Hockey with a green spin...

There are few things more Canadian than the outdoor hockey rink. As temperatures dip, snow falls and the infamous Canadian winter sets in, people from all walks of life can be found strapping on their skates to enjoy the newfound outdoor skating rinks. They come in all shapes and sizes, from small backyard rinks, to boarded rinks at the local community centre, to the fantastically open frozen surfaces on rivers and lakes.

Tim and I managed to get out and play some old fashioned shinny -- pick-up hockey -- a few times this winter on the canal in Peterborough. We spent several hours there each time, joining other players for big pick-up games. But as we moved into March, the ice began to melt away and outdoor hockey came to an end. Although ball hockey on the road is also enjoyable, it is not quite the same. And getting ice time in indoor rinks, let alone paying for it, is extremely difficult.

My spirits were raised when I came across this article in the Globe & Mail about a business that had built a hockey rink inside the office. But unlike typical indoor rinks, it was made from synthetic ice. Specialized plastics coated with special oils provide a surface that is nearly identical to ice, allowing you to skate on it without any major concerns. While the synthetic ice is a little slower than typical rinks, it does offer several benefits.

First, you can put it anywhere. There is no season where a synthetic rink won't work and it allows you to go skating or play hockey in any climate. Tim and I are both considering further schooling on the West Coast where temperatures nary dip below freezing. Synthetic ice would be ideal in these locations.

Second, they are easily maintainable. The pieces of plastic simply fit together like a puzzle so you can create a rink as large as you'd like, be it in your basement or a full-sized hockey rink. And there is no need for a Zamboni to resurface the ice repeatedly.



Third, they are considerably cheaper than a comparable indoor rink. Much of this has to do with maintenance. Because the ice has to remain frozen, lots of energy is put into keeping it frozen and keeping the arena cold. Moreover, lots of hot water is used to resurface the ice. From an environmental point of view, synthetic ice is considerably more friendly as there is no need to keep the rink extremely cold.

Now, let me be clear. I would much prefer to play on a natural rink with real ice. It is smoother, faster and more realistic. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to gain access to those rinks. And outdoor rinks only last as long as the cold season does, which in southern Ontario, isn't particularly long. Synthetic ice allows us to at least enjoy hockey year round, with greater access without sacrificing too much quality of play. The environmental benefits are just icing on the cake.