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Prince Rupert civic centre arena undergoes facelift, ice back in

As fast as hockey season came to a close last spring, the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre's ice will be heading right back into place on Monday.
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The Jim Ciccone Civic Centre is sporting a new coat of paint.

As fast as hockey season came to a close last spring, the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre's ice will be heading right back into place on Monday.

"We've got a hockey school ramping up on Aug. 18," said the centre's ice-maker, Glen Irving.

Fresh ice isn't all that's been given a new look at the arena.

A brand new coat of paint, specifically in blue, white and black has been draped all over the rink's walls, doors, rails and floors. The colours, meant to match those of the Prince Rupert Minor Hockey Association (PRMHA) have given the arena a brand new feel.

Along with new lighting, a new Zamboni, fresh advertisements and new boards, the PRMHA, Rupert Rampage and the Prince Rupert Skating Club will feel like they're taking the ice in brand new digs.

"If you look in the lobby too, we've re-finished the floors; put some wax on it and changed it quite a bit," said Irving, pointing to the deep black of the area just in front of the doors leading to the Civic Centre's main lobby.

New protective netting will also be installed along the end boards to go with the netting protecting the crowd's side of the arena.

"[This week], we'll be getting ready for ice, so lots of cleaning, getting the floor ready [to be removed]. We'll do the new netting and goals. I'm getting new paint supplies ready so we'll have it ready to go," said Irving.

The walls along the locker-room side of the rink may be host to some banner ads hanging against the wall, to go with the ads along the rink's boards of the same side, facing the crowd.