February 2017 – Local Rink

Bridgewater Ice Arena – Bridgewater MA

RINK INFO:

Name: Bridgewater Ice Arena
Address: 20 Bedford Park, Bridgewater MA
Rink Website: Bridgewatericearena
GPS Info: GPS it. GPS is correct. However, you’ll get off the highway and drive for another 10-15 minutes……
Home-rink for: Bridgewater State Universtiy, Boston Bandits, Local High School Teams
Parking: Decent, front of building and around the left side
Sheets: 2 sheets. East and West. East is the better viewing.
Locker Rooms: Decent size, well maitained. Named after NHL teams instead of numeric order….
Rink Conditions: Excellent. Well maintained, great ice.
Overall: Colder rink, but also very clean. Pride is evident. Lot of ice use, but the rink staff keeps the place well run. Lot of amenities here. Little bit off the beaten path, but a nice rink to have ice time at. East Rink is the “main rink” in our opinion. Viewing stands are good. West Rink has an overhead viewing area, but no stands

AMENITIES:

Pro Shop: Yes, large one. Hub City Hockey runs it. Probably one of the best at a local rink
Snack Bar: Yes (Cash only). Good selection, more than the standard rink microwave pizza. Beverages and a large selection of sandwiches and snack food. Breakfast sandwiches in morning hours.
Adult Bar: No
Vending Machine(s): Yes
ATM: Yes (needed as the snack bar does not take cards…cash only!)
Arcade: Yes, Foosball too, big selection. Change machine
WiFi: Yes, but we didn’t learn password
Bathrooms (non-Locker room bathrooms-Public): Large, clean. Well maintained. But cold
Private Rooms: Unknown
Miscellaneous: Live Barn is available on East Rink (unknown on West Rink)

PRO SHOP:

Skate sharpening: Yes
Quality and Quantity: Yes and Yes! Excellent in both!
Selection: Large selection
Knowledge: Excellent

OTHER:

Tailgating: We have done it before. Go to left side of rink in upper area of lot
Local attractions: Close to Bridgewater State University.
Things to do to kill time: For breakfast try Perseys Place (persysplace.com)
Photography at rink: Very well lit, but net blocks a lot of good pictures
Other stuff for kids: Semi-close to Patriots Place and the Wrentham outlets…..

Rockland Ice Rink – Rockland MA

RINK INFO:

Name: Rockland Ice Rink
Address: 599 Summer ST, Rockland MA
Rink Website: rocklandicerink.com
GPS Info: Right on. GPS takes you thru some residential neighborhoods. Drive slow.
Home-rink for: Bay State Breakers, South Shore Eagles, Abington Greenwave, Rockland High School, others and the Winterland Skating School
Parking: Plenty
Sheets: 1 Sheet
Locker Rooms: Small, but well kept
Rink Conditions: Cold rink, but great ice.
Overall: Nice rink. Dress warm. On a cold scale with 10 being the coldest we give this an 8. Lot of amenities. ATM, snack bar, pro shop. Stands are good. Locker rooms under the stands. Little crowded in rooms, but manageable. Well maintained place. Pride is evident.

AMENITIES:

Pro Shop: Yes
Snack Bar: Yes
Adult Bar: No
Vending Machine(s): Yes. available in snack bar area even when snack bar is closed. No machine takes cards however.
ATM: Yes
Arcade: Few arcade games in the far corner. All in working order. A couple of games near the front entrance too. Claw game!
WiFi: Yes!
Bathrooms (non-Locker room bathrooms-Public): Small and cold but clean and well maintained.
Private Rooms: Unknown
Miscellaneous: Change machine i

PRO SHOP:

Skate sharpening: Yes
Quality and Quantity: Large quality and quantity
Selection: Large selection
Knowledge: Seemed very knowledgeable

OTHER:

Tailgating: Done it before….park near the left side of rink
Local attractions: Buffalo Wild Wings one exit away.
Things to do to kill time: Not much, throw a football in the parking lot?
Photography at rink: Well lit, good for pictures
Other stuff for kids: Arcade and games at rink….didn’t find any non-rink activities nearby

Essex Sports Center – Middleton MA

RINK INFO (as of February 6, 2017)

Name: Essex Sports Center
Address: 15 Manning Road, Middleton MA
Rink Website: www.essexsportscenter.com
GPS Info: Perfect
Home-rink for: Local High Schools, St Johns, Essex etc. Skate clubs as well.
Parking: Large lot, plenty of parking. Can drive up, drop off kid and then park
Sheets: 2 Sheets plus a turf field!
Locker Rooms: Large, well lit, clean and roomy
Rink Conditions: Fantastic. Both Sheets were excellent
Overall: This rink is brand new. We like it. Looks like lots of construction is happening. Pro-shop going in a smoothie bar and we can only hope some sort of snack bar. Big, well lit, clean, modern and warm. Even has heaters in the stands! This was a great rink. Scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the coldest) we gave it about a 5 for in the stands. Heaters were off, but we imagine when on its downright pleasant here. Waiting to go back once construction is complete of the pro-shop and (we hope!) a snack-bar.

AMENITIES:

Pro Shop: Under construction (we think)
Snack Bar: Smoothie bar coming soon
Adult Bar: No
Vending Machine(s): Yes, modern. Takes cards
ATM: Didnt see one
Arcade: No
WiFi: Yes, free and lots of bandwidth
Bathrooms (non-Locker room bathrooms-Public): Large, clean and warm. Well maintained.
Private Rooms: Looks like there is
Miscellaneous: Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning has a facility there.

PRO SHOP:

Skate sharpening: N/A
Quality and Quantity: N/A
Selection: N/A
Knowledge: N/A

OTHER:

Tailgating: Didn’t try. Plenty of room. But sherffis office is right nearby with a convenient jail….so be warned!
Local attractions: Farm Stand nearby. Texas Road House right nearby. Market Street (Lynfield) is an open shopping areas (including a Whole Foods) and various stores & restaurants.
Things to do to kill time:
Photography at rink: Well lit. Net may block good camera shots
Other stuff for kids: North Shore Mall, Liberty Tree Mall

Ryan Rink (John A Ryan Arena) – Watertown MA

RINK INFO:

Name: John A Ryan Arena (Aka “JAR”)
Address: 1 Paramount Place, Watertown MA
Rink Website: http://www.ci.watertown.ma.us/index.aspx?NID=302
GPS Info: Correct. Rink is behind the Sons of Italy and garden store. Paramount is off of Pleasant
Homerink Info: Many. Local High Schools (Watertown, Waltham), Waltham youth hockey, Jr Eagles, New England Pride
Parking: Plenty
Sheets: 1 Sheet. NHL standard
Locker Rooms: Roomy. 8 total
Rink Conditions: Older rink, but well cared for. Ice is excellent, medium size parking lot. On a scale of 1-10 for cold we give this a 6 (10 being the coldest)
Overall: Good rink, well run, clean. Lot of hockey and skating at this place!

AMENITIES:

Pro Shop: Yes, very small
Snack Bar: No
Adult Bar: No
Vending Machine(s): Yes, takes money only. Didn’t see one that takes cards
ATM: No
Arcade: No
WiFi: Unknown
Bathrooms (non Locker room bathrooms): Large and clean. Well cared for
Private Rooms: Unknown
Miscellaneous: Russos Farm Stand is next door. Standard farm produce etc. But also has prepared foods and sandwiches. Excellent quality!

PRO SHOP:

Skate sharpening: Yes
Quality and Quantity: Small. Not much. Skate Rentals too
Selection: Somewhat limited. Enough for “emergencies”. Tape, mouth guards etc.
Knowledge: Good for what was there

OTHER:

Tailgating: Not the best place for massive tailgating. Perhaps a couple of low key adult beverages and snacks in parking lot.
Local attractions: Near Moody St in Waltham. Lots of restaurants and bars.
Things to do to kill time: Russo garden store. Launch
Photography at rink: Okay from stands good viewing from stands
Other stuff for kids: Launch Trampoline is nearby. Indoor trampoline Park