In just a few days the largest ice hockey and sports facility in the state will open its doors to skaters and athletes. Florida Hospital Center Ice has been in the making for more than a year now.

  • New ice facility opens to public Thursday
  • Florida Hospital Center Ice is located in Wesley Chapel
  • Facility is the biggest public ice rink in the state

Wesley Chapel is now home to the largest ice rink and multi-sports complex in the state and the southeast.

“We have three NHL rinks, one Olympic, and one mini pad for training,” said Gordie Zimmermann, managing partner of Z Mitch LLC.

The facility has capabilities for other sports.

“We have a hard court that goes above the ice," explained Zimmermann, "and we can do volleyball, basketball, we can have street hockey programs which we’re going to have on our own here. We’ll be working with the Lightning."

Monday, crews worked to get the final touches done, spraying paint and getting the last few rinks filled with ice.

“We’ll be laying out all of our lines, circles, logos, whatever else goes in the ice from that I seal it in, and it’s a continuous of building clear water until we get to an inch, inch and a quarter,” said Ignatius 'Iggy' Tarajos, facility operations director.

Local teams are already hitting the ice for practice.

“Today we have some high school practices and USF will be in the building for the first time for practice tonight,” said Zimmermann.

The facility is not just attracting local interest but national and international programs and events.

“We have some groups like the V-Red Prospect Camp that's coming here now for the V-Red Prospect Camp in the summer,” added Zimmermann. “We have some national events. The adult nationals is now here for the next three years."

Florida Hospital Center Ice will be open seven days a week with a full service restaurant in the coming weeks.

It will be open to the public Thursday.