Using the Outdoor Rinks? Read This!

This is a post to thank the talented and very dedicated volunteers who make and maintain our outdoor ice.  The QCA ice is among the best in the city; skaters come from other neighbourhoods because they know how superior the Queensland ice crew is at making a great sheet.

I've spent more time skating on the outdoor rink this year than ever before and many other groups and families from our community have been taking advantage of the rink as well so I wanted to use this forum to thank Panger and his 'posse' of talented volunteers for working so hard.

 

The outdoor facility gives many kids (and kids-at-heart) a safe and friendly environment to skate, play hockey, improve, visit, practice, meet, gossip, watch, help, teach, compete, congregate and be a community.  So if you see any of the volunteers who make it possible, say 'thanks - good job' because they deserve it.  Let the Community Association know how much you appreciate it too - it takes funding to keep the whole thing going so they need to know how much it means to us.  Let us know on the blog too - if you use the ice, click on 'comment' below and let the volunteers know what it means to you.

Some tidbits:

• Three 'senior' volunteers get up early each morning and spend about three hours sweeping, edging and flooding the ice - thanks Ken, Steve, and Wayne.
• Aaron (Panger), Stephan, Ryan, Michael, Jesse, and Tyler are the night crew who make sure the ice, boards, nets, lights, walkways, benches, dressing room are ready for the morning guys.
• Panger is always looking for help.  You don't need to necessarily commit to a huge amount of time but if you have an hour or two a week to spare; come by and ask how you can help or call the QCA @ 403-278-3366 and leave a message.
• Donations of hockey gear of any sort are always welcome, many kids come to play but not all of them have all they need, help them out with anything you have.
• The facility just had a huge upgrade with the installation of the fencing over the boards to keep errant pucks where they belong.
• The next big step will be the acquisition of a full size ice-resurfacer and shed to keep it in.  Look for future fund raising activity for that.