The Keweenaw Community Foundation is pleased to announce a special grant award. The CLK Youth Hockey Fund will be granting a $5,000 award in memory of Joel Tuoriniemi towards the Ahmeek Ice Rink “Build-the-Boards” project. 

Joel was instrumental in starting the CLK Youth Hockey Fund which supports youth hockey programs in the Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw area. After Joel’s passing in 2023, many community members gave generous gifts to the fund to continue his legacy and support youth hockey. We were fortunate to have benefitted from his skills and enthusiasm for hockey, and for the betterment of the community he cherished. The fund advisors and the Foundation agreed that the best way to honor Joel’s memory would be to award a special grant in his honor. After running a special call for proposals, the advisory committee selected the “Build-the-Boards” project for funding. This award will support the Ahmeek Ice Rink “Build-the-Boards” project to rebuild the rink board system. 

“We are grateful for this donation from the CLK Youth Hockey Fund. Honoring Joel in this way is very meaningful, knowing how much Joel meant to our community and the time he had personally invested in this rink,” noted community member Joni Erkkila, one of the “Build-the-Boards” project leads. 

The Ahmeek Ice Rink is one recreation site owned by Allouez Township. The rink is run and maintained year-round by a group of committed volunteers and is primarily funded by donations and township assistance. The current rink facility and board systems were installed in 1992, and have been repaired numerous times. The most recent updates were conducted in 2019 when board sheeting was received from the Calumet Colosseum following their board system upgrades. The time has come to replace the now weather-eroded boards to allow for recreation and community use for years to come! 

“This grant to the Ahmeek Ice Rink Board Project is a great way for the CLK Youth Hockey Fund/Keweenaw Community Foundation to promote outdoor skating, hockey, and exercise for all generations. Outdoor rinks are an important part of our community, our history, and culture. These improvements will help provide opportunities for CLK skaters and hockey players. As a coach for over 25 years, I have seen firsthand the advanced skill development for players who supplement their formal training with hours of hockey at outdoor rinks. This grant is in memory of Joel Tuoriniemi who spent countless hours at the Ahmeek Ice Rink during his childhood and adult life. He contributed to its continued operation in many ways over his lifetime,” stated Glenn.

Rebuilding the boards will cost nearly $100,000. Over $78,000 has been raised as of March 2024! The project team hopes to purchase and rebuild the boards by November 2024. Named donors will be honored with an engraved plaque in the Ahmeek Ice Rink facility and on the Foundation’s website. Learn more about the project and donate online today to help achieve this goal: www.keweenawgives.org/ahmeek-ice-rink 

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