10/16/2026
Huron Hockey Flashback Friday! Before organized hockey began in Huron, locals made their own shin guards by strapping magazines and catalogs to their legs and spending hours playing hockey on the ice at Prospect Park.
Organized hockey officially began in 1972 on an outdoor rink inside an open sheep barn at the fairgrounds. In 1975, Huron became the first in South Dakota to move hockey indoors, using natural ice at two locations on the fairgrounds. By 1980, the Huron Hockey Association had its own portable refrigeration system, making it the only association in the state with one at the time.
When the fairgrounds needed the buildings occupied by Huron Hockey for other purposes, the association began major fundraising efforts to build a rink of its own. In the winter of 1988 that goal became a reality as the Huron Hockey Association played its first game in its own building on 18th Street SW which is now known as Bergman Arena.
The building was constructed by a contractor but the finishing touches, including the lockers and boards, were completed through hours of dedicated volunteer work. Bergman Arena truly is a labor of love built by the Huron community. In the summer of 1995 Huron Hockey partnered with the City Parks and Recreation Department to introduce inline hockey. Through funds received from a memorial fund, the association obtained an all purpose floor for skating.
From makeshift shin guards at Prospect Park, to the sheep barn at the fairgrounds, to the Berg we’ve all grown to love today, Huron hockey has come a long way. Our history is built on community, dedication, volunteers and a shared love for the game. Look how far we’ve come, HHA! ❤️
