From the Floor
Workshop in Action
The following is a summary report from the MIAMA Spring Workshop held on May 6, 2026, in Rogers, Minnesota. The day included the annual business meeting, state-of-the-organization address, breakout demonstration sessions on the ice, and a vendor trade show. This report documents key takeaways, technical learnings, and observations for the benefit of our team.
MIAMA President Eric Edhlund opened the meeting and introduced the board — 14 members total, 9 voting and 4 non-voting. All board members are volunteers who pay their own dues and registration fees out of pocket as general MIAMA members.
Key points from the state of the organization address:
New Rinks & Renovations on the horizon:
Multiple members were recognized for years of service across 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-year milestones. The following board members were acknowledged as they transition out of their roles:
Four winners announced. Award covers registration and lodging for the Fall Conference. Contact: Dean Mulso — dmulso@miama.org
Awarded to Veterans Memorial Ice Arena. Covers registration for the Fall Conference. Member recognition acknowledgements route through Dean Mulso.
Mike Bauer, who manages the TruStone Center in Rogers, highlighted a significant facility investment: an 80kW solar installation on the roof across three connected structures. A strong example of operational sustainability at the local arena level.
Shannon Click, Mayor of Rogers, spoke to the role hockey plays in building civic pipelines. Key themes from her remarks:
Led by Bert Bertelsen of R&R Specialties and Cory Portner, this breakout covered three methods of logo application with a live demonstration of the fabric logo method. The demonstration used the N32 North logo — a large-format, multi-person application.
Optimal logo application temperature is around 13–14°F — as cold as it can get. Always use cold water for application. Warm or hot water can cause the edges of the logo fabric to bend down, which results in poor visibility and an unclean final appearance.
The demonstrator recommended using a nozzle with a ball valve for best flow regulation during application.
Led by Cory Portner, this session covered proper protocols for drilling and measuring ice depth across the full sheet. The methodology is designed to produce a reliable data picture of ice thickness distribution.
Take up to 28 measurements per sheet — 7 per quadrant. Drill through clear portions of ice wherever possible, avoiding any logo fabric already embedded in the ice to preserve its integrity. Measurements should be taken with a digital caliper for accuracy. The demonstrator noted: don't spend a lot on the caliper — a mid-range tool works fine.
Led by Eric Edhlund and TJ Weiland using an Olympia edging machine. The session covered the core technique of feathering the ice surface down to the dasher and removing perimeter buildup.
Ryan's standing rule: edge every day. Don't let it go. Once perimeter buildup accumulates, it compounds — what would have been a quick pass becomes a significant job. Consistency is the maintenance.
Approximately 30 vendors were represented across the HealthPartners Fieldhouse turf space. Categories spanned HVAC and mechanical, resurfacing equipment (Olympia and Zamboni reps on site), arena equipment trade-in vendors, and specialty arena products. Platinum and Gold sponsors present included:
| Event | Location | Date / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Conference | Sugar Lake Lodge — Cohasset, MN | Sept. 7–11, 2026. Venue locked through 2030. Contact: Dean Mulso. |
| 2027 Spring Workshop | Veterans Memorial Arena — West Fargo | Contact Dean or John to establish location details. |
| 2028 Spring Workshop | Bloomington Ice Garden — Bloomington | Contact Dean or John to establish location details. |
| Hockey Day MN | Hastings | 2026 |
| Hockey Day MN | Brainerd | 2027 |
| NARCE | Milwaukee | Upcoming — see MIAMA communications for details. |
One thing stood out: most attendees gravitated toward the people they already knew — comfort groups, often visible by shared logo'd apparel. While our group moved as a unified front, we spent most of the time in lighter social mode.
The Super Rink is the pipeline through which most of the folks in MIAMA have traveled. As such, it is, as many of you have described, the very best rink on earth to get trained at a high level on a variety of subjects. If we go again...and we should...I'd like to see us show up with more intention. We should be the group that other attendees notice and want to know. We've earned every ounce of that credibility and should wear it proudly.
What did you take away from the day? Your notes — technical, personal, or otherwise — help build a fuller picture for the team. Responses go directly to the report author.