Peter Sharpe dedicated his life to hockey in the Roaring Fork Valley, shaping the sport in Glenwood Springs in ways that will be felt for generations. When he died on Feb. 15 after battling a rare brain disease, the community lost not just a leader but the very foundation of its hockey culture.

Sharpe was a driving force behind the sport’s growth, working tirelessly to secure funding for an ice rink, launching the Glenwood Grizzlies youth hockey program, and running the Sharpe Edge Hockey store, where players could find affordable gear and rentals. His influence stretched across nearly every corner of the hockey world in Glenwood, and his passion never faded.

“My life would have looked completely different if it weren’t for Peter,” former Grizzlies captain Ben Guska said. “He made hockey accessible for families like mine and helped bridge the financial gap in a sport that’s usually expensive.”

Sharpe’s dream began on a small frozen pond at the base of Sunlight Mountain Resort, where he and other hockey enthusiasts played on makeshift ice. But he envisioned something bigger. Alongside future Grizzlies director T.K. Kwiatkowski, he spent years rallying support for a permanent rink, working with city officials, construction companies, and members of the local hockey community. Through every challenge, one phrase guided them.

“Wouldn’t ice be nice?”

Kwiatkowski said Glenwood Springs wouldn’t be the same without Sharpe’s relentless commitment to making that dream a reality.

“Peter was instrumental in getting a full ice facility here, dating back to the early ’90s when we started the rink by the airport,” he said. “He was a good person, a good father, and a dedicated community member. The entire local hockey community will miss him dearly.”

Even before a formal rink was built, Sharpe and Kwiatkowski took matters into their own hands, moving their makeshift setup from Sunlight to the old Glenwood Rodeo Grounds. Sharpe took pride in keeping the ice in playable condition, despite the challenges.

“I still couldn’t tell you where he got the passion,” Sue Sharpe, his wife, said with a laugh. “But once he did, it was all he lived and breathed. He built himself a Zamboni out of PVC pipe and spent all his time out there making ice.”

His impact stretched beyond just maintaining the ice. He was a fixture at the rink, forming connections with players, families, and fellow hockey enthusiasts.

“Peter was truly unique,” Glenwood Ice Rink supervisor and U.S. Deaflympic hockey player Troy Benson said. “His passion for hockey was boundless. Working at the rink wasn’t just a job; it was how he connected with people. It seemed like everyone in town knew Peter, and many would stop by just to see him. He even joined every public skate — he just loved being on the ice.”

Since the Glenwood Springs Ice Rink opened at 100 Wulfsohn Road, the Western Slope has seen a surge in hockey talent. The sport had already started to take off in the mid-2010s, but it reached another level when Glenwood Springs High School began fielding its own team.

Under coach Tim Cota, the Glenwood Demons have been one of the top hockey programs in the state since 2020, making three straight trips to the Class 4A state semifinals and reaching the championship game twice.

“Hockey is different from any other sport,” Guska said. “It breeds resilience in its players. I know Glenwood will come together after this heartbreak. We have some of the best coaches and leaders in the state, and I know this community will keep growing. In a few years, Glenwood won’t just be one of the best teams in Colorado — it’ll be one of the fiercest in the country.”

Sharpe’s impact will live on through the rink, the players, and the community he helped build. His dream of bringing hockey to Glenwood started with a simple question, but the answer is now clear. Ice wasn’t just nice — it became a way of life.