been able here, play against them, talk into it, usually the better Sunday evenings as he takes the game with friends. John F. Kennedy — won the to rob some of these guys and exchange stories.” results you get.” the ice at Sports Arena East. The young boy’s state championship. that are really talented,” he The camaraderie of Heck is a goaltender for interests continued to be As life caught up with a men’s league that meets quenched by staff members Heck, hockey took a back September through March in at his primary and secondary seat to children and family, Sauk Rapids. schools. In physical but he made his way back to “In law enforcement, education classes, Heck the ice about 10 years ago. you are the line between the and his classmates had the “This [Sports Arena citizen and the criminal,” chance to play Á oor hockey East] is where I started said Heck. “As a goalie, you often, even taking on the playing again,” Heck said. are the last line of defense faculty each year. It was the “This is as organized as I between your team and an À rst opportunity Heck had to have ever played.” Each Sunday evening after 9 p.m., Heck hits the ice We are proud supporters of with local law enforcement and those who have been invited to play with the key group.