Dek Hockey Leagues Thriving in City

Renzie’s rink has become a local landmark — and a success story

By Jason A. Mignanelli
The Tube City Almanac
June 22, 2021
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Sports

Additional reporting by Kristen Keleschenyi

 
When the McKeesport Dek Hockey Association announced in March that they would have adult leagues in the spring, interest was high after a year of COVID-19 restrictions. Although youth leagues were postponed, enrollment in the adult leagues flourished.

The rink offered a dose of normalcy for adults during the pandemic. Not only was the rink a location for adults to gather safely to get some much-needed exercise, but it also gave players an opportunity for fellowship.

“It’s been an amazing experience,” said Andy Miller, a Glassport resident who plays in the adult leagues. “I started playing here about two years ago. Now, I’m usually here three or four nights per week playing games.”

McKeesport’s dek hockey rink, located in Renziehausen Park, was one of only 12 donated in the Pittsburgh area by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The original surface, shown here in a 2017 photo, has recently been replaced. (Photo courtesy McKeesport Dek Hockey Association, via Facebook)

The city’s dek hockey association has become a local success story and made the rink, located just off of University Drive, a recognizable landmark in Renziehausen Park.

The rink was one of only 12 donated to local communities by the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of their “Power Play” rink program to get more kids exposed to hockey.

“A lot of people were instrumental in getting the rink here in McKeesport but Mayor Mike Cherpeko pushed hard to get the Penguins to select our city as one of their 12 locations,” said Justin Evans, manager of the McKeesport Dek Hockey Association.  “He constantly stressed the importance of giving the children an opportunity to play this great sport.”

The players know just how important it is to have this opportunity.

“This is great for the community because this area is mainly known for football and basketball, but it’s great to give adults and kids the opportunity to see and play hockey,” said Miller.

Members of Team Rum Ham celebrate their victory in the association’s High League Championship game, played in December. (Photo courtesy McKeesport Dek Hockey Association, via Facebook)

Evans has been a key part of the rink’s success. He manages the leagues and plays on one of the adult teams, which won one of the tournaments hosted by local dek hockey enthusiast and sports talk host Mark Madden.

“I really just enjoy it and I love hockey,” Evans said.

Zach Smith, who lives in Munhall, used to play at a rink on the South Side until it closed down. He has been playing hockey in McKeesport since the dek opened in 2017 and plays on one of the tournament teams. He says there is often curiosity about the Renzie dek when they participate in competitions.

“They [other players] say, ‘You play for McKeesport? You have a rink? We didn’t know about that,’” Smith said.

Bill Klingensmith has four daughters who have played in the youth leagues. They were instrumental in “practically begging” him to get back to playing hockey after a 25-year break.

“I’m the oldest goalie they have, and I play more games in a single season than some play in a year,” Klingensmith said.

Zach Smith of Munhall, who scored his 300th goal in the McKeesport association in October, has been playing at the Renzie rink since it opened in 2017. (Photo courtesy McKeesport Dek Hockey Association, via Facebook)

The recent spring adult league season was put on hiatus as the opportunity to complete much needed dek improvements happened sooner than expected, right as teams were moving into the playoffs. The company handling the Renzie walking trail enhancements, El Grande Industries, is now repairing the subfloor to alleviate a flooding issue.

Evans says once the work is over, the rink will feature a new, smooth MS3 surface which is used at top level dek hockey rinks across the country. The adult league championship games will be the first to be played on the new surface.

“A lot more people are talking about going there now that they are making these improvements,” says Smith.

The old surface will be reused in the adjacent rink, which will be open to the public.

(Photo courtesy McKeesport Dek Hockey Association, via Facebook)

Anyone age 16 and up who possesses the skill level necessary and wants to join a McKeesport adult league team can now sign up as registration has opened for the summer season. Youth league registration also will begin soon.

As with the adult leagues, interest in the youth leagues is high coming out of the pandemic. Three free learn-to-play sessions held over two weekends in March and April yielded about 50 kids per session.

Once the work is completed, which is dependent on good weather and delivery of the new rink, play will resume. Evans is hoping for a late June early July start.

“It’s something different for the kids to do to teach them a new skill set and you can play all year round,” Klingensmith said. “With games usually on Friday nights and Saturday mornings it gives them something to do instead of sitting in the house playing PlayStation, which is why the parents like it.”

Evans says while the delay in play has been frustrating, it will be worth the wait when the work is completed.

“These improvements are something we have talked about and fundraised for for several years,” Evans said. “To be able to get this work done sooner than expected and kick off our first full dek hockey season since last March, when the pandemic began, with a top-notch playing surface is beyond anything I could have wished for. I can’t wait to see how we can grow our dek hockey association.”

For more information about McKeesport Dek Hockey visit mckdekhockey.com or email mckdekhockey@gmail.com.

Kristen Keleschenyi is a freelance writer in North Versailles Twp. and one of the hosts of the Kristen & Amber Show on WMCK Internet Radio at 5 p.m. Saturdays, 9 p.m. Mondays and 4 p.m. Thursdays. She may be reached at kbishop25@hotmail.com. Jason A. Mignanelli is a freelance writer from Pittsburgh’s North Hills and a student at Duquesne University. He may be reached at mignanellij@duq.edu.

Originally published June 22, 2021.

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