West Hartford’s Veterans Memorial Skating Rink is back open with new ice logos, flooring, boards and glass, plus a state-of-the-art refrigeration system. Rink staff say hockey players, figure skaters and families are thrilled to be home again, and programs are already booking up.

By Melissa Cole

Whether you have a little one excited to skate for the first time, a hockey player who’s been traveling across the state for ice time, or a teen looking forward to hanging out with friends at DJ Skate, you’ll be happy to know Veterans Memorial Skating Rink is back open for business after a six-and-a-half-month renovation. The town had hoped to reopen more than a month ago, but a frost setback delayed the work by about four weeks.

We got a sneak peek on opening day as crews put on the final touches, and chatted with Recreation Specialist Ean Gorlick and Facility Supervisor Peter Montesano about what’s new and improved.

What are people going to notice first when they come back to the rink?

“The first thing they’ll notice is probably the ice, and the new ice logos,” Gorlick said. “When they walk in, they’ll also see the nice new flooring throughout.”

“We put new flooring in all our locker rooms, throughout the perimeter, and in all of the public areas,” Montesano added. “The glass and boards and netting are all brand new. The men’s and ladies’ restrooms were updated with new flooring. And the big thing is the heart of the building – the refrigeration room is all brand new.

“During the process, we demolished all the refrigeration equipment in the back and emptied the room. The cement floor was cut up and demolished, and the piping was removed. We had to regrade the floor, then put in all new piping and a new cement floor, so everything we have is brand new. It’s definitely much more energy efficient. I think over time the town will see savings, and our electric usage will definitely go down, because the compressors and motors we’re using were built in the Netherlands. They’re state of the art. These renovations should last about 30 years.”

What have you been hearing from skaters and families while the rink was closed?

“I guess we’ll start with the hockey community,” Gorlick said. “They’ve been going rink to rink to rink. They’ve been at Newington, they’ve been at Simsbury, probably Bolton, and I’m sure other places, too. Everyone said the commute’s horrible, the rinks aren’t that great, and they just want to come home. That’s the biggest thing we’re hearing.

“Same with the figure skaters. They’re at Cromwell, they’re at Newington, they talk about poor ice quality and poor conditions there, and they all just want to be back here. So they’re all very excited.”

Montesano added, “For the skating community, this is their home,” he said. “If you talk to anyone – figure skating coaches, the hockey teams – this is their building. They missed it for six months. They really did. They had to go all over to find available ice they could use.

“The buildup of excitement has been pretty interesting, especially the last three weeks, once we started laying the ice, putting the logos down and putting the boards and glass up. We’ve been keeping people up to date on Facebook, and people have been stopping in and commenting on our posts. I think once we get going, we’re going to be much busier than we’ve been in the past. I really believe it. It’s a great-looking facility right now.”

The party room also got a facelift. Have any birthday parties been booked yet?

“Yes, we’ve booked multiple birthday parties,” Montesano said. “We’ll be busy with DJ Skate, too. We put a new disco ball out there, and DJ Skate starts up this Friday. Our Learn to Skate program starts Wednesday, and it’s already booked. The fact that we were closed and it’s still booked shows how popular it is.” 

Is the rink hiring?

“Yes, we are,” Montesano said. “You have to be at least 15 years old. A lot of high school kids start their first job here, and some go on to work at our summer camps. There are a lot of opportunities to grow. For local West Hartford kids, it’s a great first job. Anyone interested can stop in and pick up an application.” 

How does it feel to finally be reopening?

“Relief. Just relief,” Gorlick said. “It was a long six and a half months.”

Montesano agreed.

“We had a lot of twists and turns, a lot of ups and downs and some curveballs along the way,” he said. “The toughest part was the four weeks we sat here looking at nothing but dirt, waiting to get the frost out of the ground. Once we got into the end of July, everything really took off.

“We’re excited. I can’t wait for people to come in and see the wow factor. It’s nice, neat and clean. We did a lot of painting, repairs and patching. We’re giving West Hartford a good home.”

To learn more, visit their website or follow along on Facebook.

The reopening is also a time to remember Charlie Daly, a beloved rink employee who passed away in August. Daly managed the pro shop, among many other roles, and brought more than 33 years of experience, passion and dedication to West Hartford’s skating community. In his memory, the pro shop has been renamed The Daly Grind.

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