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By Earl Scott
NORTH LOGAN -- Cache Valley is known for its high quality of life and the Eccles Ice Center in North Logan is doing its part to contribute to that. Janet Borg, the center's executive director and manager, has had some training in figure skating. One cold January night on the outdoor rink at Merlin Olsen Park while working on spins and jumps, she realized Cache Valley's need for an indoor ice arena. "I was always finding myself surrounded by children asking questions about how to do the things I was doing when I skated at the park," Borg said. "I remember thinking, this is ridiculous. This area needs an indoor rink; so I decided there had to be a way to bring one to the valley." Borg formed a committee and put in 70-plus-hour weeks raising money for more than seven years so the ice center would be open in time for the 2002 Winter Games. "We didn't get the ice down until about a week before the first Olympic athletes began to show up and train," Borg said. "We were still putting things into place around them while they trained." The ice center played host to athletes from 10 countries as they completed final preparations for their Olympic competitions, Borg said. With skaters such as ice dancing Anissina and Piezerat of France winning a gold medal and China's Yang Yang (A) winning two gold medals in short-track speed skating and training at the ice center, keeping public interest in ice activities was not a challenge for Borg and her staff. "Our intentions from the beginning have been to be a community operation," she said. "The Olympics definitely helped let people know we were here." After 20 months, the ice center is keeping with its original community-based plan. There is public skating and a number of programs for people of all abilities and ages. The school outreach program has been a huge success, Borg said, with 8,000 K-12 students participating. "We've introduced a new generation to the joy of skating," she said. "The parents love this place; it's supervised, good, clean, healthy fun for everyone." The center has family programs, as well as skating lessons for beginners and aspiring champions. The Utah State University Hockey Club calls the ice center home, along with the first women's hockey team in Cache Valley. "The Ice Center has allowed another women's sport to come to the valley," said women's hockey player/coach Kristi Schow. "This arena is definitely a great place to have in the area; we wouldn"t have a team without it." High school hockey in Cache Valley will also have its inaugural season this year, playing teams from the Salt Lake City league. There are youth hockey leagues for younger players as well. The ice center is still not complete. "We still need to raise about $2 million more to finish everything," Borg said. "Our immediate goal is to raise $500,000 for bleachers to seat another 1,000 people and to finish our air re-circulation units." Fund raising has gone well because donors want to be part of something positive, Borg said. "The success of all of our programs is why I think we are able to still raise money," she said. "We are definitely contributing to the quality of life here in the valley; this facility is for everyone to enjoy." Borg said she believes that an organization like the ice center has a responsibility to be a positive and contributing part of the community. With a staff of six full-time and 19 part-time employees, the arena has created jobs in the valley. Most of the part-time employees are college students that need quality employment while going to school, Borg said. "I get to combine my hobby of skating with work. I really enjoy my job," said ice center skate attendant Chase McCaughey. "This is a great job while I attend USU."
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