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This article was published 9/4/2010 (3827 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

JOE.BRYKSA@FREEPRESS.MB.CA MTS Allstream's Kelvin Shepherd, left, and Jim Ludlow,President and CEO of True North Sports and Entertainment unveil the new name of the 172,000 sq. foot MTS IcePlex in Headingley.

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Come the fall, finding a spot on the ice in the city will be a little easier.

The MTS Iceplex, located on an 11-acre site at 3969 Portage Ave., is another example of a public/private partnership in Winnipeg announced today, with naming rights for the $27-million complex going to MTS.

"It’s similar in many respects to the public-private partnership that we had with the development of the MTS Centre with the three levels of government," said Jim Ludlow, President & CEO of True North Sports & Entertainment. "In this case it’s the government of Canada, the province of Manitoba and True North Sports & Entertainment."

The public sector is coughing up about $11.5 million with the balance of the funds coming out of True North Sports & Entertainment’s pocket.

The rinks will be a training facility for the Moose and will accommodating more than 20,000 hours of recreational icetime for junior, minor and adult hockey teams. The MTS Iceplex will also be the official home of the Winnipeg Blues junior hockey team.

"There will be a lot of community access," said Mike Bochinski, general manager at the complex. "I mean right from young kids, timbits hockey to minor hockey, double A, triple A hockey. We’re really going to cover the whole range, male and female hockey, so it’s really going to cover everything."

The 172,000-square-foot complex will feature four NHL regulation-sized rinks. Off the ice, 20 full sized dressing rooms and a pro shop will accommodate players, with concessions and a restaurant for spectators. The main rink will seat 1,500 fans, while the other three rinks will have seating for 250.

Currently Winnipeg Transit does not provide service to the area. Buses stop at the Perimeter Highway, leaving a bit of a walk for those relying on public transportation.

Developers have been working with the multplexes' neighbours to make sure there will be enough parking spaces on site.

So far the project is moving ahead on budget and on schedule. The complex is expected to open on Aug. 15.