In Praise of outdoor rinks
Colder than a normal rink, outdoor rinks are so much cooler
Growing up in the St. Louis area, youth hockey was virtually non existent, everyone I knew played either baseball, soccer or football. I was not aware of any rinks near me or even where one would find a rink if it was a life or death need. Still, hockey was part of our lives. Whenever we could, and I would comfortably say about once a month, we would make it out to the Checkerdome in St. Louis to see the St. Louis Blues play. And man what a time it was. I don’t think we ever had on-ice seats, it was always the 8.00 nose bleeds, but it didn’t matter, we loved seeing the games.
And so that was hockey to me as a young kid growing up. A sport that only professionals played for my entertainment. It’s different now, with my oldest having 13 years under his belt in youth hockey. I don’t get to as many professional games as I used to but I am at at least one rink every weekend from August to April. Regardless of how wonderful the indoor rinks are when we play, nothing quite compares to skating on an outdoor rink. It’s always one of the highlights of the year when we have a game or two outside under the stars.
I am not referring to the backyard rinks that are so prominent in northern states. I am referring to the professionally run rinks that I was first introduced to in the northeast. We have been lucky enough to play at outdoor rinks at Patriot Place in Foxborough MA and the Lasker rinks in Central Park NYC. There is something incredible about getting on the ice under the bright lights in the big city.
https://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/iceskating/4
Make no mistake though, the Lasker rink was rough. Horrible locker rooms, oddly shaped rinks that were not regulation. No way to see the games from a warm space: you were either freezing cold or inside without a clue what your kid was up to. However, it did have one feature that no rink could replicate: playing outside in Central Park under the lights of New York. That made all of the oddities of Lasker worth it and I have to say that I miss it.
At the same time, some of my fondest experiences were at local outdoor rinks. While living and playing in New Jersey, there are two outdoor rinks that really personified to me how special an outdoor rink can be for a young hockey player. The first rink was at the Beacon Hill Club in Summit, NJ. The club was a members only club, but because the coaches knew each other, we were able to play a non league game against their house team. This was a regulation size rink that was tucked away against the hills of Summit NJ, with a view that was inspiring. https://www.beaconhillclub.org/
Looking out over Short Hills NJ this rink had everything you would hope for in an outdoor rink. It had bleachers, a Zamboni, nice locker rooms and good benches. But, what made it really special was the incredible club house that sat just off the rink. This was the oasis. It always had a fully raging fireplace and a stocked bar with coffees and teas and cider too. It’s gigantic windows allowed everyone to see the game and stay warm at the same time, a rare feat for an outdoor rink. At Lasker, there was no chance of doing either.
The second great outdoor rink that I remember fondly was at the Essex Hunt Club in Gladstone NJ. https://www.essexhunt.com/ This rink was old school, well maintained and the kids loved playing on it. The club was off the beaten path, but very nice. The rink had a more peaceful feel than the Somerset club because it was more tranquil and wide open. The sun hit the rink so nicely that it always felt warmer than it actually was.
Closer to home now, I have really enjoyed watching our kids play on the Fairgrounds Rink at Gardens Ice House in Maryland. Not as picturesque as a city rink or even a private club setup, but an excellent outdoor rink nonetheless. Wooden boards and chain link, it is raw, it is old school, but it is excellent.
It’s that time of year, when the sun goes down earlier in the evening and the cold weather gets outdoor rinks rolling. The smells of burning wood in the air, of hot chocolate, and of hockey gear all competing for attention in the crisp winter air. No other sport compares within the outdoor experience. Hopefully, everyone reading this will have the chance to play at a beautiful outdoor rink during their youth hockey career. Let me know in the comments of your favorite outdoor rink!
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