We have been building a backyard rink at our home in Regina for more than 10 years. It started out as a simple small sheet of ice and has now grown to be as big
as our backyard will allow. The rink is fully enclosed with high boards, screens, lights and a gate.

We all help our dad put the rink together, which usually takes about 3 days. We then have to wait for a little snow so we can pack it around the inside edge of the
boards to create a water-tight seal that allows us to build up a good base. One year there was no snow so dad went over to a local indoor rink and brought back some Zamboni ice shavings in the back of the van!

We usually assemble the rink in late October, which may sound a little early except that it so easy to do it when it is warm and so hard when it is below zero. While we wait for the cold weather to arrive the high boards, screens and lights allow us to play other sports such as arena football, soccer and lacrosse.

The rink is the home to the LHL (the “Laprairie Hockey League”). The league is open to all the kids in the neighbourhood and boy do they take advantage of it! On a normal week day there will be between 6-8 kids playing.

The youngest kids including the twins learned to skate on the rink. Christine practices her figure skating on the rink but it is getting a little too small for her now.

The great thing about a backyard rink is that even when it is -20° you can still go out and play for awhile. But the really great thing is that we can all play together as a family.

Adam Laprairie (age 10), Christine Laprairie (age 10), Joseph Laprairie (age 12), Mark Laprairie (age 15), Paul Laprairie (age 18), Maurice Laprairie (dad), Carla Weder (mom)

Regina, Saskatchewan