Hockey and Ice Skating Now More Accessible to Underrepresented Communities Thanks to Unique Corporate Partnership

February 28, 2023

PITTSBURGH — Duquesne Light Company (DLC) today announced a new partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins and its Hunt Armory Ice Rink to help make hockey and ice skating more accessible to underrepresented communities within the city of Pittsburgh. This year, the company is sponsoring “DLC Community Skate Days” at the Shadyside-based rink, where inner-city youth and families can participate in free skating sessions that include the costs of equipment and skate rentals. DLC and the Penguins are engaging various community groups and partnership networks to attract participants to the skate days, which are not open to the general public.

“The physical and psychological benefits of increasing kids’ access to youth sports programming is more important than ever,” said Christine Waller, DLC’s vice president of communications and corporate responsibility. “Duquesne Light Company is proud to partner with the Pittsburgh Penguins to create more opportunities for the community to enjoy ice time with friends and family by reducing traditional barriers to skating, such as cost and equipment. Our vision to deliver a clean energy future for all starts by supporting the well-being of the communities we serve, and we look forward to continuing that in the future.”

In addition to the partnership, DLC also played a significant role in bringing the rink to life in 2021. That summer, the company designed and installed additional overhead transformers and constructed a new service line to help power the revamped facility, which was once used as a training site and storage center for military weapons and was a popular location for presidential speeches. The rink was open in time for the 2021-2022 winter season and is the only indoor ice rink besides PPG Paints Arena within the city of Pittsburgh limits. Thanks to the partnership, DLC employees will get the chance to experience Hunt Armory during an employee skate day in early March.

“The Penguins are proud to partner with Duquesne Light Company in our mutual commitment in service to our community at Hunt Armory,” said Kevin Acklin, president of business operations with the Penguins. “DLC Community Skate Days will expand the work we’ve been doing the past two years to offer free skating activities at the Armory and build on the relationships we’ve grown with community groups and other partners around the Pittsburgh region.”

More information about Hunt Armory can be found on the Penguins’ website.