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. The new sheets of ice are part of a 128,000-square-foot four-hockey rink addition, which brings the size of the facility to 300,000 square feet. The addition was designed by Rozeboom Miller Architects and constructed by Kraus-Anderson Construction Company. The four new sheets are NHL-size ice. The original Schwan Super Rink, which opened in 1998, featured four Olympic-size rinks. In addition to the skating surfaces, the arena offers the Herb Brooks Center training facility, a figure skating training room, the Hat Trick Cafe, and 32 locker rooms. From ground breaking to opening, the new arena was built in just over a year. Construction began in early December of2005. . "The new Herb Books Training Center is dedicated to hockey players to help move their game from good to great and develop a lifetime love for the game," said Skip Peltier, Executive Director of The Herb Brooks Foundation. "We are carrying forward Herbie's beliefs, vision, and commitment to better the game of hockey. The Herb Brooks Training Center is the first part of a $7 million multi-phase commitment by the Foundation and was designed as a part of "The Four Pillars of Program Development & Training:" dryland training, on-ice training, character/leadership/officials training, and unstructured play in a 'pond-hockey' environment. "We are actively working with leading companies, former players and others to sponsor and bring to reality this commitment to better the game," said Peltier. "My dad loved the game of hockey and committed his life to making it better for all," said Dan Brooks, son of Herb Brooks and a member of the Foundation board. "Read his comments; they are what the Herb Brooks Foundation is committed to doing." "Herbie envisioned what is now the Herb Brooks Training Center when he first developed the original Super Rink plans in 1998, but the concept was cut off the final budget," said Dean Talafous Herb Brooks Training Center Program Director. "This training center, is just the kind of facility Herbie envisioned. Training programs for all ages and skill levels will be conducted both in the training center and on the ice year-round at the Schwan Super Rink". Well-known Minnesota sports author Ross Bernstein will sign copies of his new book, America's Coach. The book profiles the life of Herb Brooks and the leadership messages Brooks used in his career of coaching. Bernstein had been working with Brooks on writing a series of motivational books at the time of his passing in 2003, The new Schwan Super Rink addition was built without any money from the State of Minnesota. The proceeds from the sale of Columbia Arena were applied to the new construction. Building partners include Blaine, Centennial, Forest Lake and Tri-City Youth Hockey, Bethel University and'the Herb Brooks Foundation, who committed to be long-term tenants ofthe facility. This allowed Anoka County to sell construction bonds to finance the remainder of the construction costs, which will be paid for by ice-rental revenues. The cities of Blaine, Circle Pines, Centerville and Lino Lakes are also partners in the new expansion. ###