Manitoba Moose

Enter your backyard rink into this year's contest for a chance to win a shinny game for you and nine friends (on your rink) with members of the Manitoba Moose!

How to Enter:

• Contest deadline is Sunday, February 9. 2009.
• Entries may be submitted by email to backyardrink@moosehockey.com, with a picture attachment(s) of your backyard rink (maximum 7MB), along with your Name, Address, Email Address and Phone Number (required).
• In addition to submitting your picture(s), you may also choose to describe your rink (size, materials used, contents - such as lights, rinkboards, in-ice paint, etc.) and why your rink is special to you and/or your neighbourhood.
• Entries may also be submitted at one of the following five participating Home Depot locations (please fill in one of the in-store ballots, and where possible, attach a photo and description of your rink):
  • 45 Leila Avenue
  • 1590 Regent Avenue West
  • 727 Empress Street
  • 1999 Bishop Grandin Boulevard
  • 1645 Kenaston Boulevard

Good Luck! Contest finalists will be contacted by phone in February, Shinny game will be held on Monday, March 2nd, 2009.

Moose Players (bottom right, clockwise) Jason Jaffray, Mike Keane, Colby Genoway, Danny Groulx, Michael Grabner, and Drew McIntyre join Mick E. Moose pose for a picture with 2008 winner’s -- the Sworyk family (and friends) from Transcona -- last March.

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 your 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.