News:

A year after a land-lease agreement with Techny's Society of the Divine Word, the North Shore Ice Arena is open for business in Northbrook.

The arena, the brainchild of North Shore hockey players' moms and dads, was actually operating for about six weeks before Northbrook Village President Gene Marks and Wilmette Hockey Association President Chuck Smith dropped the ceremonial first pucks Sunday.

Leaders of the Wilmette club and the Winnetka Hockey Club managed to close a deal for a $7.5 million bonded loan from the Illinois Finance Authority and build the 45,000-square-foot facility in less time than it takes the Tribune Company to assemble bids to sell the Cubs.

Now, they figure members of their hockey clubs no longer will have to travel to Lake County for expensive, prized ice time; they'll be able to get all they need in Northbrook and in their home-town park district facilities.

Dream come true

"The two clubs had a vision about solving our ice needs, both in terms of cost and distance," Smith said. "Through hard work, and generous contributions of our families, we've been able to beat the odds and pull this off."

It hasn't all been roses. The original plan was to raise $3 million in contributions and borrow $5.5 million. They wound up raising $1.5 million, and borrowing more, which they'll have to pay off over the next 37 years, Smith said.

For the money, they've got a National Hockey League-size rink plus a 5,000-square-foot studio rink, boys' and girls' locker rooms, a concession area and a pro shop.

Blue Demon base

Tenants at the 2111 Founders Drive facility include the New Trier Hockey Association, the North Shore Skating Academy -- a figure skating club -- and the De Paul University Hockey Club.

De Paul's Blue Demons left the McFetridge Sports Center on Chicago's Northwest Side for the North Shore, where the team will play all its home games this year and next, general manager Maddy Rossobillo said.

The next Northbrook game is at 9:10 p.m. Nov. 14, against the Lindenwood University Lions of St. Charles, Mo.

Tickets are $5, but DePaul students and all elementary and high school students get in free, Rossobillo said.

"The plan was to move out of the city and become a staple on the North Shore, where there is a lot of good youth hockey," Rossobillo said, adding, "We hope being here will create a pipeline (of players) to the DePaul University program."

About 90 percent of ice time, between 6 a.m. and midnight daily, is accounted for, so hometown Northbrook hockey players won't be able to practice much at the new rink, if at all. But ice time elsewhere is expected to free up.

And local kids may wind up at the arena for birthday parties. The facility includes a party room adjacent to the studio rink.

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