Apparently as planned, the PSU rink has become the new home for the PSU Panthers, and the Waterville Valley rink is now closed from September 8 to sometime close to thanksgiving, when it reopens for the winter ski season. In the past, for the last 20 years or so, the WV rink sported the 20' wide PSU Panther at center ice, and now the PSU center ice in the Plymouth area is home to the PSU Panther. Waterville Valley and Plymouth are about 20-miles apart, and a 30-minute drive.
These are just guess-timates on my part, but the WV ice arena, which is owned by the Town of Waterville Valley, cost something like 5-million dollars all told, over time, and the new PSU rink cost something like 15-million dollars.
In the summer time, the WV rink gets used by hockey camps from new england states, and a semi-pro hockey team from New Brunswick, Canada,
www.saintjohnseadogs.com, but for now there's no demand for the WV ice, so the rink is closed. In the past it would have been home ice to the PSU team for practices, games, and add-on various hockey, figure skating, broomball and general circle-skating use.
It's all got me scratching my head wondering that maybe some type of manufactoring icy food or ice cream maker could be set up in the rink? Maybe a good place to make eskimo pie, ice cream bars? Like, what to do with a large icy cold building that's empty and unused, similar to a walk-in freezer, with a professional hockey sized, perfectly smooth ice surface, a relatively very new Zamboni ice resurfacer vehicle, lighting, dressing rooms, new boards, heat, air conditioning, sound and score board, situated on a pond in a beautifull mountain setting other than just closing it up?
Hellooooooo, there's nobody home at the WV rink and the doors are locked and the lights are all turned off?
....
And, getting back to the PSU Wednesday 6-8pm, three dollar Cheap Skate at the brand new PSU rink; that's a steal of a deal in a super-duper new rink complete with sound, a light show, and ice skate rentals for an extra four dollars.
Or, check out the Plymouth Ski & Sports on nearby Main St, Plymouth which has a very in-depth and thorough inventory of new skates for sale. If you were never really happy with your old skates, then definately check out the new soft uppers ice skates with the external rigid plastic frame, made by Rollerblade, for children & adults which could be the skate you were always looking for, but not available till about five years ago. Price $70.