Backyard Hockey Rinks

[breakout]

There was a book on the topic of home rinks. Can't remember the title. The author was from New England. He recalled fond memories of the rink he created in his backyard and the experiences that his family and friends had with it. In the book, the author wrote about touring parts of the northeast, upper midwest and Canada to see other notable backyard rinks. He visited a rink in Duluth, MN and even visited Walter Gretzky's place to talk to him about his backyard rink.

Many of the greatest Minnesota hockey players played a lot of "shinny" hockey at the local park or in backyards. Got any great stories (past or present) about your hockey experience with your back yard rink?

How about ideas on building one without spending a fortune? What would you recommend?

[tomASS]

There was a book on the topic of home rinks. Can't remember the title. The author was from New England. He recalled fond memories of the rink he created in his backyard and the experiences that his family and friends had with it. In the book, the author wrote about touring parts of the northeast, upper midwest and Canada to see other notable backyard rinks. He visited a rink in Duluth, MN and even visited Walter Gretzky's place to talk to him about his backyard rink.

Many of the greatest Minnesota hockey players played a lot of "shinny" hockey at the local park or in backyards. Got any great stories (past or present) about your hockey experience with your back yard rink?

How about ideas on building one without spending a fortune? What would you recommend?

the memories I have of my back yard rink was the 1/2 mile or less walk to the city hockey rink at Commons Park in Fridley. Of course it always seemed uphill both ways in waist-high snow with tempertures hovering around -32. It was the location to hang out at from after school until about 8 pm and then all day on weekends. We would keep our hockey stuff in the warming house and come home for lunch and dinner.
It was bad news if you sent the puck flying into new snow outside the rink and had to try to find it. You would also remember to check the rink area in early spring for a supply of pucks for the next season.

And I remember how good the stove felt as you would slowly gain the feeling back in your feet. Back then a pair of skates a bit larger was a good thing so you could get a few layers of socks on.

Good times and fond memories of what I remember as old time hockey.

[waylon]

could it be: The greatest Hockey stories ever told/By Bryant Urstadt of Guilford,Conneecticut
________
CREAMPIE MILF

[waylon]

Level ground is a must!
________
OLD MAN VIDEO

[breakout]

could it be: The greatest Hockey stories ever told/By Bryant Urstadt of Guilford,Conneecticut

Not sure, you may be on to it. Interesting read for those that have built the backyard rinks or are considering it.

[breakout]

There was a book on the topic of home rinks. Can't remember the title. The author was from New England. He recalled fond memories of the rink he created in his backyard and the experiences that his family and friends had with it. In the book, the author wrote about touring parts of the northeast, upper midwest and Canada to see other notable backyard rinks. He visited a rink in Duluth, MN and even visited Walter Gretzky's place to talk to him about his backyard rink.

Many of the greatest Minnesota hockey players played a lot of "shinny" hockey at the local park or in backyards. Got any great stories (past or present) about your hockey experience with your back yard rink?

How about ideas on building one without spending a fortune? What would you recommend?

the memories I have of my back yard rink was the 1/2 mile or less walk to the city hockey rink at Commons Park in Fridley. Of course it always seemed uphill both ways in waist-high snow with tempertures hovering around -32. It was the location to hang out at from after school until about 8 pm and then all day on weekends. We would keep our hockey stuff in the warming house and come home for lunch and dinner.
It was bad news if you sent the puck flying into new snow outside the rink and had to try to find it. You would also remember to check the rink area in early spring for a supply of pucks for the next season.

And I remember how good the stove felt as you would slowly gain the feeling back in your feet. Back then a pair of skates a bit larger was a good thing so you could get a few layers of socks on.

Good times and fond memories of what I remember as old time hockey.

We would typically get to the outdoor rink in the morning, skate until noon or so, then order a couple of pizzas, grab a soda, rest and go out again. Great exercise, tried different moves and hang with your buddies.

[TheOctopus]

There was a book on the topic of home rinks. Can't remember the title. The author was from New England. He recalled fond memories of the rink he created in his backyard and the experiences that his family and friends had with it. In the book, the author wrote about touring parts of the northeast, upper midwest and Canada to see other notable backyard rinks. He visited a rink in Duluth, MN and even visited Walter Gretzky's place to talk to him about his backyard rink.

Many of the greatest Minnesota hockey players played a lot of "shinny" hockey at the local park or in backyards. Got any great stories (past or present) about your hockey experience with your back yard rink?

How about ideas on building one without spending a fortune? What would you recommend?

I put up a BY rink and my kid LOVES it. In fact, he wants me to start putting it up now. I have to explain, it’s a little early yet. It wont be long however. I make it from 2x12 wood frame with plywood boards and a large plastic boat tarp. The overall size it 32'W x 40'L. The cost is $500 in wood and the plastic tarp cost me $150/yr. I replace the tarp each year due to skate cuts and holes. Trust me, leaks will destroy your BY rink experience so replace it. I also put in a hot water run that makes resurfacing a snap. I purchased a steel frame NHL style net that cost me around $250 as well. He and his friends have hours of fun which makes the labor and cost completely worth it.

[dingle]

I have the boards up already in the backyard, much better to work on it when the weather is nice.

The book is from Jack Falla, excellent reading!

http://www.southcoastal.com/history/rink.htm

[theref]

The head rink attendant at Bronco Arena has an incredible backyard rink. He purchased an old zamboni from the second I. Falls rink and an some old boards from one of the outdoor rinks. He then put up pillars and a tin roof over the boards and hung lighting from the rafters. He even paints the lines...............all for his grandkids. Now that's an awesome grandpa.

[tomASS]

The head rink attendant at Bronco Arena has an incredible backyard rink. He purchased an old zamboni from the second I. Falls rink and an some old boards from one of the outdoor rinks. He then put up pillars and a tin roof over the boards and hung lighting from the rafters. He even paints the lines...............all for his grandkids. Now that's an awesome grandpa.

That is very cool!

[breakout]

The head rink attendant at Bronco Arena has an incredible backyard rink. He purchased an old zamboni from the second I. Falls rink and an some old boards from one of the outdoor rinks. He then put up pillars and a tin roof over the boards and hung lighting from the rafters. He even paints the lines...............all for his grandkids. Now that's an awesome grandpa.

That is way cool.

I remember a short t.v. story of a farmer down in the Mankato area that used one of his barns in the winter as his own indoor hockey rink. Great boards, Zamboni, etc. If I remember correctly, the man died at a young age. I believe the widow and others in the community keep it going.

Great to see that kind of passion. What a neat thing to do for the kids. They will remember that offering for a lifetime.

[chillout]

I believe I also heard that story.


If I remember right they even had youth teams practicing there as well as adults that came and played in a "league" together on certain days. I remember it being a very cool story and seeing pictures of the rink and thinking how much time and effort was put in to making it the way it was.

[gabT]

You are both correct. I can't recall his first name but his last name was Schultz. He had kids coming up through the youth program at Mankato and when one of the rinks got new boards put in, he bought the old ones and constructed a rink inside an old storage shed. He went all out too. He built a viewing area locker room and I believe he had his own Zamboni.
To sum it all up he made what would be called Schultz Shed by the players who got the privilege of skating there. There was a story in the called the Land of 10,000 rinks that was all about him. He was a great guy and a hockey fanatic.

[WoodStickSniper]

About six kids from my team went to the local park cause they have a two outdoor rink complex with a warming house. So we just mess around play some pick up games with the older guys and when they all leave for dinner we only have like 3 guys left so were just shooting and my cousin brought a water bottle and left it out on the old wooden boards in stead of putting it inside the warming house. It froze in probley 5 min. so we started passing with it then my cousin takes a slap on it and it slides into the boards and shatters. we tried to clean it up the best we could but it was a clear bottle. we got most of it up

we come back the next day and right as i put my skates on i must have steped on some there is nothing for your skate to push off of and i fall and somehow my other skate cuts my calf. so sure i sat on my butt for a min or two but my friend had some tape and i just taped it it was white tape but not for long so i played on a bum leg for like 3 hours and when i was done my soc was pretty much pure red it wasnt my brightest hour or the most fun i have had on the outdoor but it was a memorie

[Charliedog]

Every year we do a huge rink out on our lake. We have flood lights and 2 x 12's with angle irons on the net sides and a fire pit on shore. It is so fun to watch the neighborhood kids (of all ages) gather and just be creative about the game.

A couple of years ago when we had a lot of snow my son came into the house with tears in his eyes. Some goofball ice fisherman had drilled multiple holes in the rink. When the fisherman came back we went and politely (though probably with a slight edge in our voices) asked him what the heck he was thinking! He said because the lake didn't belong to us that he could drill where ever he wanted and he refused to move. We solved the problem by inviting more kids over and letting the dogs and kids enjoy the rink while goofus tried to fish.

[breakout]

Every year we do a huge rink out on our lake. We have flood lights and 2 x 12's with angle irons on the net sides and a fire pit on shore. It is so fun to watch the neighborhood kids (of all ages) gather and just be creative about the game.

A couple of years ago when we had a lot of snow my son came into the house with tears in his eyes. Some goofball ice fisherman had drilled multiple holes in the rink. When the fisherman came back we went and politely (though probably with a slight edge in our voices) asked him what the heck he was thinking! He said because the lake didn't belong to us that he could drill where ever he wanted and he refused to move. We solved the problem by inviting more kids over and letting the dogs and kids enjoy the rink while goofus tried to fish.

Awesome

Dont' forget the Bon Fire Pit by the lake. Seems like you guys make it an event.

Your kids will have memories about skating on the lake for a lifetime.

[breakout]

You are both correct. I can't recall his first name but his last name was Schultz. He had kids coming up through the youth program at Mankato and when one of the rinks got new boards put in, he bought the old ones and constructed a rink inside an old storage shed. He went all out too. He built a viewing area locker room and I believe he had his own Zamboni.
To sum it all up he made what would be called Schultz Shed by the players who got the privilege of skating there. There was a story in the called the Land of 10,000 rinks that was all about him. He was a great guy and a hockey fanatic.

Being a hockey junkie, I was impressed by the effort the man exuded. Lots of work, but he did it for the kids. Maybe a little bit for himself..........probably a big kid at heart.

[BombofaHockeyMom]

That Rodney is an awesome Grandpa to his grandkids....He helped build the rink for them with the kid's Dad and Walter Howe the other zamboni driver at the Bronco Arena. The kid's Dad bought the lights and put them up and I believe their Dad floods the rink with the garden hose all the time. The kid's Dad also put all the board up this summer.

[gruntcall]

You are both correct. I can't recall his first name but his last name was Schultz. He had kids coming up through the youth program at Mankato and when one of the rinks got new boards put in, he bought the old ones and constructed a rink inside an old storage shed. He went all out too. He built a viewing area locker room and I believe he had his own Zamboni.
To sum it all up he made what would be called Schultz Shed by the players who got the privilege of skating there. There was a story in the called the Land of 10,000 rinks that was all about him. He was a great guy and a hockey fanatic.

His name was Paul, and he was a great guy. He died at 51 and he left behind 5 kids and a wife. They still have the rink with the help of some awesome hockey parents. It is open to whomever wants to skate there and is complete with benches, locker rooms, and bathrooms now. Mankato hockey kids practice there a few times a year per team. It is a great experiance for parents and kids alike. It is running just how he wanted it to. God bless the family.

[gruntcall]

You are both correct. I can't recall his first name but his last name was Schultz. He had kids coming up through the youth program at Mankato and when one of the rinks got new boards put in, he bought the old ones and constructed a rink inside an old storage shed. He went all out too. He built a viewing area locker room and I believe he had his own Zamboni.
To sum it all up he made what would be called Schultz Shed by the players who got the privilege of skating there. There was a story in the called the Land of 10,000 rinks that was all about him. He was a great guy and a hockey fanatic.

His name was Paul, and he was a great guy. He died at 51 and he left behind 5 kids and a wife. They still have the rink with the help of some awesome hockey parents. It is open to whomever wants to skate there and is complete with benches, locker rooms, and bathrooms now. Mankato hockey kids practice there a few times a year per team. It is a great experiance for parents and kids alike. It is running just how he wanted it to. God bless the family.

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/sports/ ... d=topstory

[AimHigh]

Great, great story. Thanks for posting.