Outdoor Hockey Rinks Struggling To Keep Up This Year

DULUTH, Minn. — The Executive Director of the Duluth Amateur Hockey Association or DAHA is calling it a tough year for outdoor hockey rinks.

DAHA has over 70 years of history managing outdoor rinks across the Duluth area. Outdoor rinks are where U8 hockey players spend most of their time practicing and playing. And also, where families go to skate for free.

The association is run by parents and volunteers. Volunteers had a good start flooding rinks early December and then again in the beginning of January, but weather has not been on their side. The warm temps have been thawing the rinks.

“30-35 (degrees) is okay, but 35 with sun is a killer for hockey especially with the white boards and stuff. So, it’s been tough, but we’ll make do, and I think the biggest thing is we’ve told our rinks too is if that time comes, we’re back outside, take advantage of every good day,” said Bob Nygaard, Executive Director of DAHA.

DAHA is still hopeful they can get their outdoor rinks back on track.

“It’s been I think the word that most people use is ‘depressing’ because we have such a long history of having those rinks up and going. But let’s hope we maybe get another month here, maybe late February through early March and get back outside,” said Nygaard.

If temps are around 10 degrees volunteers are able to flood rinks multiple times a night, putting layers of ice on a rink. DAHA manages a total of 6 outdoor facilities and 21 rinks.