Elmhurst YMCA ice rink celebrates 60th season

Sixty years ago, the Elmhurst YMCA’s ice rink welcomed its first skaters. It’s become a beloved Elmhurst community staple ever since, serving as the first rink in Illinois to offer a youth hockey league.

The rink’s no stranger to Chicago Blackhawks greats Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita who skated at the Elmhurst YMCA. The rock band Styx even played a concert on the rink before the group rose to fame!

During a regular season, the Elmhurst YMCA is home to youth and adult hockey leagues, women’s hockey clinics, skate school classes, an annual “Girls Hockey Day” event, group rentals, and more. Due to COVID-19, however, the center hasn’t been able to celebrate the rink’s 60th season the way they’d imagined.

Still, the Elmhurst YMCA’s members, participants, staff, and the greater community are making the most of this hallmark year by hosting what programs they can and sharing the rink’s rich history.

“Over the past 60 years, our rink has been a home for the community to enjoy. The people who have come to our rink are not great just because of their technique or skills, but rather their passion,” said Derek Schlager, Interim Executive Director at the Elmhurst YMCA. “We hope to keep this passion going at the Elmhurst Y for another 60 years!”