With over 50 rinks spread throughout the state, New Jersey residents have plenty of ice skating opportunites. Whether you wish to ice skate for fun or competition, rinks offer activities, performances and more. For the ice hockey enthusiast, the state's rinks house the practice facilities for numerous high school ice hockey teams, travel teams of all age levels and even some professional teams.
Facilities
New Jersey's ice skating rinks offer indoor climate-controlled skating. Many facilities include two rinks, one Olympic-sized (200 feet by 98.4 feet) and one narrower NHL sized rink (200 feet by 85 feet). Some skating complexes in Northern New Jersey feature four rinks, such as the one in Hackensack. A few one-rink facilities still exist, including the Atlantic City Skate Zone.
All rinks feature a refreshment stand, bleachers along the ice, locker rooms for changing for teams and a pro shop with a skate-sharpening machine. New Jersey's rinks also offer rental skates in both hockey and standard ice skating styles for public skate times. Check your local rink for birthday party and special event information.
Ice Skating Opportunites
Most rinks have on staff a certified skating instructor. Private classes can be arranged directly through the instructor while the rink organizes group lessons. For the novice figure skater, group lessons offer the most economical approach to learning. As a student progress through the figure skating levels, private lessons may help target individual weaknesses.
Many of New Jersey's rinks offer an open free skate for figure skaters to practice their moves.
All rinks offer public skating, with most employing a special Friday or Saturday night skate with a DJ, music and lights.
Ice Hockey Teams
Thirty-eight of New Jersey's rinks participate in the New Jersey Youth Hockey League. These rinks organize, coach and produce different age ranges of travel hockey teams. Ages 5 to 18 can play on a travel team.
Tryouts traditionally held in April or May determine who makes a team. Rinks run a three-day tryout to evaluate the potential players. Once chosen, travel team players sign a contract and commit to playing 40 or more games as a representative of that rink. Travel teams provide a unique opportunity for a rink to showcase its talent and coaching staff. A team that performs well brings in more clients for future teams.
In addition to travel hockey, rinks operate in-house or limited travel leagues for the players still learning the ropes.
For the older kids, high school ice hockey features both varsity and junior varsity levels in an organized state league. For more information on high school teams, your local rink's hockey director can help connect you with a potential team.
Special Events
Many rinks offer special events throughout the season. Canlan Ice Sports, in Vineland, offers lacrosse and soccer on one melted-down rink each summer. They also set up a bounce playground for the younger players.
Rinks offer special summer camps for both figure skaters and hockey players.
Often charity fundraising events also offer skating opportunities. Contact the rink for upcoming specific events.
Finding a Rink
Rink-locating websites make the job of finding a nearby rink easy. Sites such as ArenaMaps.com offer info and directions for each rink.
Pros
New Jersey's ice skating rinks provide the practice for two professional ice hockey teams. The Philadelphia Flyers practice at the Voorhees Skate Zone and the New Jersey Devils practice out of the South Mountain Arena in West Orange.
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