This Is How Hockey Rinks Are Made

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Ah! Hockey! What a marvelous sport that requires speed, precision, and agility! It also requires a smooth ice hockey rink.

Did you know that hockey rinks are different than ice skating ones? Figure skaters require ice that is softer and slightly warmer, which creates a slower, choppier surface that also allows for softer landings since these skaters tend to fall a lot during practice.

Hockey players, on the other hand, prefer to play on colder, harder ice that allows for faster skating and makes the puck slide much easier and smoother. So how do you make this special ice specifically for hockey players?

It all starts with the water. Ice hockey rink water cannot have too many salts because it can end up being sticky. Instead, purified water is used. Next, the water needs to be frozen evenly over a large area.

To achieve this, experts use the same technique as that seen in refrigerators or condensers. However, in an ice rink, the refrigerant is not used to cool the ice directly. How exactly is it used and what are the next steps for creating a perfect hockey rink? Watch the video to find out more!