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Q & A Former professional hockey player Tom Kaiman helped make the IceZone a reality |
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One of the most exciting features of the new St. Louis Mills shopping and entertainment center in Hazelwood is the IceZONE – the official St. Louis Blues practice facility and public skating rink. Chesterfield resident Tom Kaiman, a former professional hockey player, was construction engineer on the project – his first project with Walton Construction. Kaiman took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to speak with NETWORK. N: First, since you are a St. Louis native, the ultimate St. Louis question: Where did you go to high school? Kaiman: I went to Parkway West. N: Tell us a little bit about your hockey career. Kaiman: That’s one of my favorite things to talk about. I played with the St. Louis Sting in high school, and then I went to college at Michigan Tech, and played hockey there for four years. After I graduated I signed with the Arkansas RiverBlades, and later played with the Baton Rouge Kingfish. Eventually I got called up to play with the Lowell Lock Monsters – the AAA affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes NHL team. I wanted to get signed but I couldn’t work a deal, so I headed back to St. Louis. N: Was it family that brought you back to St. Louis? Kaiman: Well, my family is here, and I had been back in town working construction during the summers while I was in college. On June 7 last year I married my high school sweetheart, Sheri. We decided to move back to St. Louis and build a home after our honeymoon. We think that St. Louis will be the best place to raise kids when we have them. N: How did your job at Walton Construction come about? Kaiman: After the season finished I came back and applied at a few construction companies, and Walton was one of them. The corporate headquarters are in Kansas City, but the satellite office here opened about a year and a half ago.When they made me an offer I accepted the same day. N: And your first project at Walton was the IceZONE? Kaiman: I couldn’t have been given a more perfect – or more challenging – project. The people at Walton knew about my hockey background, and my enthusiasm for the project. I was onsite from day one. The IceZone was a later addition to the St. Louis Mills development, so we only had five months to get it completed before the grand opening. As construction engineer, I was involved in almost every aspect of the project, from scheduling and budgeting to quality control. I’m very happy with the way it turned out. N: As a former professional hockey player, what do you think are the best features of the IceZONE? Kaiman: It’s a unique facility because it serves as a public rink as well as the official practice rink for the Blues. There is a public locker room, gift shop and concession stand area, and more than 600 spectator seats. On the pro side, we matched the Blues’ locker room and weight room to the facilities at the Savvis Center, including sauna, steam room and hot tub. Best of all, though, I’ve heard from some of the Blues players that the IceZONE has “unbelievable” ice conditions. Everything we installed is state-of-the-art, and exactly to the Blues’ specifications. N: For a guy who is only 24 years old, it seems that you have already accomplished a lot. What’s next? Kaiman: Well, we’re bidding on a number of projects right now, and I’m staying very busy. Walton was just awarded the Ameristar Casino St. Charles video bar and deli addition project. We’re also doing some work at Harrah’s Casino, which is a $40 million-plus hotel addition with a new lobby, 211 rooms, and the top two floors will be all suites. N: It sounds like you are doing exactly what you want, though. Kaiman: This business can be stressful and very competitive at times, but I love it. Every day when I come to work I wonder, “What do I get to build next?” For me, that’s the best thing of all. |
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