Review: Best Rink You've ever played at?

[NYRangers3061]

No where really special, but...

Hersheypark Arena (old arena for the Hershey Bears) was cool to play in.

Houston Field House (RPI Engineer's hockey arena)

Danbury Arena (I think a semi-pro team called the "Danbury Whalers" play there

Abe Stark Rink (pretty much right on the Coney Island boardwalk which was cool). We did warmups on one of the piers .

Playland Ice Casino (which used to be the Rangers old practice facility I believe)

Cantiague Park (which used to be the Islanders old practice arena IIRC)

Tate Rink (in West Point). Nice arena

Bear Mountain rink. Not really nice, but it's completely outdoors so when it snows, it feels like you're playing in the Winter Classic.

There was also this really nice rink in Connecticut with a ton of ice sheets (6 or 8 I think), but I can't remember the name

I did skate on MSG ice and at the NVMC at the intermission games, but those don't really count as playing there.

 

[Outl4w]

St. Pete Time's Forum for a beer league tournament now known as Amalie Arena home of the lightning.

 

[MullerBrotenVerbeek]

Prudential Center

 

[Esq]

best ice was at a place called the Bubble in Deerfield Illinois where I learned to skate. It was one of those temporary bubbles that stood for about 20 years. It was so cold in there the ice was fantastic, but as mites every kid in the locker room was crying when they took their skates off afterwards. Had to fill our skates with baking powder to help with the cold.

I remember that place. Lots of echoes.

 

[Devil Dancer]

The best ice around here is at the Caps practice facility, called the Kettler Capitals Iceplex. They built it on the roof of a mall parking garage in suburban Virginia. It opened about 10 years ago, so it's still relatively new by hockey rink standards.

 

[leftwinger37]

Played at the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH on Saturday; home of the ECHL Walleye. Very good ice, great facility. The Norfolk Admirals practiced right before our ice time, so I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was.

Living in SE Michigan, the best ice I have skated on has been the bigger regional venues. This would be my top 5:

1. Joe Louis Arena-Detroit Red Wings-Detroit, MI
2. Huntington Center-Toledo Walleye-Toledo, OH
3. Munn Arena-Michigan State University-East Lansing, MI
4. USNTDP Arena-US National Team Development Program-Plymouth, MI
5. Yost Arena-University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI

 

[ekm01]

Honda Center... and to think that is some of the worst ice in the NHL. I can't imagine what good ice is!

 

[cptjeff]

The best ice around here is at the Caps practice facility, called the Kettler Capitals Iceplex. They built it on the roof of a mall parking garage in suburban Virginia. It opened about 10 years ago, so it's still relatively new by hockey rink standards.

Kettler is indeed quite nice, and definitely the nicest rink in the DC area. In terms of places I've played, I have a hard time saying if Kettler or Cheel (home of the Clarkson Golden Knights) was better.

 

[Liquid Gel]

Nicest rink - UPMC66

Best ice - Columbus Fairgrounds

 

[RICK NASHTY]

Honda Center... and to think that is some of the worst ice in the NHL. I can't imagine what good ice is!

Im actually going there tonight for Rangers-Ducks, I remember playing on the rink everyone was sweating on the bench since it was so hot inside there. It was like playing on a river.