Local street hockey players, rejoice. Your hockey games just got way more legit.
The Washington Capitals announced Tuesday morning that they have completed six new rink refurbishments across Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Using funding from the NHL’s Industry Growth Fund, the Caps poured $1.9 million into the rink refurbishments which, depending on the venue, include new regulation goals, plastic flooring, lights, boards, scoreboards, and fences.
Video
The cities that got updated hockey rinks include Alexandria and Fredericksburg in Virginia; Germantown and Silver Spring in Maryland; and Martinsburg, West Virginia.
The Capitals also announced that Frederick, MD, the hometown of RMNB, will be getting three refurbished rinks during the 2019-20 season while Virginia rinks in Reston and Winchester have also won funding.
On a personal note, I play hockey every Sunday with an amazing group of guys (and sometimes gals) at one of the refurbished rinks at Fairgrounds Park in Hagerstown. It’s one of the best things I do every week. If you’ve ever been interested in playing hockey, this is a great way to get started or get back to playing again.
More from the Capitals:
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals announced today the completion of six street hockey rink refurbishments across Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, marking 10 area rinks refurbished by the Capitals. In addition, the team will execute an additional 5 rink refurbishments during the 2019-20 season.
In conjunction with each rink’s grand opening, children ages 8-14 are invited to participate in the Washington Capitals Street Hockey Clinic Series. All participants will receive a free street hockey stick. For more information and to register for the free clinics, click here.
The Capitals used funding from the National Hockey League’s Industry Growth Fund (IGF) to renovate the rinks. $1,900,000 was awarded to initiatives focusing on the growth and ball and street hockey. Another $894,000 was focused on diversity, which the Capitals utilized to launch a district-wide street hockey curriculum across DC Public Schools, Montgomery County Public Schools and Baltimore City Public Schools. The Capitals contributed an additional $799,000 toward the growth of youth hockey in support of the project. The projects were completed with the support of Capital One.
To further encourage the growth of the game, the Capitals Youth Hockey Development staff will hold clinics throughout the season in conjunction with the refurbishment of each rink.
In addition, the Capitals will begin work on an additional 5 rinks during the 2019-20 season. Three rinks are located in Frederick, Md., while Reston, Va., and Winchester, Va., are the site of the other rinks.
Newly refurbished rink locations include:
Virginia
Seminary Road Roller Rink
4646 Seminary Road
Alexandria, VA 22304The Capitals renovated the Alexandria rink at Hammond Middle School by replacing the boards with new Riley manufactured boards and by adding both a Mateflex flooring system and a branded Daktronics scoreboard featuring the Capitals logo.
Dixon Park
1300 Dixon St
Fredericksburg, VA 22401The rink in Fredericksburg Virginia is a new build that includes a custom Riley Manufactured board system and a NOVA Play II flooring surface featuring the Capitals logo. The rink also features a Daktronics scoreboard with the Capitals logo.
Maryland
Ridge Road Recreational Park
21155 N. Frederick Rd
Germantown, MD 20876Ridge Road is an existing rink refurbished by the Capitals. The old boards were removed, and the existing metal frame was used. The bench area and doors were adjusted to be ADA compliant by Riley Manufacturing, who then installed their board system. A new Daktronics scoreboard and Mateflex flooring system was installed featuring the Capitals logo.
Media Note: Ridge Road will host a ribbon-cutting and clinic with Montgomery County Parks and Rec on Saturday, Sept. 28.
10-11 a.m.: Press Event and Ribbon Cutting
11 a.m.-Noon: ClinicDewey Park
11720 Dewey Road
Silver Spring, MD 20906The Dewey Park rink is a brand-new build and included a custom Riley Manufactured board system and a Mateflex floor featuring the Capitals logo. The rink will also receive a Daktronics scoreboard featuring the Capitals logo this fall.
West Virginia
Oatesdale Park (2 rinks)
Baltimore St & William Street
Martinsburg, WV 25401The park in West Virginia includes the complete rebuild of two existing rinks that we removed and replaced. Both rinks include a custom ProWall board system from Sports Resource Group, one white and one red, along with a Mateflex flooring system featuring the Capitals logo.
Media Note: Oatsdale Park will host a ribbon cutting and clinic on Sunday, Sept. 29.
12-12:30 p.m.: Press Event and Ribbon Cutting
12:45-1:45 p.m.-Noon: Clinic
Share On