Hockey Ice Rinks: Its History, How It Is Made And Maintained?

A very less number of people pay attention to the ice beneath the athletes’ skates during a hockey game. Instead of that, most fans seem busy cheering for their favorite players. Some, of course, may get distracted to other sights and sounds within the arena, much of which may be occurring directly next to them in the stands around the inline hockey rink.

History Of The Rink

As per records, the first appearance of a man-made ice rink was made in the mid 1870s in London, and used a rudimentary technology to freeze the water on the rink, and keep it frozen for a substantial period of time. This type of rink was crafted through the use of a mixture of glycerin and water circulating through copper pipes to chill the surface. Shortly after this initial appearance, another ice rink opened in the United States, and the technology massively improved.

Creating The Current Generation Ice Rinks

The technology is certainly similar when compared to years past, although it has been refined significantly to allow for a much more efficient process. To begin creating an ice rink, first a layer of either sand or concrete is necessary. Pipes pass through this surface to help cool and freeze the water that sits above. Once the original layer of concrete or sand is placed down on the rink in the arena, a thin layer of water is sprayed on top of the cold pipes, this seals the layer of concrete/sand, and allows for a level surface to be crafted. Once this initial layer of water has frozen on top of the concrete or sand, it is painted to show the markings required in hockey. In the end, once the painting is done, another layer of water is sprayed on top of this to thicken the ice. 

Maintaining The Ice

Alongside creating the ice, maintaining the surface is also important. This is most often performed through the use of a Zamboni, an on-ice vehicle meant to resurface the rink to prevent any imperfections. To do so, the Zamboni initially washes the ice, then shaves it, and finally leaves a layer of fresh water to leave a frozen, smoother surface.

Make sure to consider this amazing feat next time you head out onto an ice rink to play the sport that you love so much. There are a number of online stores where you can find inline hockey dashboards, hockey rinks and other related accessories for sale at great prices.

Author: The author is a blogger and the article is about hockey ice rinks.