Manitoba Moose

The Manitoba Moose, in conjunction with Home Depot, are pleased to announce the winners of the Home Depot Backyard Rink contest. Six members of the Moose will take to this backyard rink on Monday, February 22nd to skate with the next generation of neighborhood superstars beginning at 5:00 p.m.

The contest winners this season are Bob Hobson and his two children who built a backyard rink at their home at 230 Bancroft Bay in St. James.  Nine neighborhood kids will get a chance to play a game of shinny against members of the AHL club on the winning rink. 

The Hobson’s will welcome Moose players Michael Grabner, Guillaume Desbiens, Nathan McIver, Daren Machesney, Matt Pettinger, and Evan Oberg (tentatively scheduled) for a one-hour game of shinny. The players will also be available to sign autographs for all the neighborhood kids. 

The Hobson’s earned the right to host the game of shinny by winning top prize in this season’s Home Depot Backyard Rink Contest. Their rink, which is several years in the making, is 40 X 80, has a warm-up shack equipped with changing areas and is occupied almost every night by local children.  

The Hobson’s were selected out of numerous applicants who submitted photos and a description of their rink at any of the five participating Home Depot locations or through www.moosehockey.com.

How to build your own backyard rink

• TIP #1: When thickening your ice, create thin layers at a time (0.5 cm). If you flood the rink with too much water at a time the thick layer of ice could crack.
• TIP #2: Fill the cracks with snow rather than water. This prevents the water from seeping through the cracks and thawing the surface underneath resulting in shell ice.
• TIP #3: Place your rink on a shaded, flat surface, close to a source of water and a source of light for night skating.
• TIP #4: Sweep the ice around the perimeter with a corn broom to prevent a ridge from developing.
• TIP #5: The warmer the weather, the finer the spray and the less water you should use. If you over-water in warm weather you will have a thin layer of ice over water commonly known as shell ice.
• TIP #6: For warmer climates with less snow and the potential risk of rain, it is best to use a vapour barrier (plastic tarp) over a base of flat packed snow.
• TIP #7: To clean the surface of your rink, scrape the ice with a sharp steel flat edge on a wide show pusher.
• TIP #8: When using a tarp under your ice surface, it should be approximately 2 ft. wider than the actual size of the rink.
• TIP #9: First make your ice after three days of temperatures below 10C to ensure the ground is frozen. Ensure there is enough snow for a strong foundation, or if using a tarp ensure the ice is 3 inches thick before you stand on it.
• TIP #10: A plastic tarp helps protect grass fro ice damage, gives a flatter rink in less time and helps contain the water during a substantial thaw. Also, 2 inches by 6-8 inches pressure-treated perimeter boards will help maintain your ice during a thaw.