Minnesota Rink Mom

 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...

 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...

 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

 🧊🧊/🧊🧊🧊 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

 West 🧊🧊 East ?? Outside Covered 🧊🧊🧊🧊🧊 It looks like this rec center has a lot to offer year round. They have 3 rinks, 2 inside and a covered rink outside. I only spent time in the west rink so don't have anything to share about the east rink. It was the same weekend that my daughter had her tournament in Elk River so we were running two vehicles between Elk River and my son's Hopkin's tournament. For this Hopkin's tournament we had the possibility to play in 4 rinks around the Hopkin's area. This was the first rink that we were at for this tournament. We ended up see 3 out of 4 of the possible rinks. With having two vehicles, that meant that the girls and I didn't have to be at the rink an hour early so we hung back a little before leaving. I wish I had known that they had an outside covered rink, I would have loved to take the time to go look at it. When our association was starting to plan on building our second rink, this was the original plan. I'...

Cornerstone (main rink) 🧊🧊 Kiser 🧊🧊 Last weekend we had both our hockey players in tournaments. What a crazy busy weekend this was; 8 games (4 games each) in 3 days, in two different cities. Our youngest (8U girl) was playing in The Barn Burner Tournament. This is the first time that she was going to be playing in a 1/2 ice tournament (not a Jamboree and they placed 1st) and she was participating in the skills competition for sharp shooter (she placed 2nd).  The long name for the arena covers it all, this community event center has a lot to offer and is a very nice facility. They have 2 ice rinks and a field house and much more. Upstairs there is a very nice concession stand and lots of tables and chairs. There is even a bar upstairs, great for any "safety meetings" that may need to take place before a game.  Cornerstone is their main rink with lots of bench seating on both sides of the rink. you can also see the rink from the concession stand area on the second level but...

 🧊🧊🧊🧊🧊 There is nothing that I can do to prepare you for this level of freezing. This is the coldest rink I have EVER been in. I understand why they have a small seating area-no one wants to sit and watch a game in this arena. They do have heaters but they do not keep you warm enough. There were times that I thought it was warmer outside than inside. It's so cold in there that you can see the frozen condensation build up around some of their doors that aren't used frequently. For those who just cannot stand that level of cold, they do have an enclosed heated viewing area upstairs. They also have a concession stand upstairs, which I'm sure they sell lots of coffee and hot chocolate.  If you must attend a game at this rink make sure you are prepared with a heated vest, socks, seats and lots of warm blankets. As a bonus, the zamboni sounds like it's ready to fall apart at any moment. #hockeymomlife My husband is a coach for our children and he even wanted to give his ...

 North 🧊🧊 This was the second rink of our Mighty Ducks rink weekend! I gave it a 2 ice cube rating for comfort. I was able to sit with my jacket on and unzipped. Very beautiful rink, wooden barrel roof. This rink was featured many times throughout the Mighty Ducks movies. Very nice concession stand.  The South rink has a walking track, this is my new favorite thing to find in rinks. I wish all rinks had a walking track in them. I didn't sit in this rink to get a comfort level, just used the walking track. #hockeymomlife

 North 🧊🧊 A couple weekends ago, we had what I called "Mighty Ducks rink weekend!" My son's team took us to 2 rinks that you can see in Disney's Mighty Ducks I & II. Parade Ice Garden is the home of the Ducks rivals Hawks! I loved watching the Mighty Ducks movies growing up so this was really fun to see a few rinks from the movies.  OK, back to my rating- I was able to watch the game with my jacket unzipped and no blanket. I was pretty comfortable! I did not go and check out the other 2 rinks that this arena has to offer. They do have a total of 3 rinks; 2 NHL size and 1 studio rink. Usually I have plenty of time to check out the arena while waiting for the game to start but this time I took my girls on a little outside adventure before the game! If your association is like ours, we require our teams to show up 1 hour prior to the start of games. There is a must see landmark in walking distance (if the temps are above zero) of this rink, the Minneapolis Sculptur...