Although Meakin wants to attract professional players, he said the two-sheet ice rink will be built to appeal to a myriad of ages, abilities and community uses.

Meakin was born in the U.S. but grew up playing hockey in Canada. He carried his love for the sport with him when he moved back to the states in 1983, and eventually built the Bremerton Ice Center in 2003.

The $5 million Bremerton facility opened with much fanfare, but a $40,000 mortgage caught up with Meakin and he was forced into foreclosure after just a year. The ice rink is still in existence though and Meakin said he learned some valuable lessons. Since then he’s worked in finance for the auto industry.

Now Meakin wants to develop his rink with little or no debt, using an equity play, a public-private partnership, a nonprofit structure or a partnership with a local credit union. He is currently talking with investors and credit unions about a potential deal, he said.

Canton has long sought to develop the Hornstra property into a business park, and first approached Meakin about the idea about a decade ago.