Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette The village of Laurium is focusing on getting the Gipp Arena ready for the upcoming skating season, with the new ice-generating system that was recently installed.

LAURIUM – After minor technical problems with the new ice-making plant caused some delays, the Village of Laurium is now in the process of making ice at the George Gipp Arena and has set a tentative date of Monday to begin skating. Ice making began last week after a brief delay.

“Unfortunately,” Village Manager Ian Lewis said, “we ran into issues that needed to be resolved prior to making the ice at the ice rink.”

A village official said an ice foundation was laid on Wednesday. “Originally, we were thinking it would be this week,” the official said, “but we were kind of dreaming big, but in theory, we’re right on schedule. They added the rink is slated to open Monday with the first public skating tentatively scheduled for Nov. 29.

Typically Gipp Arena opens during Thanksgiving Week but the majority of people do not start skating until after Thanksgiving and after deer hunting season, which ends on Nov. 30. While the rink is scheduled to open Monday, the ice is already rented by various groups the first thee days.

The Gipp Ice Arena is a popular place throughout the skating season, the official said, with something going on there every day of the week. “There’s junior hockey peppered throughout the week, kids come and practice,” they said, “then a number of senior men’s leagues rent ice time an hour on Monday or two hours on Tuesday, and they come and play hockey with their friends.”

Monday through Wednesday, rink time is taken by junior hockey and men’s hockey leagues. On Thursday and Friday the rink will be closed. Saturday, November 29 is scheduled for the first public skating of the season. “That’s our first public skating when it’s open for the public to come and skate, and they can stay as long as they want. The concession stand will be open, too.”

Along with a new ice plant, the ice arena will also offer ice skate rental for the first time according to the village official. “This is the first year of our skate rental program,” she said. “We have hockey skates of all sizes, from little teeny feet to old, grown adult feet.”

Village Trustee Jeff Erickson said currently the village has 50 pairs of skates of all sizes, and plans to acquire 50 more. It is also planned for the Gipp to acquire the equipment to sharpen skates onsite.