NHL legend Wayne Gretzky to open hockey school at new $40M Palm Beach Gardens ice rink

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Hockey Hall of Fame member Wayne Gretzky, along with his son, Ty, recently announced the anticipated launch of the Gretzky Hockey School as part of a new $40 million dollar skating rink being built in Palm Beach Gardens.

“Together with my son, we’re honored to expand the reach of our hockey school to more residents in Palm Beach County,” Gretzky said. “Hockey has the power to unite communities, and we are thrilled to be a part of bringing that unity to even more people to cultivate a new era of hockey enthusiasts.”

Spearheaded by the Palm Beach North Athletic Foundation, Inc., or PBNAF, the facility will feature two NHL size rinks for youth hockey, figure skating, public skating, adult leagues, curling, and sled hockey.

It will also feature a full-service restaurant and sports bar, a retail store, training space, academy space, and a medical space sponsored by the Hospital for Special Surgery.

“We are thrilled to partner with the City of Palm Beach Gardens, and we thank our many constituents in the community that have supported us and made this partnership possible,” PBNAF President Michael Winters said. “As members of this special community, we are looking forward to a long and rewarding relationship with the city and its residents.”

In early April, the City of Palm Beach Gardens voted in favor of a 40-year lease agreement to develop and operate the facility at Plant Drive Park. The building is expected to be complete by the summer of 2026.

After an NHL career spanning from 1979-1999, Gretzky helped launch the Gretzky Hockey School with his son in 2014. Across 20 years, Gretzky played for the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers before retiring at the age of 38.

Considered one of the greatest hockey players of all-time, Gretzky scored 894 goals, 1963 assists, and 2857 points, all league records, during his playing career. He also scored a single-season record of 92 goals with the Oilers during the 1981-82 season and dished out a record 163 assists with the Oilers in 1985-86.

Overall, Gretzky holds eight of the top 10 highest single-season point totals in NHL history, including a league high 215 during the 1985-86 season. Remarkably, he still holds 61 NHL records upon his retirement in 1999.

Gretzky also was elected to the Hall of Fame the same year.

Along with Gretzky, the facility received support from Larry Robbins, CEO of Glenview Capital Management. Robbins also was a former player and captain for the University of Pennsylvania, and has served 18 years as a youth coach at the North Jersey Avalanche and eight-year owner and CEO of the Chicago Steel.

According to the announcement, both Robbins and Gretzky lent their support to “expand and enhance ice sports across South Florida to serve more people in the community and elevate the competitiveness of youth hockey in the region.”

“My wife Sarahmay and I are thrilled to relocate our family to Palm Beach Gardens, an active, hardworking, and optimistic community whose only shortcoming is a current lack of ice skating facilities to serve the growing base of passionate hockey players and figure skaters,” Robbins said.

In addition, the facility garnered support from Tucker Tucker Frederickson, a former NFL player and PBNAF board member. Fredrickson played for the New York Giants from 1965-1971 and was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in college at Auburn University.

“We are thrilled to partner with Mike, Tucker, Wayne, and the entire PBNAF team and family to bring this new centerpiece of the community to life, while creating a platform for our youth to enjoy and learn the critical values of persistence, teamwork, passion, and purpose,” Robbins added.

In South Florida, Palm Beach Gardens is the latest city to bring exposure to the sport. In March, the City of Fort Lauderdale celebrated the opening of the Florida Panthers new Baptist IcePlex practice facility located at FTL War Memorial in Holiday Park.

The Panthers’ 144,000 sq. ft. practice facility features two NHL-regulation sized ice rinks, five curling lanes, a 26’X15′ LED display and color kinetic lighting. The complex also includes a 7,500 Florida Panthers retail shop, concession stands, multi-use party rooms, and 11 locker rooms.

Currently, the Panthers are facing off against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round of the NHL playoffs. Game one of the best-of-seven series was won 3-2 by the Panthers on Sunday.