For many Moscow community members, ice skating at the Palouse Ice Rink has created a special set of memories.
Bryan Hawn, manager of the Palouse Ice Rink, knows a thing or two about making memories on the ice.
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Palouse Ice Rink is located on Harold Street in Moscow.
“I grew up in Northern British Columbia, so being a Canadian, I coach, I ref and I play (hockey),” Hawn said.
Hawn said when he”s not fulfilling his duties as ice rink manager, he and his family are on the ice playing hockey.
The ice rink has been open since 2001 and is located next to the Moscow Fairgrounds.
He said the rink will hopefully expand sometime in the near future to account for the high demand of groups that wish to book it consistently throughout the rink”s six-month season.
“We definitely have more demand than we have available ice, and that”s a unique thing for facilities as a whole,” Hawn said. “But then again, living around here, we do have limited winter activities.”
Hawn said the popularity of ice skating often comes down to the social aspect, especially in a college town. He said he believes various groups come to the Palouse Ice Rink not only for the wintery “glow” of ice skating, but also for the large variety of winter activities available during winter.
“We provide a bunch of different programs whether it be hockey, skating and curling. People will book birthday parties during open skate sessions “¦ there”s always just an activity going on,” Hawn said.
“You”ve got this little arena that has an outdoor feel, but yet enough space to hang out. I find that the groups – that”s all they do – get to their spot on the ice and just socialize.”
Eamonn Parke, a University of Idaho senior, works at Palouse Ice Rink and said during the winter months the hustle and bustle of the ice rink keeps him involved.
Parke said the ice rink is a great place to come, not only for the environment but also for the affordability of the activity.
“(Palouse Ice Rink is) different in that it”s a community-run rink, so it”s different than a lot of activities around,” Parke said. “It”s kind of an army of people that keep this whole thing running.”
Hawn said that he loves seeing the variety of those that come to ice skate, especially because the ages break the usual routine and schedule at the rink.
“You never know what you”re going to get,” Hawn said. “In all honesty, it”s a lot of fun because you have a lot of people that don”t normally show up to the arena and they”re out here just creating great, organized chaos.”
Will Meyer can be reached at [email protected]