May 21st, 2026, was a special day for hockey players and hockey lovers in South Texas.
An exciting partnership between the City of McAllen and the Dallas Stars Hockey Club culminated in a massive rink upgrade.
The hard work of organizing, promoting, and playing hockey on the border by RGV Roller and numerous players before paid off in a big way during the unveiling of the newly renovated McAllen Sports Park roller hockey rink – formally named MSP MultiSports Pavilion.
Hockey has surfaced in the Rio Grande Valley in several forms over the years, from neighborhood street games and roller hockey at the Harlingen cotton gin and local rinks to youth, adult, and ice hockey programs. For many Valley residents, that history is most closely associated with the RGV Killer Bees, the semi-professional team that became the region’s best-known sports team.
Dallas Stars Chief Revenue Officer Matt Bowman commented on the importance of supporting organic growth.
“We know there is a strong hockey base here and it is our job to shine a light on that and keep the momentum going,” Bowman said. “We think this is a good next step for hockey in the Rio Grande Valley, and we’re excited to be a part of it.”
Dallas’s support for the Rio Grande Valley puck traces back to ice hockey. They sponsored and provided gear for free at Try Hockey Days at the former ice rink. Before RGV Roller’s first youth league season in 2022, it was the Stars who sent a pallet of street hockey gear to jump-start the program.
While ice hockey is missing from the local scene, the RGV Roller nonprofit works hard to ensure there is a low-cost location for hockey. Today, over 100 youth and 50 adults skate in RGV Roller’s programs, prompting both McAllen and the Stars to realize that grassroots hockey is making waves in the sport.
The ribbon cutting was a festive atmosphere, with McAllen ISD students enjoying the celebration. Elementary kids played with street hockey equipment, while the Nikki Rowe High School Band performed at the event.
Many who attended the event were dedicated hockey fans. People donned Stars jerseys or those of other NHL teams and just enjoyed the fact that a professional team would take interest in this area, nestled on the border. Far from hockey’s traditional base, but worth investing in because of the passion that was on full display.
Vibes for the sport were at an all-time high, and that will continue as the McAllen Parks and Recreation Department adds Intro to Hockey to its recreation programming.
Alvaro Monyota, former NHL goalie and current Dallas Stars Vice President of Cultural Growth and Strategy, was a major part of the project. He led the three-way partnership between the nonprofit group, the city, and the hockey team.
Prior to the rink renovation, he brought a group of RGV Roller youth players to Dallas to watch the 2024 Stars home opener.
As the first Cuban-American and Spanish-speaking NHL player, he holds a special place and connection with the RGV population.
“I feel like I’m among my people,” he said. He spoke about what it was like to play street hockey as a kid, getting to pretend he was Wayne Gretzky.
“This is what dreams are made of. You get to be who you want out here. This is a special day for McAllen, a special day for the Stars, the National Hockey League, but most importantly, it’s important for the youth in town.”
McAllen Director of Parks and Recreation Denny Meline talked about the longtime advocacy of members of the RGV Hockey community.
“This is a long time coming. We have worked with them, and this is well-deserved,” Meline said. “This isn’t only for our community, this is for people from out of town to come visit McAllen and play here to understand this is a world-class facility.”
McAllen commissioner Rolly Rios spoke about the tremendous growth in north McAllen, comparing the development today to being a child decades ago, when it was just dirt and fields.
Everyone at the event, from city officials to team officials, down to youth shooting pucks with their friends, wore smiles that won’t soon be forgotten.
Even though the Killer Bees and ice are memories, hockey has a home in the Valley. The game is growing organically, with a new boost from friends in Victory Green.
