Amelia Park Ice Arena welcomes new director

Date: 7/27/2010

WESTFIELD -- Amelia Park Arena & Garden in Westfield is proud to announce that they have named Carole Appleton their new executive director.

Amelia Park Ice Arena is an ice arena/sports complex and memorial garden, financed by Westfield philanthropist Albert F. Ferst, in memory of his wife Amelia. The Albert & Amelia Ferst Operating Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit entity, was formed in 1998, with the expressed purpose of building a recreational facility and garden in her memory.

Appleton spent the last 17 seasons with Springfield Falcons Hockey in various capacities, most recently in hockey op-erations and community re-lations. In the 1996-97 season, she was recognized as the Ken McKenzie Co-Award Winner.

The award is given annually to that member of management who has done the most to promote their team.

Appleton is actively involved in her community. She is vice president of the Springfield Falcons Charities Inc., the official charity of the Springfield Falcons. She is vice chair of the Columbus Day Italian Open, board chair of the March of Dimes Western Massachusetts and a member of the New England Sled Hockey Invitational Tournament board.

She also coaches the Springfield Sliders and Western Mass Knights Sled Hockey Teams and the Wicked Wheels Wheel-chair Soccer Team.

Appleton was inducted in 2008 into the Amelia Park Sled Hockey Hall of Fame.

She has also created her own company, Pro Sports Intangibles LLC, which assists professional athletes and their families in adjusting to their markets, www.everyteamneedscarole.com.

A native of Newburyport, Appleton graduated in 1990 from Norwich University in Northfield, Vt., with degrees in Communications and English.

Upon graduation, she began her career in professional sports with the Atlanta Eagles of the United States Basketball League and then joined the former Springfield Indians as director of Group Sales, prior to coming on board with the Falcons.