FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 2, 2025
The Ranch Steps In as Northern Colorado Hockey Faces Ice Shortage.
(Loveland, CO) – The Ranch Events Complex, long known as the heart of Larimer County and home to the County Fair & PRCA Rodeo, and 4-H, is now tackling one of Northern Colorado’s most urgent challenges: a shortage of ice for the region’s fast-growing hockey community.
As part of Phase II of its Master Plan, The Ranch will build the Youth Hockey and Sports Complex, adding three new sheets of ice to a region that has outgrown its facilities. With only four permanent rinks serving Fort Collins, Windsor, and Greeley, hundreds of young athletes are currently shut out of the game.
“Imagine showing up to your local rec center and being told you can’t play basketball because there’s no court. Or being told there’s no field for football,” said Mcallaster “Cal” Miller, general manager of the Resurrection Christian School hockey program, in an interview with Portia Cook, Strategic Communications for The Ranch Master Plan. “That’s what happens here, every year, to kids who want to play hockey. Hundreds of kids are told no every year.”
The numbers back him up. In the 2024–25 season, USA Hockey registered 577,864 players, a 2.4% increase over last year. Nearly 400,000 were youth under 19, an all-time high. Registrations for players six and under climbed nearly 10%, and participation among girls and women rose to 98,394, a 5.1% jump. Hockey isn’t just holding steady; it’s expanding. Yet Northern Colorado remains underserved, leaving families to shoulder 4 a.m. alarms, late-night practices, and long commutes to chase scarce ice time.
The Human Side of the Shortage
For young athletes, hockey is more than a game; it’s a source of confidence and connection. Freshman varsity player Logan Dunham told Cook, “You can’t do something if you don’t believe in yourself, whether it’s scoring a goal or being a playmaker. And it taught me to communicate. Every year, it’s new people on your team, and you have to learn how to talk and work together. That’s carried into my life at school too
But that growth comes at a cost. Logan’s father, Denim Dunham, described the sacrifice behind every sheet of ice: “The sacrifice sometimes is getting up at four o’clock in the morning to drive 45 minutes to an hour to get on the ice. Or you have a late practice or a late game where you take a doubleheader, and you do whatever you can to make it happen. This year, he’s got two 6 a.m. practices, and he’s got to drive 45 minutes after practice to get to class before school. He’s only a sophomore, so it’s a hard thing to do.”
For coaches, the inequity is clear. “Those three new sheets at The Ranch won’t be too many,” Miller added. “They’ll get eaten up right away. But they’ll also say yes to hundreds of kids who’ve been told no. That’s the difference; it says yes.”
The Ranch’s Commitment
The Ranch’s new complex will change that equation.
“This is an investment in our youth and the future of our community,” said Conor McGrath, The Ranch’s Managing Director. “It will bring families together, welcome visitors from across the region, and create opportunities that ripple far beyond the rink.”
The full feature story, Skating on Empty: The Fight for Ice and the Future of Northern Colorado Hockey, brings these voices to life and captures the urgency behind the project.
Read the full story here:https://www.treventscomplex.com/news/detail/skating-on-empty-the-fight-for-ice-and-the-future-of-northern-colorado-hockey-at-the-ranch
The future of Northern Colorado hockey is being built right here, at The Ranch. Share the story and help give every kid the chance to play.
About The Ranch Events Complex
The Ranch Events Complex is Northern Colorado’s premier destination for entertainment, sports, and community events. Located in Larimer County, the campus hosts more than 1,300 events annually and plays a central role in the region’s culture and economy.
About Larimer County
Larimer County, home to nearly 400,000 residents, includes vibrant communities recognized for their natural beauty, innovation, and civic spirit. The County is committed to sustainable growth, transparency, and a high quality of life for all residents.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Portia Cook | Strategic Communications Coordinator
The Ranch Events Complex
[email protected] | 970-619-4114