Then & Now: West St. Paul Ice Arena

Thanks to Dakota County for their support.

Here’s a look at the expansion of the John V. Hoene Ice Arena in West St. Paul from 1997 to 2023.

Ice Arena: 1997

Originally built in 1971, the John V. Hoene Ice Arena was renovated and expanded in 1997, adding the front lobby, concessions, bathrooms, offices, and locker rooms.

Namesake: The rink is named for John V. Hoene (1914-2001), who coached hockey in Duluth and West St. Paul until the age of 72. He helped launch the youth hockey association, spearheaded the effort to build the arena, and is the original inductee in the West St. Paul Hockey Hall of Fame. (According to Vintage Minnesota Hockey)

Ice Arena: 2023

In 2022, the City of West St. Paul moved forward with an expansion of the ice arena. The $1.65 million project was split between the West St. Paul Youth Hockey Association and Two Rivers Hockey Boosters. The city financed and supervised the project, but these two groups paid for it.

Here’s a further look at the improvements, including an expanded training area and locker rooms:

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(Thanks to the City of West St. Paul for the photos. West St. Paul Reader is not endorsed, affiliated with, or sponsored by the City of West St. Paul.)