West Fargo Winter Classic hosted at The Lights in West Fargo

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR)- The Essentia Health West Fargo Winter Classic is underway. Taking place at The Lights Ice Rink in the Essentia Health Plaza and West Fargo Sports Arena, high school hockey players are given a chance to play rival teams outside under the lights, as well as indoors, and everyone involved loves this opportunity.

 Mike Amundson, Executive Director of West Fargo Events, said, “You know, the really fun thing is when the kids first enter the ice sheet outside. That first time they skate on we get a lot of “oh my gosh” out of those kids. And when you see their eyes light up and their jaws just drop, that’s a good feeling for all of our team that work so hard.”

This winter classic has been going for a few years, and this year has games until the 31st of December. Amundson also said, “So the first 2 days are High School Hockey. Wednesday and Thursday this week we start in the morning each day, and we go through a 7 o’clock game at the end of the night. Then on Friday Saturday Sunday, we bring a new slate of teams in.”

Despite the warmer weather this winter and as well as the ice storms a few day ago, the ice is all set to go thanks to the hard work of the West Fargo Public Event Planners. Amundson also said, “We were not very pleased about the recent storms we had everything ready before Christmas, then we had to come back after Christmas and basically scrape off a 2-3 inch layer of ice from on top of the playing surface. “

Between both the outdoor and indoor rinks, there are over 15 hockey games at this tournament in the next few days.