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 Welcome! This is all very new to me and I'm trying to figure this all out as I go. Thank you for your patience as I learn how to do this all. I want to start this blog as a way for Minnesota youth hockey moms and all to know what the comfort level is in the rinks that we are sitting in as we watch our child/children play in comfort. My family lives in central Minnesota and have 4 rinks within 30 minutes of us. I have been a hockey mom going on my 8th season this year. My son is a first year Bantam and my daughter is in her last year at the 8U level. I have learned throughout the years that rink comfort levels are very different. I have been to some that are the perfect conditions- I can sit comfortably in my sweatshirt and jersey and enjoy the game and then I have been to the extreme opposite and I felt like I was going to die of hypothermia before the game was over. I am that person that posts on facebook asking others how the temperature is in the rink that I will be visiting th...
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Moose Sherritt Ice Arena - Monticello

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 ðŸ§ŠðŸ§ŠðŸ§Š This is a rink that we have been to numerous times throughout my sons youth hockey time. They are in our district and this is another rink that sticks out to me and many others. Its not a super cold rink but the thing that sticks out the most to many of us about this rink is that they have a heat pay station. Bleacher Heaters "want to warm up?" 15 minutes for $1 - This is what the sign above the pay station says. As a hockey family we have more than paid our dues and shouldn't have to pay to sit comfortably to watch our children play.  so far, this is the only rink that I have seen this at. There is a heated viewing area on one corner of the rink and that is also where the concession stand is on the upper level. You do have to go up stairs to access the bleachers and concessions. There is an elevator in the building for those that need assistance getting up the stairs. The bleacher are concrete with bench seating and all on one side of the rink. Be careful if you...
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Graham Arena Complex-Rochester

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 Rink #1? Rink #2 🧊🧊🧊 Rink #3 🧊🧊🧊🧊 Rink #4 🧊🧊🧊 Wow, I was warned about the coldness of this arena but did not know exactly what I was in for. I love tournaments because we get to see new rinks and hopefully play different teams. I don't like the hotel and the business of it but that just comes with living the hockey life. It's helpful to know what rink you are going to be playing on before you come to this arena so you know which side to better park on and where the rink is. There is a handy Parking and Entrance map that I found on Rochester's youth hockey website that was helpful with this and I will post that down below. Very nice open lobby area in the middle of the arena. There is seating in different areas and a nice concession stand. This arena has a walking track-it's on rink #4! Rink #1: I briefly set foot into this rink just to see what it had for seating and comfort level. I'm guessing it's going to be around the 3-4 ice cube ranking but wasn...
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Cottage Grove Ice Arena

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 Logistics/North (main) 🧊🧊 West 🧊🧊🧊🧊 South (mini)🧊🧊🧊 This is a nice 3 rink facility, 2 regular sized rinks and a super cute mini rink. When you walk in you are on the upper level of all the rinks. There is a very nice open area between the two full size rinks where there are tables and chairs, viewing area to the main rink and the concession stand. I don't usually visit the concession stand but our team was playing on the west rink and was in need of hot chocolate to warm up but they do not sell hot chocolate at this building- coffee and teas but NO hot chocolate. All locker rooms are on the lower level. I did see an elevator for anyone needed one to get a roller bag down or any other needs one might have.   South rink: This is the cutest little rink I have ever seen! How much fun for the younger skaters to get to play on this rink. Fun for the players but maybe not so much fun for the parents. There wasn't a lot of seating. There was a small metal bleacher rink ...
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Osseo Ice Arena

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 East/Dick Vraa Memorial Ice Area/"The Tin Bin"(right side) 🧊🧊 West/Quentin Carlson Memorial Rink(left side) 🧊🧊🧊🧊 We have been to this rink many times throughout the years. There are lots of things that stick out to me and our family about this facility. The biggest and not best memory was during the last game of the tournament last year (Dec 2023) our son got his first and hopefully only concussion. I remember everything about that moment. We were on the east rink and on was on the far end of the rink. He did get up after a few second (felt longer) and skated off.  He did finish the game and didn't start having symptoms until about a couple days after. The weeks following were the hardest. I remember him saying "I just want my head to stop hurting." We were back there again this year just a few days shy of the one year anniversary of this event.  In the lobby area there is a small sitting area to the left side. The concession is on the left side, 1 or 2 v...
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Buffalo Civic Center

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Purple(main) 🧊🧊 Peterson(practice) 🧊🧊🧊🧊 This rink seems to appear out of the middle of random open space around businesses.  This is one of the rinks in our District 5. There is a nice concession stand and a great seating area in the main entrance while waiting for the game to start or your player to come out after their game. We have been to this location many times throughout our youth hockey experience. Most of our games have been played in the old rink but 1 for sure in the main. I'm excited that our 8U full ice game this year will get to be played on their main rink!  Purple (main): This is their main/newer rink. Very nice and the comfort level is good. I'm excited to revisit this site in about a month for my daughter's 8U full ice game! It's a big deal to her and I'm just happy to be able to sit and not freeze my butt off while watching her! Peterson (practice/old) rink: This is an experience-cold. The best part about this side of the civic center is th...
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Bloomington Ice Garden - BIG

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Rink 1 🧊🧊 Rink 2 🧊🧊 Rink 3 🧊🧊 This was a very exciting rink for me to visit with my family this year. In all of years of being in youth hockey, this was our first time going to this rink. We got to come to this rink twice this season, once for a tournament and then to play my dreaded high school rivals- Bloomington Jefferson. Bloomington is the town I lived in and grew up until I left for college. I am a Bloomington Kennedy high school graduate - Go Eagles! Bloomington Ice Garden had already been updated since I was last in but they are currently updating the facility again. They have a very nice concession stand with an open seating area outside of rink 3, all the to the left as you enter the building. they also have vending machines closer to rink 1. I don't remember seeing any elevators for those that find stairs difficult.  Rink 1: Is the main rink. It has bench seating on both sides. Rink 2: Has no seating and mostly upper level stand room only. There is some standing ro...
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Plymouth Ice Center

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 A 🧊🧊 B 🧊🧊 C 🧊🧊🧊 We have been at this rink a few times already but we just revisited this arena this weekend. This is a very nice center! There is a big concession stand on the main level and on the lower level there are vending machines. The lower level are where all the locker rooms are, there is an elevator to get your kids live-in gear bag down there or steps if you enjoying hauling bags up and down steps.  Lets start with rink A. I have not been in this rink but there is a chance that my son played in it during a tournament a few years ago but I was at dance recitals with my girl and was unable to attend. I did step in there last weekend to see what I thought about it. This rink is their main rink where the high school plays their games. Very nice rink with lots of bench seating. When I stepped in it seemed like if was a little chilly but there was just open skating going on. I feel like during open skating and practices this rink could be close to being a 3 ice cu...
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St. Michael - Albertville (STMA)

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 Blue (new) 🧊🧊 Gold (old) 🧊🧊🧊🧊 Both of my kids have played multiple games at this rink. It's a nice arena that has Hat Trick Hockey shop connected to it if you end up in need of skate sharpening and/or any hockey equipment. Very nice concession stand. There isn't a lot of parking space in the lot and many people usually end up parking on the street. The rink is located close to the Albertville Outlet Mall, if you are looking for something to do before the game or to kill time in between games if you're there for a tournament. Lots of great restaurants located near by as well. I'll start with talking about Blue(new). This is the main rink in this arena. It's very nice and is comfortable to sit in. Lots of bench seating on one side of the rink. You can also view this rink from the concession stand/lobby area. There is an elevator that can take those in need up to the stands/lobby/entrance levels. Its a cute smaller size elevator that moves a little on the slow s...
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Minnetonka Ice Arena

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 A 🧊🧊🧊 B ?? At this rink my son's team played 2 games at for his Hopkin's tournament - I was able to make it to half of a game. We rushed over from my daughter winning the championship game in Elk River to watch his team battle for 3rd/4th place. If I had been here for the whole game I would have needed to cover up with my blanket to stay warm. With us rushing in to the rink I didn't grab my blanket bag but only sitting there for 1/2 the game, I was able to make it without getting too cold. Bench seating  As for rink B, I didn't even have a chance to look at it.  #hockeymomlife
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Breck School Anderson Ice Arena - Minneapolis

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 ðŸ§ŠðŸ§Š/🧊🧊🧊 This was the second rink that we stopped at for my son's tournament in Hopkin's. This one was hard to rank. It all depended on when the heaters were running and when they were off. I would go between the 2 and 3 ice cube rating. Lots of bench seating with back rests on one side of the rink. There was a enclosed viewing area on one end of the rink.  #hockeymomlife
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