The dedicated SYHAstuff site has been archived at this time. I have transferred some of the Siouxland
Youth Hockey material to the MetrosStuff site, as much of this material is relevant to the history and
success of the Sioux City High School teams over the years.
The Bubble
In the Summer of 1981 Siouxland Youth Hockey Association (SYHA) embarked on a plan to provide their own hockey facility
separate from the City owned Auditorium. Ice time costs were at a premium, as the poor economic conditions of the late 70’s
were taking hold into the next decade
An inflatable ice rink was located in Jackson, Tennessee, and eventually purchased by SYHA. It was transported
via truck to South Sioux City and erected there, through mostly volunteer efforts, primarily during evenings and weekends.
SYHA family members of all ages contributed their time and construction know-how, while many Sioux City businesses
donated labor, materials, and services. It truly became a community project.
Thanks to SYHA’s swift action in securing financing and a permanent site, the purchase was finalized just 48 hours ahead of
Mason City, who had also been seeking a new ice rink facility.
Several loyal hockey families and local business help fund this massive $220,000 dollar project.
It lasted only one season…
Finding a building
Left: It all started here with this For Sale advertisement. Right: An aerial Shot of the Jackson, TN facility for sale.
Aerial shots of the building in Jackson, TN. Taken by SYHA historian and supporter Curt Stoever. Several Board
members fly over the facility in a plane provided by Sioux City Businessman, Musketeer owner, SYHA Board Member
and huge hockey supporter Ted Carlson.
Top Left & Right: Street level shots of the building’s entrance in Jackson, Tennessee. Bottom Left & Right: Inside views of the rink
Left: Ted Carlson inspects the Zamboni Right: Some of the 800 pairs of rental skates included in the deal
Location, Location, Location
The new rink was located in South Sioux City, at 510 E. 5th Street. Currently, this is where the Marina Inn Convention
Center is located. The site was chosen because of its proximity and access to Sioux City. In addition, the site had existing
utilities and was subject to a three year lease-free option through the City of South Sioux.
Looking at Sioux City, Standing on what would eventually become known as “The Bubble”
Left: The Dark Building in the foreground is the Marina Inn, know know as the Marriott Riverfront. The Auditorium is across
the river Right: Cityscape just east of the Sioux City Auditorium.
Site Preparation
Jack Pinney Wrecking & Grading provided/donated most of the site preparation for this project. Jack and his family were
huge supporters of Siouxland Youth Hockey.
Ted Carlson, Dave Adam, Unknown Member, Ben Hanson and Bob Post start the initial lay-out of the new facility
Ground Breaking
South Sioux City Mayor George Cole, Ted Carlson, Jack Pinney, Denny Nelson (SSC Chamber Member) and
Lance Headquist (SSC City Administrator) all take a turn at turning dirt in the new project.
Ted and Mary Jo Carlson are the current owners of the Sioux City Musketeers play an instrumental part of the quick
completion of this huge undertaking. Jack Pinney is also an important part of this project lending his vast contractor
skills and construction knowledge.
Did You Know…Lance Hedquist would have a son who played for the 1994 Metros State Championship team. Twenty-three
years later his grandson would help the Metros win the 2024 USA Hockey National Championship
Did You Know…Jack Pinney’s youngest son was a Metros player for four seasons (1977-81) and he still has relatives
active in the SYHA/Metros programs.
Construction Begins
Left: One of the seven truckloads of material is unloaded by SYHA volunteers Right: Piles of flooring and one of the 4 fans used
to keep the Bubble fully inflated.
Members from Northwestern Bell begin drilling some of the 200 separate 7 foot earth anchors that will hold the bubble to the ground.
Brick layer Tom Coulson (red hat) installs block for the locker-room and concessions area with the help of volunteers from the
185 Air National Guard. That’s Craig Stoever (Metros Class of 83) tending.
Left: Ben Hanson & Kirk Hanson mix the mud for the block-layers as tender Damon Lohry (Metros Class of 1977) looks on.
Right: Masonry begins for the player lockerrooms.
Left: Musketeer General Manager John McNeil, Craig Stoever (Metros Class of 1983) and Rick Suggett
Right: Guys work on the Bubble Entrance
Left: Curt Stoever & Dave Adam Right: Brett Kieler (Metros Class of 1983) work on the Bubble Entrance building
The Bubble entrance nears completion. These pics show the “revolving doors” that allowed the air to stay in the building as
people entered and exited. That channel around the doors is where the bubble will attach to the entrance.
Left: Dave Adam leaving another Construction Meeting. Right: SYHA players pick-up loose trash and empty cement bags.
Guys work on the second of two main entrances. This is where the Zamboni door is located and is the second place that the bubble
requires a physical attachment of the bubble to a building. This will allow for garage door installation and a back exit.
Inflation!!!!
Before the Bubble could be inflated, it required a lot of repair to damages it received during transportation from its Tennessee
location. This tedious process was handled by several hockey moms who spent a lot of hours repairing seam splits and holes all
while inhaling some heavy duty adhesive fumes. They were eventually to become known as “The Patchetts”
Patchetts Sara Post, Jo Carlson and Kay Reynolds work their magic making the bubble air-tight once again.
Left: The Patchetts Carolyn Stoever and Kay Reynolds Right: Dave Adam and Ted Carlson get ready to supervise the
raising of the Bubble for the first time
Left: Dan Reynolds (Yellow shirt-Metros Class of 1981) Ted O’Brien (Red Hat-Metros Class of 1984) Mike
Adam (overalls-Metros Class of 1985) and Mark Adam (6 Pack-Metros Class of 1982) make their way around
the entire bubble attaching it to the earth anchors. Right: Craig Stoever (Metros Class of 1983) gets ready to attach
the bubble to the entrance as it inflates.
Everyone helps lift the bubble entrance to make its physical connection to the sealed bubble entrance.
Walking the Bubble. As the bubble filled with air, you had to walk the entire bubble removing wrinkles and checking for
any areas of missed damage that may allow air to escape.
Left: Walkers had to locate and repair any last minute tears as the huge bubple began to inflate. It took almost a half a
day to fill the entire bubble. Right: Brad Hanson and Carlyon Stoever take a little break as the slow process of inflation takes place.
Left: The bubble inflates and while the attention to the main entrance attachment is the focus, the Zamboni door pictured here
will be the next area of focus as the bubble inflates. Right: Later that day, Fully inflated
View From Across The River
As the buble filled there was no way anyone could have missed this new addition to the South Sioux City skyline.
These pictures of the fully inflated Bubble put into perspective just how big this thing was. At 240 feet long, 110 feet wide,
it towered some 45 feet in the air. If the Bubble was filled with water, it would hold close to 3 million gallons of water.
Taken from the top of the old Northwestern Bell building at 9th & Douglas St., over a mile away !!!
Brett Kieler (Metros -Class of 1983) installing the roof flashing and shingles as he helps with the entrance roof .
Left: Workers install the one of the gates outside the Zamboni entrance. Right: Craig Stoever (Metros-Class of ’83), his mom
Carolyn Stoever and Head Coach and former Musketeer Walt Johnson stand outside the Bubble.
Did You Know…Walt would go on to coach the Metros for three seasons (1979-1982) and then again for four more
seasons (1996-2000). During that time, Walt would led the Metros to three appearances in the State Championship
game, winning two of them in 1998 and 1999.
Did You Know…Walt also played three seasons for the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL). He was a two-time Team Captain
and scored 241 regular season points, fourth highest among all Musketeers players, in just147 games.
The Rink
Members roll out, straighten and place the 44 miles of Teflon coolant tubing 1″ apart for some 17,000 square feet!!!
The Boards
Left: Mike O’Brien, Dan Reynolds (Metros-Class of 1981), Kirk Swanson (Metros-Class of 1985), Ted O’Brien (Metros-
Class of 1984) and Wendell Reynolds (white shirt) start the tedious task of connecting and straightening coolant lines.
Other Pics: Members install the dasher boards.
The Ice
Past Musketeer Player and Musketeer coach Bob Ferguson helps with the final touches before ice making can begin. During the 75-76
season Bob was a Player-Coach (Just like Reggie Dunlop/Charlestown Chiefs) for the Tucson Icemen. He would go on to lead the
Musketeers to two Clark Cup Championships and is currently the ranks as the third winningest coach in USHL history.
Left: SYHA Board member Dick Keith and Mike O’Brien help with the final rink base preparation as excited hockey parents wait
for the ice making to begin. Right: Two unknown workers man the hose to make ice.
Left: Musketeer General Manager John McNeil and Owner Ted Carlson take on some of the ice making duties. SYHA player
Kevin Wiskus (Metros-CLass of 1985) looks on. Right: Ted takes over making ice near the main entrance of the rink.
Opening Night SYHA
SYHA took the chance to use the ice for practices and learn to skate sessions prior to the official opening of the rink later that day.
Ribbon Cutting
September 1st, 1981
Later the evening an official Grand Opening was held. Members of the SC and SSC chamber of Commerce and the media were
in attendance to honor all those who made the Bubble possible. Refreshments and open skating for all was available.
Left: South Sioux City Mayor Vern Larson (left) and Sioux City Mayor George Cole (right) make the opening official. Ron
Papp (center) and Fred Davenport (hat) look on. Right:
Let The Skating Begin
SYHA Is Back In Business
Later that evening, SYHA finished the night with a open ice session for the older SYHA and high school players. Today would
also be the first day of scheduled of SYHA games and practices. Musketeer Head Coach Bob Ferguson (Musketeers 1977-78/Musketeers
Coach 1991-90) and Metros Head Coach Walt Johnson (Musketeers 1976-79/Metros Coach 79-82/96-2000) offered up a great chance
for some inter-age group shinny.
From the Air in its New Home
Top: Taken from the Iowa side. That parking lot in the lower right of each photo where the current Perkin’s Restaurant is located.
Left: Taken on the Nebraska side, looking in a northwest direction. Right: Nebraska side looking straight west. That
empty area in the bottom right is where the current Siouxland Y building is located.
A Lighthouse…Calling All Ice Skaters
The Bubble was easiest to find at night!!!
End of the Line
During the early morning hours of July 21st, 1982, heavy winds and storm conditions caused catastrophic damage to
the Bubble. Winds clocked up to 55 mph caused the nearly eight tons of canvas to fall the ground, destroying the boards,
glass, lighting fixtures, mechanical attachments and ice making equipment.
Left & Right: Brad Hanson (gray shirt-Metros Class of ’83)) and Craig Stoever (blue shirt-Metros Class of ’83) survey the
damage. Right: Brad and Craig standing left of the main entrance.
Left: Standing at center ice, looking towards the main entrance. Right: Standing at the main entrance you can see the
Zamboni doors and to the left the Zamboni garage.
Left: Southwest corner of the rink. That’s the Zamboni door. The walk-through door pictured is the entrance to the heated
concessions area, viewing area and rink offices. Right: Brad and Craig walk past one of the fans used to inflate the bubble.
Left: Whoever attached the bubble to this door frame here gets a gold star!!! Right: Standing on the blue line looking west.
Pictured is the Zamboni door and the Zamboni garage building to the left.
During the summer of ’82 the Bubble would be replaced by a metal building facility called the Carlson Event Center. It
featured increased seating capacity and heat!!! This would be home for SYHA until 1985 when youth hockey would return
to the Sioux City Auditorium.
For the second year in a row…Ted and Mary Jo Carlson (Musketeers Owners 1981-2000) would perform above and beyond
duties, making sure that SYHA would not miss a season. Just like the bubble, the new event center was completed in just
four months, insuring a new ice sheet was in place and ready to go for the next season.
SYHA and the Metros would call the Carlson Event Center home for three seasons before a return to the Sioux City
Auditorium for the 1985-86 season.
While the Musketeers still were playing at the Auditorium, The Carlson Event Center would be called upon a few times
to host the Musketeers in post-season play.
Musketeers vs. St. Paul Vulcans
USHL Championship Series / Game 3 / March 30th, 1984
Scheduling conflicts at the Auditorium forced the Musketeers to play their home games for the championship series at the Bubble.
Fans pack the Carlson Event Center to watch the Musketeer play the St. Paul Vulcans.
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