Richland Dek Hockey Celebration to Kick Off in November

It’s almost time to celebrate the dropping of the puck in Richland.

The township partnered with the Pittsburgh Penguin Foundation to construct the 155-foot-by-75-foot court. The facility is part of Project Power Play—a program to build a dozen dek hockey courts in the Pittsburgh area by 2016.

Construction started on the rink in August and finished up this fall.

"Anybody that has a ball and a stick that wants to can come up and play pick-up games or have fun with friends," Richland Township Manager Dean Bastianini told Patch in September.

Now, it’s time to celebrate.

The community will hold a kick off party from 12 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 at the park.

Youth dek hockey players will be able to participate in a special day of hockey contests at the event as well as visit with Iceburgh, the mascot of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

A Richland Township Dek Hockey Association is now being set up. Dek hockey players, coaches, team managers, referees and volunteers are all needed for the youth league.

"I think it will be welcomed by the hockey players of the community," Bastianini has said.  "It's a first class facility that people will be having a lot of fun at for years and years to come."

For more information, contact the township at 724-443-5921 or send an email via the township's website.