Page 4 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 155

4 Issue #155 December 2025 www.sportsenergynews.com

Menard Park Skating Rink Icemakers, Kevin

and Mike, are Hoping for a Cold Winter

By Christine Ouellet of November, Mike offered his help. It
measures 60 by 80 feet, and it is a lot of
enard Park skating rink is one of work for one person. I look up to Mike
Mthe top skating rinks in Cornwall. for advice on when to water the rink. We
Located at 2206 Concorde Ave, the rink discuss the conditions and how the ice
is maintained by volunteer Icemakers: is doing. And now I have an expert on
Kevin Lajoie and Mike Marleau. Bruce my team. That’s why I am very excited
Tait laid the foundation for the initiative to count on him with his knowledge and
before Kevin took over six years ago. experience. To clear the snow, I use a
Big thanks to Larry Legue and his team snowblower. Sometimes neighbors show
from the Cornwall Parks Department up before me and have started shoveling
for putting up the boards, and to all the the snow.”
volunteers, Dave Lajoie, Canaan Lajoie, Mike said, “I started my backyard rink
and Norm Fournier, to name a few, who eighteen years ago. I had the curved board,
help shoveling and watering. lights that glowed in the neighborhood,
Kevin Lajoie and Mike Marleau and even painted ice. My buddies would
have known each other for a while. come, and we would play out. It was
Kevin started his involvement with the awesome. The secret to perfect ice is to
municipal ice rink in 2019, and Mike put spray warm water on the ice; it levels it
up the first rink in his backyard eighteen out, goes into the cracks, seals it up, and
years ago. Kevin said, “Last year, when it smooths everything. I made a homemade
was time to put the boards up at the end stick, using hot water from my laundry

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room, and we called it “broombony.” This by snowbanks, no boards, for people who
is why you see the Zamboni steaming want to practice figure skating, young
up in the arena, but we don’t have this kids who want to play games, and don’t
luxury here. We count on people skating want to get in the way.
and smoothing the surface, and it is pretty Who doesn’t remember, with a certain
good! My son started with the Timbits. nostalgia, their first skate, flying around
I often had him and his team over to on the community ice rink? Our toes were
practice. My son was very popular among frozen, but we had fun, and returning home
his teammates. I also coached minor was really our last resort. Kevin, like many
hockey for ten years. others, grew up right beside a skating rink.
They are looking forward to the season. He recalls that he and his brother would
Kevin said, “It is supposed to be colder be up there after school until the lights
this year, which will be good for skating; went off. As for Mike, he used to skate
it all depends on the weather. We have a at Archie’s on the frozen pond, which is
class from St. Peter School who come for no longer open for skating. But they both
a skating activity, as part of their Phys-ed spent their time like so many kids, playing
class. I love it when young kids, especially hockey outside, skating near dark, playing

people who are new to Canada, who have with whoever showed up, playing with a
never skated or played hockey, come and stick in the middle, and making teams.
    discover this wonderful activity. Hockey At the end of the day, it was just about
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€   or skating, I like to see the smiles on their having fun. For current information about
faces. Then you know they will remember the ice rink or ice conditions, see their
doing this as a kid and loving it.” Facebook site. https://www.facebook.
They also have an alternate rink, marked com/MenardParkRink