Apr. 7—BRYON — Things are heating up on the ice in Byron's newly opened Nine Hockey center.

On March 27, players faced off for the first time at the new studio rink and hockey training center at 1067 Fourth St. NE in the Byron Towne Square complex.

Opening Nine Hockey was the culmination of a dream for owners Eric and Rachel Petersen and Tim and Melissa Gerlesberger. They had been working for months to transform a 15,000-square-foot space last occupied by Arrow Ace Hardware into a hockey rink.

"From construction to opening day, it couldn't have gone better, honestly. When you plan to open a small business, you never know logistically how things are going to work," said Rachel Petersen of the experience. "It was all new to us. None of us really knew how long it would take to build a custom sheet of ice. It really couldn't have gone more smoothly and we're just really proud of the results."

One thing was clear for the owners. Area youth and adult hockey players were really excited about a new place to play. About 600 players are registered for Nine Hockey's three-on-three and four-on-four leagues. The faster-paced style of hockey matches the 130-foot-long by 55-foot-wide sheet of ice instead of a full-size rink. It is comparable to playing half-court three-on-three basketball versus full-court five-on-five.

Petersen said players and their parents are enjoying how the speed of the play keeps the focus on the fun of hockey.

"Parents are saying that it's so fast that their kids don't have time to be upset or angry about a goal being scored. The kids come off the ice smiling and sweating. Parents are saying that this was the most fun that they've ever had watching hockey," she said.

The Nine Hockey name is inspired by the local youth hockey district and the Big 9 high school conference. The new leagues are bringing players from competing schools in Austin, Owatonna, Waseca, Rochester and Dodge County together.

"The kids from different schools are becoming friends. It's becoming one hockey community and it's just a really cool thing to see," said Petersen.

Nine Hockey is about more than just leagues. Eric Petersen and Tim Gerlesberger are longtime local coaches. They want to help players improve with classes and camps this summer.

While Petersen and Gerlesberger are the head trainers, they are lining up younger players to help. Lourdes High School stand-out and Rochester Grizzlies player Nolan DuBois is already helping out as an assistant trainer at Nine Hockey.

The facility also features a "Dryland Shooting Area" to help players sharpen their skills and build confidence off the ice. There is also a pro shop with equipment and skate sharpening.

In December, a group of fans were captured on video at a Dallas Stars game performing what looked like a Nazi salute. The 12-second video was posted to Reddit, then deleted, but resurfaced on X on March 31.

After some outcry from offended fans and an investigation, the Stars announced they had identified the person who purchased the tickets April 7 and banned him indefinitely from American Airlines Center.

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“We identified and spoke with the individual that purchased the tickets and will be banning the individual indefinitely from American Airlines Center,” a Stars spokesperson said in a statement. “Additionally, we are increasing in-arena messaging regarding the Fan Code of Conduct and how our fans can report violations, along with prioritizing staff training to identify and handle situations that arise. Any type of discriminatory or hateful behavior will not be tolerated and has no place in our arena. Creating and sustaining environments that are inclusive, safe and respectful is a non-negotiable for the Dallas Stars.”

The gesture was captured during the Stars’ December 21, 2025, game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

According to the Reddit user who posted the video to the social media platform, it was not a one-off incident.

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“These boys were sitting in front of us doing a Nazi salute every time the Stars scored,” the original poster wrote. “I’ve been to several games and never seen anything like this before. I recorded them and sent it to arena management, but they said they couldn’t find the boys despite me giving them their exact seat numbers.”

The NHL Fan Code of Conduct states: “Language, gestures, behavior, clothing, signs, or other personal expressions that negatively reference or demean a specific race, ethnicity, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability status, or other identity-based characteristic will not be tolerated.  Such conduct is strictly prohibited regardless of whether it directly or indirectly references a particular individual or a group of individuals.”

According to the Dallas Morning News, the Stars could only identify the fan who purchased the tickets, not the others shown in the video.

In yet another sign of the growing popularity of women's hockey, the PWHL set a new U.S. attendance record as the Seattle Torrent and New York Sirens played Saturday, April 4, in front of a sellout crowd of 18,006 at Madison Square Garden.

The figure topped the previous mark of 17,335 set at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Feb. 27, right after the U.S. women's hockey team won gold at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

It marked the eighth time a U.S. arena record for a women’s hockey game has been set since the league's inaugural puck drop in January 2024 – and the fourth time this season alone. 

Playing their first game at the storied New York City arena, the Sirens won 2-1 in a shootout.

Fittinginly for a game in New York, there were plenty of dignitaries on hand. PWHL Advisory Board member Billie Jean King participated in the ceremonial pregame puck drop, where she was joined by her wife, former tennis star Ilana Koss, and LSU basketball star Flau’jae Johnson.

"It’s hard not to get choked up," Stan Kasten, the Los Angeles Dodgers' CEO and also a PWHL board member, told The Athletic. "We were not forecasting this. Not in year three."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: PWHL game in New York sets new US pro women's hockey attendance mark

Tereza Pistekova already has three World Championship tournaments and an Olympic Games on her resume, all by the age of 20.

The forward is set to achieve another milestone this year as she is poised to declare for the 2026 PWHL Draft.

Most members of the 2026 PWHL Draft class are from the 2002, 2003, and 2004 birth years. Pistekova, a 2005 born player, will look to become the youngest player in the PWHL next season if she is selected.

Given her two-way impact, international experience, and the fact she's already spent two seasons in the SDHL playing with some of the top international players outside the PWHL, and has trained with Czechia's growing PWHL contingent, it's not a stretch to believe Pistekova will make the jump to the PWHL immediately.

She has the tool kit to be an effective checking line player from day one, and given her age, is a prospect who could emerge as a future star in the league. Pistekova is following a unique path to the PWHL. The majority of her Czech national team peers like 2006 born forwards Tereza Plosova and Adela Sapovalivova recently completed their rookie seasons in the NCAA. Pistekova is a rarity from Czechia to not take the NCAA route to the pro ranks. In fact, across the PWHL, there are very few players who have not competed in North America at some point in the league. It's a short list that includes Ronja Savolainen, Maja Nylen Persson, Fanuza Kadirova, Anna Shokhina, Lina Ljungblom, Anna Meixner, and Daniela Pejsova.

The list will grow next season as Petra Nieminen and Viivia Vainikka look to join the league, along with Russians Maria Batalova and Anna Shibanova. 

Last season in the SDHL Pistekova recorded 25 points in 34 games with SDE. She's a strong penalty killer, and the left shot forward has options. Pistekova recently re-signed for next season with SDE, but with PWHL clause included to allow her to start the year in the SDHL before coming to the PWHL in November following the World Championships where she'll again represent Czechia.

Currently the PWHL includes Czech players Kristyna Kaltounkova, Daniela Pejsova, Katerina Mrazova, Denisa Krizova, Aneta Tejralova, Klara Hymlarova, Tereza Vanisova, Natalie Mlynkova, and Noemi Neubauerova. Former PWHL defender Dominka Laskova will also look to return to the league next season.