National Sports Center Blog

Intern Orientation

By Barclay Kruse, NSC Chief Communications Officer

Today was a day we look forward to every year, the arrival of our new class of summer interns. The 2008 class of interns is typically impressive, with interns representing colleges and universities across the U.S. and even Europe. Every year, we get several hundred applications, and the 20 interns selected represent the best of the best.

Above: Schwan's USA CUP Director Teri Vogt briefs our new class of interns on the NSC Velodrome during their facility tour. NSCtv producer Greg Hutton, right, filmed intern orientation for a "meet the interns" segment of our weekly news show.

Today the interns spent time learning about the history and administrative structure of the NSC, took a facility tour, and of course, posed for the traditional opening day group photo. So without further adeu, we proudly present our 2008 class of summer interns:

  Front row, left-to-right: Mike Babcock, Michigan Tech, Anoka, Minn.; Jake Lunemann, St. Cloud State U, Clarissa, Minn.; Ryan Larson, University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Little Canada, Minn.; Zachary Knight, James Madison University, Winchester, Va.; Kasey Grams, University of Minnesota, Fairchild, Wis.; Heather Holmes, Southwest Minnesota State U., Fridley, Minn.; Mikkala Korton, Minnesota State U, Mankato, Coon Rapids, Minn.; Clinton LaBeau*, Minnesota State U, Mankato, Cambridge, Minn.; Jami Steer*, Concordia College (Moorhead), Crookston, Minn..

Back row: Greg Hutton*, Slippery Rock State U & University of Minnesota, Stephens City, Va.; Claire Bouilleguet, IFI Rouen School of Management, Rouen, France; Erin Lammert, University of Minnesota, Luverne, Minn.; Taylor Kruse*, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio; Heather Anderson, Southwest Minnesota State U., Brooklyn Park, Minn.; Lizzy Snell, Boston University, North St. Paul, Minn.; Casey Allar, Bemidji State University, Sartell, Minn.

Not pictured: Pierre Bodin, IFI Rouen School of Management, Rouen, France; Lindsey Grauman.

* = returning intern

Skating show skaters span four generations

By Barclay Kruse, NSC Chief Communications Officer

The NSC Skating School at the Schwan Super Rink is getting ready for our annual ice show this weekend. Performances of the show, themed "Hooray for Hollywood," are scheduled for 7:00pm on Friday, May 2; and 2:00 and 7:00pm on Saturday, May 3.

Jane Schaber, our skating school director, tipped me off to a unique pair of skaters in the show. Bev Eberhard, who lives in Fridley and will only say she's in her 70's, will skate along with her great grand daughter Haylee Zellner. Haylee, who lives in Ham Lake, proudly admits her age: 6.

The four generation span of the two skaters, if not unique, must be highly unusual in the youngish world of figure skating.

In addition to performing together this weekend, Bev and Haylee have competed in the same competitions, and are always there to cheer each other on.

If you're interested in seeing our cast of thousands -- all right, a hundred or so -- skate this weekend, tickets are available at the door for $6.00 for adults 17 and over, $5.00 for children 5-16, and ages 4 and under are free.

Stick It to Cancer hockey tournament goes pink

By Barclay Kruse, NSC Chief Communications Officer

Last night, in the dark of the night, the Schwan Super Rink went pink.

Thanks to a generous sponsorship from Farmers Insurance, the Schwan Super Rink's maintenance crew applied pink paint to the six sheets of ice that will be used for this weekend's Stick It to Cancer hockey tournament. The Stick It tournament, which starts tonight, April 18 and runs through Sunday April 20, is a women's and girls' tournament. It benefits breast cancer research by donating proceeds to the University of Minnesota Cancer Research Center.

Last year's tournament donated $45,000 to the cause, and organizers Jackie Olson and Sanya Sandahl expect to break the record this year -- with a boost from the pink ice.

Headed up by SSR Ice Operations Manager Brandon Radeke and Arena Director Pete Carlson, our dedicated crew started at 11pm and worked straight through the night. They put the finishing touches on the final sheet at about 6am.

Here are some technical details about how they did it.

The paint spraying machine was borrowed from the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul. You may not know this, but ice can be painted just like any surface. After mixing red and white paint to make a pink tint, Radeke drove the sprayer around the ice, and laid down a pink tint on top of the regular ice surface. The paint takes only a couple minutes to dry. Once the paint was dry, workers sprayed water on top of the pink paint to build up about 1/8-inch of ice to protect the paint from the Zamboni shaving.

What's produced is a striking visual. The pink ice surface is stunning; the tint reflects off the arena ceiling and the air seems to glow pink. Photos don't do it justice. And if you see it first hand you'll notice that the pink shade varies slightly from rink to rink, the result of the SSR crew applying some artistic license. Either that or lack of sleep!

There are 96 teams playing in the Stick It Tournament. Most of the players know about the pink ice, but we're guessing many spectators will be caught by surprise. We're expecting more than a few gasps.

And on Sunday night, after the last championship trophy is awarded, the Zambonis will take the ice, shave off that top 1/8-inch, and the Schwan Super Rink will fade back to white.

Tinklenberg video talks about creation of the NSC

By Barclay Kruse, NSC Chief Communications Officer

You find the most interesting things on YouTube.

I was checking that popular video-posting website today to make sure our most recent edition of NSCtv was posted correctly. (We're posting NSCtv both on the NSC's website and also on YouTube. So yes, it was work related!)

As any YouTube addict knows, one of the powerful and intriguing things about YouTube is the list of "Related Videos" that pops up just to the right of the video you're viewing. If you click on the April 17 edition of NSCtv, you'll find a related video that shows Elwyn Tinklenberg reminiscing about the creation of the National Sports Center in 1990. Tinklenberg was the mayor of Blaine at the time the NSC was built, and he is currently running for U.S. Congress from Minnesota's 6th district. This video was posted on his campaign website. El lives just a couple miles from the NSC, and he's still a frequent visitor to our campus for various different events.

It's a nice little video, only 2:17 long, with some interesting historical context, and also some talk about what Schwan's USA CUP meant to a city that back then didn't see many international visitors. Check it out by clicking here.

El has always been a big supporter of the NSC, and this video shows his pride in the leadership role he took to help facilitate our original construction.

Spring is here, so field rebuilding underway

By Barclay Kruse, NSC Chief Communications Officer

If you're reading this from warmer climes that Minnesota, this has been the winter that seemingly will never end. And if you live in Minnesota, you know what I'm talking about. Every time we think spring is here, the temperatures drop and the snow flies again. In fact, just a week ago, we were facing blizzard warnings. In the end, the storm tracked just to the north of the NSC, but we did get two days of slushy snow, wind and below-freezing temperatures.

But four days ago, suddenly, the temperatures climbed into the 50's, then 60's, and now we think that, finally, spring has sprung.

With the ground thawing, it means is that we now can begin to work on conditioning our outdoor turf fields in earnest. This year we will be rehabilitating four fields on the north side of our campus -- M1, M2, I1 and I3. Two days ago we started regrading the fields. Irrigation will be added, soil correction made to eliminate holes and crevices, and new seed planted and sod layed.

Photo: Graders are moving dirt as part of the rebuilding project on fields M1, M2, I1 and I3.

"This year we are trying to be more proactive about turf care, doing all the little things to make our fields as safe as possible," said the NSC's Director of Turf Maintenance Neil Ladd. "In addition to the four fields under major reconstruction, we're working hard on all our other fields, doing what we call 'cultural practices' -- fertilizing, top-dressing, airification, and overseeding."

Ladd expects the four rebuilt fields will be ready for play by Schwan's USA CUP, July 11.

Aaaaaand we're live...

By Greg Hutton, NSC Media Specialist

It's here.  You know what I'm talking about.

NSCtv, the free weekly video show of the National Sports Center, has officially made its debut.  Brought to you by the NSC's media staff, NSCtv offers a behind-the-scenes look at the events, programs, athletes and people of the facility.  A new edition will be available every Thursday, and the show can be accessed by clicking on the NSCtv link under the "Community" section of nscsports.org.

Approximately 30-40 NSC staff members, partners and friends celebrated the NSCtv premiere in style...sort of...with a party in the Schwan Center's Grand Hall. Hors D'oeuvres (don't think I've ever had to spell that word before) and drinks were provided, and everyone had a chance to socialize for a bit before the official unveiling of NSCtv at 3:33 p.m. CDT. We wanted to make it a fun, humorous event. And we succeeded, as you can see from this picture:

FROM LEFT:  Megan Perry and Stephonie Wentz of Visit Minneapolis North, and the infamous Sha Leahey (NSC Registrar).

FROM LEFT, CLOCKWISE:  NSC staff members Brady Eichhorn-Hicks, Angie Bertrand, J.J. Towner, Jenny Een and Kara Radeke.

ABOVE: Intently watching the NSCtv premiere.

We're working very hard to provide our customers with new, interactive tools that are largely unavailable in the amateur sports world.  We're ahead of the curve, and we will be continuing down this path with future editions of NSCtv, the addition of more extensive webcasting as well as the return of Kick TV, the daily video journal of Schwan's USA CUP, presented by PUMA.

As far as future editions of NSCtv:  we've got some interesting - and lighthearted - segments planned, so be sure to check back each week.  If nothing else, the outtakes will make you laugh.

New book profiles U.S. Women's National Soccer Team

By Barclay Kruse, NSC Chief Communications Officer

Paul Phillips (photo right) is a Minneapolis-based freelance sports photographer who has covered many events at the NSC -- National Team soccer games, Minnesota Thunder games, velodrome races, among others. At our request once, Paul even donated his time to the NSC to shoot aerial photos of our campus from a helicopter. You can check out Paul's photo work at his website.

Yesterday we received an advance copy of a new book Paul has photographed, with author Gail Stewart. Portrait of Passion is narrowly a book about the U.S. Women's National Team, focusing on their journey through the 2007 World Cup in China. In a broader sense though, the book is about the love of soccer, growing up in the sport, the beauty of teamwork, and ultimately, about moving on to different things.

The book is strikingly photographed, beautifully designed, and would be a treasured read for any fans who've enjoyed one of the many games the Women's National Team has played at the NSC Stadium over the years.

There's one photo in the book that wasn't shot by Paul, however. We are honored that Paul picked a photo taken by one of our talented Schwan's USA CUP photo interns Dillon Berntson. Dillon's photo of Julie Foudy accompanies Foudy's forward to the book. The picture was taken in the NSC press box before Foudy went on the air as color commentator for ESPN's coverage of the USA vs. Sweden game at the '06 Schwan's USA CUP.

The book can be ordered through portraitofpassion.com. We are also talking to Paul about autographing books at Schwan's USA CUP this July, or at other NSC soccer events this year. So stayed tuned.

PAL visit highlights mission of the Herb Brooks Training Center

By Barclay Kruse, NSC Chief Communications Officer

Last week, 29 kids from the Police Athletic League in North Minneapolis ran through a one-hour training session at the Herb Books Training Center (HBTC) at the Schwan Super Rink. HBTC coaches led the drills, suppported by five Minneapolis police officer coaches.

Janet Marvin was in charge of the delegation.

"We skate outside with them 3-4 days a week on the park ice rinks," she said. "We got an invitation to come out here. We'll be here for 10 weeks, until May 29."

The delegation from the Police Athletic League in North Minneapolis takes a break for a team photo during their training session at the Herb Brooks Training Center. (photo by Ron Guild)

Marvin knows her hockey. She grew up as a member of the famous Marvin hockey family in Warroad, Minn. (Her father is Cal ; Gophers' star Gigi Marvin her neice and St. Cloud State forward Aaron her nephew.)

"I don't know if the kids knew what to expect when they came out," Marvin said. "None of them have ever been to this facility. We have a couple kids who have been to the Super Rink itself, but not inside the dry-land training facility. They're having a great time just shooting pucks at the net. I think the end results will help them out as a player, and probably as a person too."

The HBTC hopes the spring program for the PAL is just the first of many community groups that utilize the state-of-the-art facility.

"Part of our mission is to find funding for people who don't have the income to pursue hockey," said Larry Hendrickson, HBTC Program Director. "That was one of Herbie's dreams."

USA CUP is Window to the World

By Colleen Bourdon, Recruiting Director

When I go out to meet teams, parents and players I always tell them that Schwan's USA CUP creates opportunities to meet people, make new friends and sometimes to travel halfway around the world for that reciprocal soccer experience.

In July, 2006 we had a team from Northern Ireland playing in USA CUP. This group brought along Leslie Lynas, who said he wanted to volunteer at USA CUP and that he planned to bring his team to the tournament in 2008 (that is about the right timeline for fundraising for an international team).

Well, it's 2008 and good to his word, Leslie is back. He has registered his team for USA CUP Weekend and Week. Leslie made some friends while he was in Minnesota and has set up a homestay arrangement for his team in Coon Rapids with those contacts.

Here are Leslie's comments about his original visit to USA CUP, the plan for his team and the teams from Coon Rapids....

"In July 2006 I travelled to Minneapolis as a volunteer for USA CUP. My goal was to check out why teams from all over the world would travel to this midwest city to participate in one of the world's largest soccer tournaments. What I found was an event so well organized that every eventuality was catered for. I arrived three days before the tournament was to start and although there was very little happening outside on the pitches, the USA CUP office was buzzing with comings and goings. I was given a tour by tournament director Teri Vogt. Teri told me the history of USA CUP and also took time out to drive me around the NSC pointing out places of interest and giving me a little history about the tournament. I spent the next two days helping around the NSC putting up sponsor banners and helping at gift packing, and on registration day helped out at the team activities station. For the tournaments I was field manager and had a fantastic time watching some very talented boys and girls showing off their soccer skills. The sportsmanship and friendliness of everyone was a delight to watch. I was particularly impressed with the parents of many soccer teams and their sporting appreciation for both teams. To see supporters unpacking their seats and placing them 5-6 feet from the side line was something I had never seen before.

I was equally impressed with the quality of the refereeing, and the professional way they set about officiating each match. I witnessed on a number of occasions more experienced referees explaining to younger, less experienced referees why they made certain decisions on the pitch. It was also interesting to listen to the assessors asking questions about decisions they made during the course of a game.

One of the highlights of my time there was watching the opening ceremony. It was fantastic watching the teams entering the arena wearing their team colours and carrying their flags and banners from their home Countries, states, and soccer clubs. As the evening wore on and the music echoed around the NSC I watched as kids exchanged pins and made the longest samba line I have ever seen.

Armagh City U13 Boys

One of the questions I was asked the most was “why did you come here” and my reply was always the same. “I want to go back to N.Ireland and arrange to bring my team, Armagh City Youth, to America to take part in USA CUP.” So in May 2007 the parents of Armagh city U13s got together to hear me announce that I wanted to take the team over to America to play in one of the world's largest youth soccer tournaments. After showing a DVD and giving the parents as much information as I could they agreed to let the kids attend.

So, on June 29, thirty-five American boys and girls accompanied by about 15 adults will be visiting Armagh as part of an exchange visit with teams from Armagh City Youth F.C.  The Americans consisting of two football teams, one boys and one girls team, are from Coon Rapids Soccer Club, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The decision to come to Armagh for their European trip was made following several phone calls and emails between Leslie Lynas and Ian McCallum, Coaching Director for Coon Rapids Youth Soccer Club.  Leslie convinced Ian of the attributes Armagh City and Northern Ireland had to offer, great soccer matches, quality coaches, sightseeing and wonderful people.

During the trip Coon Rapids players stay in Armagh they will be involved in a number of activities in and around the Armagh area.  They will also visit Dublin, Belfast and the north coast taking in the Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge.

On Tuesday July 8, 60 happy Americans will head back to the US.  They will be accompanied by thirty-fvie kids and adults from Armagh City Youth FC. All will be playing in Schwan's USA CUP.

The team  from Armagh City consist of boys from in and around the Armagh area. They have been playing together for four years and have made friendships that will last a lifetime. Armagh City Youth is a relativity young soccer club and its emphasis is on cross-community and multicultural. The team travelling to the US will probably be younger than most of the teams taking part. There is only one 1993 boy in the team, and five 1995 boys. The youngest member of the squad, Robbie was born in 1996. he is presently attending the local Manchester Utd. School of excellence at his own age group. The team also has three of the boys attending County Armagh School of Excellence.

It is likely the Armagh FC team will face opposition from some of the many countries that participate in USA CUP. Friends and families back home can also keep up with daily scores and find out about the tournament with the daily video show, KickTV."

This proves that USA CUP provides many opportunities, don't forget to sign up now and create your team's memories.

Catching the Schwan's USA CUP "bug," Mike Rolfes style

By Barclay Kruse, NSC Chief Communications Officer

Last month, we posted a blog written by Garry Frankel, a long-time Schwan's USA CUP parent and volunteer. In that essay, Garry described USA CUP as an "addiction," a good addiction, that had affected his family for the past six years.

In response we got another fun testamonial from Mike Rolfes, a Schwan's USA CUP volunteer for "every year but the first." Not all of you know Mike by name, but if you've been to the tournament, you would likely recognize him if he walked into the room. He's everywhere on the campus, every day of the tournament, from dawn until well past dark. Few have such passion for the event, a passion he calls "the bug."

Mike says: "I welcome first-time attendees with the warning, 'You are likely to infected by the USA CUP bug, and there is no known cure." And Mike's annual volunteer commitment is evidence that he's caught the bug.

Mike's great joy is to meet old referee friends, who return to the tournament year after year.

"In the early years of USA CUP, I volunteered as a field manager," Mike says. "I would be in the tent making sure the teams and refs showed up. My friendships with referees began in those tents. Now, when flight 43 lands at the airport on Wednesday and a planeload of UK referees get off, I'm there to welcome my old friends."

Mike tells another referee story:

"I was a field manager at a championship game, years ago. It was a younger division, girls. The center ref was a FIFA ref. After the match, both teams, the parents and the refs spent about an hour visiting and taking pictures. (Back then, the field manager passed out medals, and all of that was done at the field.) Back in my field manager tent the AR (assistant referee) asked the center why he, a FIFA ref, had accepted a young division game, when he clearly could have worked one of the older divisions on the stadium field. The older and wiser FIFA ref looked out -- both teams were still gathered -- and said something like, 'Lad, as you look out and see both teams talking, like this was the best day of their lives, everyone content and happy, well you'll never see that with an older team. This is the type of soccer I want to be associated with.'

"My bet is the young ref's view of officiating changed at that moment."

Many of us on staff know that early morning at USA CUP is a special time, and Mike obviously shares that:

"In the early morning, on a clear and sunny day, before the crowds converge on the NSC, sometimes a group of us volunteers go to the top of the stadium to admire the grounds," he writes. "Fifty fields are set for the day, corner flags are out, garbage picked up, sponsor banners flying and lines freshly painted. At the moment, the world is good, we are content, and I'm proud to be a USA CUP volunteer."