In youth hockey, ice time is everything, and in Panorama City, families say theirs might be about to vanish. Parents, coaches, and nearly 200 young players scrambled Monday after learning the LA Kings Valley Ice Center had been sold and the new owners allegedly plan to close the rink’s largest sheet of ice. If that main sheet goes dark, the California Heat youth program could lose its home rink and face either relocation or a full shutdown. Ten-year-old captain Everly Corrington joined teammates and parents in a last-ditch push to convince the new owners to keep the big sheet frozen.
Families and coaches mobilize
Families and coaches told NBC Los Angeles they were notified the facility had been sold and that the new owners planned to shutter the largest sheet of ice, putting the California Heat program in jeopardy. Kelly Stirzel, the club’s director of hockey, told the outlet that losing the larger sheet would leave the club choosing between relocating and folding altogether. Parents say roughly 200 players, including Corrington, have been racing to sway the new ownership before any closure becomes final.
Rink’s role in Valley hockey
The LA Kings list the Valley Ice Center as one of their community rinks, and the team’s directory points to the facility at 8750 Van Nuys Boulevard in Panorama City. The California Heat website also identifies that address as the club’s training home and notes an on-site off-ice facility used for conditioning and skills work. That combination of pro-branded programming and grassroots clubs has turned the arena into a key hub for youth and adult hockey in the San Fernando Valley.
Owners are silent as pleas mount
NBC Los Angeles reports the station contacted the rink’s general manager for comment but did not receive a response. Families say they have reached out to the LA Kings because of the organization’s branding ties to the venue and in hopes the team might help broker a solution. In the meantime, parents and coaches are organizing meetings and outreach efforts, trying to buy time while they wait for a clearer schedule or formal announcement from the new owners.
How the Kings have stepped in before
Local business coverage shows the Kings and affiliated operators have previously invested in and renovated community rinks in the region, including projects in Burbank and other parts of the Valley, giving families a precedent to point to as they request help now. Those earlier efforts included the team’s involvement with the Pickwick/Burbank rink and other Valley facilities, which community leaders say helped preserve local ice time in the past. That history gives parents a talking point, but it does not guarantee the team or other operators will intervene this time.
What comes next
There is still no public timeline for any shutdown and no statement from the new owners, leaving families to operate on rumors and secondhand updates. Parents say they plan to keep pressing every stakeholder they can reach until the situation is clarified. The California Heat website continues to list facility and contact details for families seeking updates as things unfold. Community leaders and club organizers say they are watching closely for official word about rink hours or sale paperwork that might finally reveal a firm closing date for the main sheet.
