Lakeside Pond Hockey

Lakeside Pond Hockey Lakeside Pond Hockey Minnetrista MN

Examination of the rink reviled most of the boards are close enough to free from the ice to be removed. Since Sunday wi...
03/06/2026

Examination of the rink reviled most of the boards are close enough to free from the ice to be removed. Since Sunday will be too nice to work on a hockey rink, I propose Saturday would be a good time to try to remove the remaining boards. Thinking around 11:00. Not too early so we can all get our beauty sleep, but soon enough that it doesn't bleed into the afternoon nap time.

Take down is quick. If we get enough volunteers, we should be able to knock it out in under an hour.

Please DO NOT drive to the rink. That "road" will be a sloppy mess and we don't need to tear up the lawns. Park closer to Halstead or on Lakeside and hoof it to the rink, please. For the handicapped, we can provide a ride to the rink, although I think I'm the only one too lazy to walk anywhere.

Hope to see smiling faces Saturday,
Rink Master

THE END (this season)Sorry skaters, watchers, slippers and sliders but the rink is done for this skating season. Our wa...
02/20/2026

THE END (this season)

Sorry skaters, watchers, slippers and sliders but the rink is done for this skating season. Our warm temperatures did a number on the ice, and the final straw was the high winds which took down the boards. Because that wasn't enough from Mother Nature, we were blessed with 6-8" of heavy wet snow on top of fallen boards. Kick us when we are down, Ma Nature.

We did get some of the boards off the ice earlier this week, after they tipped and before the snow, but not everything, Lights are also down and off the rink, so that's good.

Next steps are to watch and wait for some of the snow to melt so we can access the 2,000 screws that hold the whole thing up. I'll send a post when we think we can get to screw heads. Take down is usually much quicker so we are looking at a couple hours if we get enough bodies.

Thank you for the season of free entertainment, viewed from the comfort of my couch. If we have interest, we will do it all again this fall.

Rink Master

Due to our elevated Minnesota temperatures, we are closing the rink for the next few days. Forecast is for cooler temps ...
02/14/2026

Due to our elevated Minnesota temperatures, we are closing the rink for the next few days. Forecast is for cooler temps next week, so if Mother Nature cooperates, we will resurface and prolong the season. However, pitchers and catchers have reported for spring training. Spring training usually indicates the beginning of the end. We will keep the masses posted of a date for rink teardown. Teardown usually is a bit quicker than setup so for those willing an and able, help is always appreciated.

We will keep you posted,

Rink Master

02/08/2026

9:30 AM

Rink is resurfaced and looking great.

Time for waffles and more coffee.

Rink Master

02/08/2026

The mid 20-degree weather brought out the skaters last night. Fun going to bed after a couple adult beverages, watching the Olympics and still seeing the youth ripping around the ice at 1AM. I had all I could do to get up off the couch and go to bed.

This why we spend the time, energy and relatively hard-earned cash to put up and maintain the Lakeside Pond Hockey Rink. Honestly sitting down after a day living in this God forsaken tundra of Minnesota and seeing the headlights slow, gently turn off the road, slowly (slowly please) roll through the neighbor's yards and creep to a stop. Bodies pour out of vehicles and scamper over to the ice. The rink lights come on, the youth walk onto the ice. A quick assessment of the ice conditions results in trunks popping, tailgates dropping and hockey bags getting unloaded. Bodies quickly occupy the warming house. Youth go into the warming house and skaters soon emerge. Nets and pucks make it to the ice and for the next hour, two hours, maybe more, we get to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

I hung up my skates a long time ago. Our kids are grown and although they still skate, putting up the rink just for them couldn't be justified. It wouldn't be worth the effort. The Snow Removal Crew has kids that skate (a lot) and some are in hockey, but those numbers don't justify what we do. It's the skaters that show up to have fun, show the utmost respect for the ice, the rink and mostly the neighbors that makes this love-hate relationship with winter, Mother Nature and Minnesota our annual battle with "Do we put up the rink this year??" worth every minute.

Thank you for the entertainment and a reason to stay (somewhat) active and outside during these last 20-some years of what could otherwise be a mid-west fly over country miserable winter.

Time to finish my coffee and head down to resurface the ice,

Rink Master

After a warm day our temperature finally dropped below that magic 32 degrees. The las two days of mid 30's has been har...
02/06/2026

After a warm day our temperature finally dropped below that magic 32 degrees. The las two days of mid 30's has been hard on ice (37 this morning as I rolled to work, not good...). Although the less than perfect ice didn't stop the athletes from showing up the last two nights.

The elevated temperatures we can usually deal with, it gets cold again, it's the nice sunny days that beat the crap out of the ice, especially that north end.

Anyway, cooler temperatures and old Sol disappearing into the western sky (fine, it's not the sun moving, it is the earth rotating, but work with me here) gives a guy a chance to put down a couple loads of water and scrape the ice a bit. North end is still a little squishy but the other 158' of the rink is looking good. Temperatures the next couple days look favorable to the ice development and maintenance for both those who work and play on an outdoor hockey rink in the State of Minnesota.

Hoping for mid 20's and cloudy,

Rink Master

02/01/2026

1-2" by butt..., more like 4". No worries, Team Snow got on it and moved the white stuff off the ice. Ice is looking great, once the snow was moved. This week looks good for some ice time.

Rink Master

3:45 PMQuick resurface and we are back to fresh ice.Youth did a good job ripping it up. Good to see a group of kids hav...
01/31/2026

3:45 PM
Quick resurface and we are back to fresh ice.

Youth did a good job ripping it up. Good to see a group of kids having fun.

Rink Master

01/31/2026

3:15 pm. Looks like the youth are finished up. Guy is thinking he should gear up and do a quick resurface.
I'll keep ya posted on the ice conditions after the hard hitting, hard skating youth ripped up the ice.

Rink Master

01/31/2026

Well, the mercury (reference wasted on the youth) finally bumped into the + double digits today. I figured a guy should wonder down and scrape the dirt and branches off the ice then drop some fresh water. Before I got the winter gear on and loaded up a few gallons of water, the youth started showing up. Perfect timing. A little warmer (+14), no wind and sunny makes a big difference. Actually, pleasant down at the ice. This favorable weather just means we can expect 1-3" of snow tonight.... More fresh air for the Snow Removal Team.

Enjoy the ice and skate on "youts" (reference #2 wasted, thank you My Cousin Vinny),

Rink Master

Rink looks warmer from the house....Rink Master
01/24/2026

Rink looks warmer from the house....

Rink Master

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7042 Halstead Drive
Minnetrista, MN

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