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After a couple of rough years during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Aberdeen Recreational Complex has a new owner and will have a new look this fall.
Wally Mah of Northridge Developments purchased the rink after it went back into possession by a bank during the pandemic.
“I thought, ‘Well, this rink has some real good bones and opportunity,’ ” Mah said, explaining why he decided to get involved.
Under his ownership, Mah said there will be some changes to the complex this fall.
He will be converting the curling sheets into an on-ice training site, as the entire rink will transform into a high-performance hockey and multi-sport facility.
Beginning in the fall, Mah said there will be more off-ice training spaces available.
“We’re going to have shooting galleries. We’re going to have a full gym,” Mah said. “We’re going to bring some other skill sets there.”
Jay Keating, general manager of the complex, said even though the focus is changing to bring in more hockey athletes, they are not shutting out other groups.
“This isn’t hockey-specific,” Keating said. “It’s going to be the majority of our programming, but definitely open to other events and sports as well. That’s why we’re making it a multi-sport facility.”
Aberdeen Mayor Ryan White said he anticipates a good relationship between the community and Mah.
White said Aberdeen is happy “to be able to partner with a private sector partner that really, I feel, has the community’s best interest at heart.”
The mayor said it was a tough decision to remove the curling sheets, and the town had a number of discussions with the curling club but ultimately knew this was the best option for the facility in the long term.
Keating said the town hopes to host one or two bonspiels or other curling events each year.
