At the end of October, Skate Frederick went dark. The local ice rink, an institution in Frederick County since the 1990s, lost both its sheets to critical maintenance issues. The sudden closure forced moves for high school and youth leagues. Hood College’s new women’s team will play all their games on the road this season. Open skates have been canceled, and the beer leagues are shut down.
But rink owner Ed Hostetter is confident Skate Frederick will be up and running soon. “We are hoping we can stand this business back up in short order,” Hostetter told RMNB last week, though there is no restart date yet. “When it comes to recreational sports, I know the kids look forward to their ice-related activities all year, and then the floor/ice drops out from under them.”
At the root of the problem is refrigeration. After long years of constant use, Hostetter tells us, there’s been a buildup of oil and moisture in the refrigerant, but it’s been impossible to fully diagnose without major work. “There’s no way of knowing until we take everything apart, rebuild, clean, and do all the routine maintenance steps looking for any damaged or worn components,” Hostetter says.
That process, already underway, involves moving the refrigerant to a temporary container; cleaning it of oil, moisture, and particulates; testing the under-floor piping; rebuilding and replacing compressors and pistons; and finally restoring both sheets. It’s a massive undertaking involving multiple contractors and a bill reaching into six figures. Hostetter estimates the refrigerant phase should be complete by mid-December.
Skate Frederick isn’t alone in their maintenance problems. Rinks in Bowie, Reisterstown, and Piney Orchard have all had temporary closures in the last month. The companies who can keep sheets in good repair and the necessary parts are in short supply.
Hostetter has shared updates on Skate Frederick’s recovery plan in newsletters sent to the community. He says the outpouring of enthusiasm he’s received in response has been crucial. “We really need that continued support,” Hostetter says. “It’s vital for everyone, especially the employees of the rink. It was heartening to learn how many people and groups were involved with on-ice-related sports activities in Frederick.”
“I’ve received many calls and emails,” Hostetter says, “and nearly all of them are encouraging and supportive.”
