We’re pleased to share that Saturday April 18, 2015 the Pullar Stadium moved on to Phase II ofHockeytown photo the Kraft Hockeyville USA contest! The Hockeyville prize of $150,000 for the stadium and the chance to host a preseason NHL game on home ice would be an enormous boost for the Sault Ste. Marie community, but the Kraft Hockeyville title would look really good next to our existing title of Hockey Town USA. Please Vote Pullar!

The Kraft Hockeyville USA contest asked individuals to submit a 2,500 character essay that would be judged on passion for hockey, community spirit, and creativity. Over 16,000 essays nominated more than 1,100 hockey arenas in the United States and 1 amongst all that those essays made the Pullar Stadium a top 10 finalist.

With the overwhelming support of the community, Michigan residence, and fantastic people all over the USA the Pullar was voted to a top 4 finalist position after Phase I voting. Be a part of the Phase II excitement and vote April 21-22, 2015 to help secure a top 2 position for the Pullar Stadium in Phase III voting April 27-29. We know! SO MUCH VOTING, but so worth it and your support is truly appreciated and does make a difference! Please vote here.

Local business owner Ron Maleport poured his hockey heart and soul into his winning essay, which you can read below.

PULLAR STADIUM – AN ICE RINK RICH IN HISTORY GIVING THAT “PULLAR FEELING”

by Ronald Maleport

Pullar Stadium in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan was constructed in 1939 and is one of the oldest artificial ice rinks in the U.S. still in operation. The Pullar has always been known for having excellent hard and fast ice. 2014 was the 75th Anniversary of the rink and the community of Sault Ste. Marie has begun a Building Renovation Project to preserve what I call, the “Pullar Feeling” for decades to come. The “Pullar Feeling” to me is that when I walk into the ice rink it feels as familiar as home.

Over the years, the Pullar Stadium has always been the community hub for hockey, figure Photo Shop SKMBT_C22015041307490 1skating, dances, public skating, fishing tournament banquets, the place to see the Circus when it came to town, and much more. It is currently the home ice for the Sault Area High School Blue Devils Hockey Team and the Soo Eagles Jr. “A” Hockey Team. In the past, it has been the home ice of Lake Superior State University’s (Division 1) Laker Hockey Team, the Soo Indians Jr. “B” Hockey Team, and the Detroit Red Wings training camp ice from 1948-1958. Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is the original “Hockey Town USA”. I remember the Pullar Stadium being adorned with “Hockey Town USA” banners in the 1960’s.

Photo shop SKMBT_C22015041307490 1_edited-1Many a hockey player or figure skater has spent their formative years learning on the ice of the Pullar Stadium. I myself starting playing hockey at the Pullar in the 1960’s and continue to play in a Men’s Hockey League there to this day. I got to meet Gordie Howe and get his autograph sometime in the 1960’s when the Red Wings came to the Sault (pronounced “Sue”) Pullar Stadium. I have many fond memories watching my son practice and play hockey along with my daughter learning to figure skate at the Pullar.

The rink is a great asset to our community and families. It holds great memories for so many SKMBT_C22015041307470community members who watched their children/grandchildren skate for the first time, score their first goal, or adorn a special costume and take to the ice for the Annual Hiawatha Skating Club Figure Skating Revue. The Pullar Stadium has made many people proud of their accomplishments or the accomplishments of their loved ones. The Pullar Stadium has always been a place for people to gather and enjoy a good hockey game. These are the reasons why the Pullar Stadium is loved by the community and community members are giving to preserve that “Pullar Feeling” for a stadium rich in community history. What better ice stadium to have a preseason NHL game in other than the Pullar Stadium?