Brian Hayes, 83, was having a grand time celebrating the refurbished ice rink named in his honor. There were the old timers, the people who give the city that local flavor, and new people who keep Victor moving toward the future.

There were new pillars, upgrades to the roof, new lighting and propane tanks filled and ready to go.

Funded by a $150,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and a $250,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation, the rink is a regional asset for Victor and the Victor Penguins.

And Hayes loves to tell the story of how the ice rink came to be more than 40 years ago.

“Water passed through the water-drainage system and made a kind of pond,” Hayes said, speaking before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We ran a fire hose through here to make ice.”

Over the years, Hayes, along with Gary Horton, used the melt-off to create the hockey rink. Hayes, a lifelong skater, played hockey and coached kids in the neighborhood, eventually, with Horton, launching the Victor Penguins club team.  

“I love the game,” he said. “We played the hockey team from Woodland Park High School.”

Playing hockey goes back to his roots in Minnesota. 

“I had three brothers and that’s how I got started playing hockey,” he said. “In those days kids got outside.”

In Victor, Hayes coached his son, Timmy, who played hockey for St. Mary’s High School in Colorado Springs.

The elder Hayes still plays competitive hockey and practices during the summer at the Sertich rink in Colorado Springs. In October, he will be inducted into the USA Hockey Hall of Fame for players over 80 years old.

Barbara Manning, Victor’s mayor, was the master of ceremonies, whose gratitude list included Remington Builders; Todd Leopold, DOLA’s central regional manager, who was at the ceremony; Karen and Jim Muntzert, or the donation of lighting; Conley Propane; and Gary Horton, for his support.

Before cutting the ribbon, Hayes was effusive about the meaning behind the upgrade.

“We started with nothing and it took all of us here to get where we are right now,” Hayes said, before cutting the ribbon. “Thank you everybody in the community. It’s great and we love it here.”

The city of Victor hosted a hamburger lunch for dozens of well-wishers.