DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – Former St. Scholastica hockey star Tom Cartier is spearheading a committee to make improvements to the Mars Lake Lakeview Arena.

The arena serves as the home of the St. Scholastica and Duluth Marshall hockey teams along with the Duluth Figure Skating Club.

They are hoping to raise $250,000 to construct a new scoreboard, make improvements to the fitness rooms, and make a 292-foot mural by local artist Tim Cortes that showcases the history of the teams that call the arena home.

The fundraiser kicked off Sunday. If they’re able to get funding, Cartier is hopeful to have the upgrades ready for next hockey season.

“Hockey players that have either played at Scholastica, Marshall or Cathedral, I feel that if they all just do something it will be enough to raise $250,000,” said Cartier.

Cartier said he walked into the arena a few years ago and something felt off.

“The inside of the arena it doesn’t feel right, the fitness center is old and the equipment is old,” said Cartier.

Duluth Figure Skating Club member Madeline Manion is excited for the mural that will showcase the history of her program.

“Seeing all the accomplishments on the wall on the back wall, I think that will make a huge benefit,” said Manion.

She said that, combined with the new fitness room will make her, and her teammates, better skaters.

“The training room will definitely make a big impact because we’ll be able to train up there as well because we didn’t really get to as much so I think that will definitely make an impact,” said Manion.

Duluth Marshall Boy’s Hockey captain, Layton Anderson, said an upgrade to the training room would make a huge difference.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for us as a community, especially as a hockey program with the possible workout facility upgrades which help out development for sure,” said Anderson.

St Scholastica Women’s Hockey Coach, Julianne Vasichek, is happy the community is looking out for their smaller program.

“There’s a lot of pride locally, especially in the hockey community,” said Vasichek. “I think we tend to up here have a little bit of a chip on our shoulders when it comes to the metro.”

St. Scholastica Women’s Hockey player, Jolynn Hauan, will be there to see the upgrades and is excited to make the arena feel even more like home.

“I still have a lot of time here at St. Scholastica so any improvements really is a big deal for us it makes our space feel more like home,” said Hauan.

If you would like to contribute to the project, you can here.

EDITOR’S NOTE: In the broadcast edition local artist Tim Cortes’s name was mispronounced as Tom Cortes.

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