Las Vegas Youth Hockey Boom Sparks Grassroots Solutions for Rinks

Gina Usufzy's son started playing hockey in Southern Nevada 13 years ago when the sport was virtually inaccessible. At that time, the Vegas Golden Knights didn't exist, and families faced steep costs associated with youth hockey clubs.

In response to these barriers, Usufzy founded the Jake Kielbs Hockey Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at breaking down access barriers through free gear programs, clinics, and scholarships. Since the Golden Knights took the ice in 2017, youth hockey participation in Southern Nevada has skyrocketed by 268%, according to the National Hockey League.

However, the surge in popularity has led to a critical shortage of ice rinks in the area. When the Golden Knights were granted their franchise in 2016, there were just three community ice rinks in Southern Nevada.

That number has increased to seven, including City National Arena and the America First Center. Despite this growth, Usufzy and Beau Young, the foundation's marketing lead, emphasize that the region remains underserved.

Young, who has firsthand experience as a father of multisport athletes, finds it challenging to secure ice time and turf fields, especially during Southern Nevada's brutal summers when outdoor sports must move indoors.

This intense competition for limited facilities has further highlighted the pressing need for additional rinks. In light of the demand, Usufzy is working to establish the Las Vegas Community Sports Complex, envisioned as the region's first nonprofit community ice rink and multiuse indoor turf field.

The complex is projected to cost $15 million and will be built without public funding. It will include two NHL-sized sheets of ice, a 200-by-85-foot indoor turf field, and seating for 1,500 spectators.

The facility aims to accommodate hockey, figure skating, curling, soccer, lacrosse, and other sports, along with various community events. To make this vision a reality, the Jake Kielbs Hockey Foundation launched a $15 million capital campaign aimed at gathering monetary and in-kind donations over the next 12 to 18 months.

Usufzy is seeking community support to acquire land and bring architectural designs to life. The commitment from the NHL, which has invested $3.6 million through its NHLPA Industry Growth Fund to support Golden Knights youth initiatives, further underscores the growing significance of youth hockey in the area.

As Young points out, the increased infrastructure could also attract more families to Southern Nevada, potentially leading to economic benefits through youth tournaments that bring in visitors from across the nation.

Usufzy's determination is clear: "The community needs this, and we need help giving the community what they need. Help us help our youth."