Keep Beloit Blades On Ice
Our Goal
Community
Edwards Ice Arena is the hub for the community and multiple fundraising efforts. Without Edwards Ice Arena, we will no longer have the opportunity to provide the following:
- Try Hockey for Free
- Summer Off-Ice Conditioning
- Free Field Trips to local elementary schools
- Vets Roll
- Project 16:49
We also ensure that our families are integrated into the community and learn the benefits of volunteering through local events:
- Public Open-Skate Night
- Learn to Skate programs
- Beloit Memorial Day Parade
- Sharon Fourth of July Parade
- Beloit Dirty Dash
- Beloit Kubb Open
BYHA and BMHS Purple Knights Hockey Co-Op honor multiple college scholarship opportunities for our graduates.
Beloit Blades On: Rally for the Rink
Since 1982, Edwards Ice Arena has been more than just a rink — it’s been a symbol of grit, pride, and community for Beloit and the entire State-line area. For over four decades, it has echoed with cheers from packed stands, the scrape of blades on fresh ice, and the voices of generations who made memories here.
But after more than 40 years, Edwards Ice Arena needs our help; in which we turn to you.
Edwards Ice Arena was built by the people of Beloit — for the youth of Beloit. They poured the concrete, set the blocks. They laid the boards, made the ice. They made Beloit Hockey possible. And to this day, those same hands — their sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters — return each year to set up the rink and ready it for the upcoming crisp hockey season - a part of Beloit’s soul.
This isn’t about repairing a building. It’s about ensuring that every young athlete in our community has a place to skate, grow, and belong — right here in their hometown. It’s about creating opportunities where kids can build confidence, discipline, and lasting friendships on home ice.
When we invest in Edwards Ice Arena, we’re not just fixing pipes or pouring concrete — we’re investing in a future where children grow into athletes and take pride in their rink, their team, and their community. We’re keeping families engaged, building equity into access to sport, and passing down a legacy that began more than 40 years ago.
In short… Our rink has been the heart and soul of Beloit Hockey for generations - the place where skaters took their first stride, where teams became families, and where a legacy was built one game at a time in the same rink built by Beloit blood. But without critical updates, our ice will melt for the last time, and with it, the opportunities for the next generation. It’s the 3rd period faceoff for our future, and we can’t win without you.
It’s time to Rally for the Rink.
Beloit Blades On.
“A Youth on Ice is Seldom in Hot Water,” Jerry Edwards (pictured above).
Meet the Legacy of Jerry Edwards
Co‑founder of the Beloit Youth Hockey Association (BYHA) in 1969, along with parents from Todd Elementary School. They initially formed the “Todd Tuffies,” practicing at the city lagoon before the organization evolved into today’s BYHA.
Built a Legacy Facility: As BYHA grew, it became difficult and costly to secure ice time at outside rinks. In 1982, Edwards and volunteers spearheaded the construction of their own hockey facility at Telfer Park, later donating it to the City of Beloit to support both youth and high school hockey.
Coach and Referee: Edwards served for many years as a coach—particularly for the Beloit Peewee A team—and also worked as a referee.
State and National Leadership:
- Joined the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association (WAHA) Board in 1980, eventually serving as President from 1993 to 2010, then honored as Director Emeritus, remaining active beyond that tenure.
- Held roles on the USA Hockey Board of Directors from 1995 until his passing in 2020.
- In 1991, he received USA Hockey’s prestigious Wm. Thayer Tutt Award for exceptional volunteer service.
Enduring Honor: In recognition of his impact, the hockey rink in Beloit was later named in his honor, ensuring his legacy remains embedded in the local hockey community.
Although he has since passed away, he lives on in Beloit Hockey. We are forever grateful for all he has done for the Beloit youth and for the sport of hockey. Without him, BYHA would not exist, and Wisconsin hockey would not be what it is today.
”I don't think in all my experience as a city manager anywhere, I've ever seen a volunteer effort that had quite the scope this one had,” then Beloit City Manager, Herb Holt, commented in the Beloit Daily News of the 2,000+ volunteer hours put into what is now known as Edwards Ice Arena.
Well, Beloit…Let’s get ready to RALLY again!
Beloit Blades ON
Our Need
Keeping Beloit Blades On Ice
The future of ice sports in Beloit depends on one critical piece of equipment: the ice-making compressor at Edwards Ice Arena.
The aging compressor system is essential to maintaining the ice that generations of athletes, families, and community members have called home. Without a reliable compressor, Edwards Ice Arena faces the possibility of losing its ice—and with it, the opportunities, traditions, and memories created here.
Our Goal: $700,000
Beloit Youth Hockey Association, through our Beloit Blades On campaign, is working to raise the funds necessary to replace this critical equipment.
Thanks to a generous matching grant of up to $350,000 from the Hendricks Family Foundation, our community has an incredible opportunity to make every donation go twice as far. However, we must raise the matching funds to unlock the full grant.
This campaign is about more than replacing equipment. It's about preserving a place where children chase their dreams, families build lifelong memories, and generations of Beloit athletes create their own legacies.
- Help us keep Beloit blades on Beloit ice—for today's athletes and generations to come.
A Legacy Remembered
“Beloit Blades On” honors the tradition of the former Beloit Blades hockey team—a name still cherished in our community. We are keeping the spirit of that team alive to remind us of the generations who built Beloit hockey from the ground up
A Rallying Cry
“Beloit Blades On” is a call to action. It’s our community rallying together, uniting our voices, and fighting for the future of our rink. It's not just about hockey—it’s about perseverance, passion, and pride in where we come from
A Push Forward
“Blades On” symbolizes our motion and determination. Like lacing up your skates and hitting the ice, it's about moving forward—together. We’re not done. We will keep skating, we will rebuild, and we will carry this legacy into the next generation.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why Is the Capital Campaign for Edwards Ice Arena Necessary?
Edwards Ice Arena is operating on an aging, previously refurbished compressor system that has already experienced failures that could have resulted in catastrophic damage. The system also relies on R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer produced or imported for new supply in the United States.
Beloit Youth Hockey Association recognizes the urgent need for replacement. Without a reliable compressor, Beloit risks losing its only sheet of ice and the programs that have served our community for over 40 years.
What Are the Potential Economic Benefits for the City of Beloit?
Edwards Ice Arena brings athletes, families, and visitors to Beloit through hockey tournaments, games, and skating programs. These activities support local restaurants, hotels, and businesses. Replacing the compressor protects these economic opportunities and preserves an important community resource.
Will Replacing the Compressor Create Additional Opportunities?
Our priority is preserving the opportunities we already have. A reliable refrigeration system will support youth hockey, Learn to Skate, high school and college programs, adult leagues, public skating, and tournaments while reducing the risk of unexpected shutdowns.
When Is the Compressor Expected to Be Replaced?
Our goal is to secure funding by March 31, 2027, allowing replacement during the 2027 off-season and providing reliable ice for the 2027–2028 season and beyond. Installation will depend on equipment availability and coordination with the City of Beloit.
How Much Will the Compressor Replacement Cost?
Our fundraising goal is $700,000. Beloit Youth Hockey Association has committed $50,000, and the Hendricks Family Foundation has awarded a matching grant of up to $350,000.
What Is Our Current Fundraising Progress?
Our goal is $700,000, and we're making progress!
- BYHA Commitment: $50,000
- Hendricks Family Foundation Matching Grant: Up to $350,000
How Does the Matching Grant Work?
The Hendricks Family Foundation will match eligible donations dollar for dollar, up to $350,000. However, we must raise the required matching funds to receive the full grant. A $100 eligible donation can become $200 toward preserving our ice.
How Will the Money Be Raised?
Through community donations, business partnerships, fundraising events, individual pledges, and grants. Every contribution brings us closer to securing the future of Edwards Ice Arena.
How Can I Support the Campaign?
Donate, attend fundraising events, become a community partner, volunteer, or help spread the word.
Checks may also be mailed to:
Beloit Youth Hockey Association
PO Box 1262
Beloit, WI 53511
Every contribution matters. Together, we can protect the rink that generations of Beloit families have called home.
Keep Beloit Blades On Ice!
BYHA Contributions
Beloit Youth Hockey Association was the driving force behind Edwards Ice Arena. Without a rink, BYHA would no longer be able to find ice time as the association grew. Thus, what is now known as Edwards Ice Arena was built. Below are their contributions to Edwards Ice Arena and the teams they serve.
Monetary Contributions
- $140,000 for the initial build of what is now known as Edwards Ice Arena (1982)
- $75,000 in volunteered time, money and materials toward the construction of the Mezzanine (1990-1991)
- $5,000+ in annual improvements paid to the City of Beloit (1982 and ongoing)
- $70,000 toward Lobby Expansion (1996)
- $1,000 toward mezzanine improvements (1998)
- $18,500 toward gas fired infrared heaters above bleachers (October 1999)
- $25,000 toward removal of old rink surface (2005)
- $10,000 toward purchase and installation of new scoreboard (2005)
- Secured $7,500 donation for the BMHS equipment drying room (2005)
- $50,000.00 pledge for a new compressor system (2026)
Notable Contributions to the Youth
- Establish the Rock County Co-Op FURY, the first girls only hockey team for Rock County, WI.