2010 olympics to be played on nhl size rink

[wetwilly17 6]

i, like many, love watching olympic hockey partly because of the olympic sized rinks and the style of play the extra room promotes.

from reading my february edition of usa hockey, i just learned the 2010 olympics will be played on nhl sized rinks. according to usa hockey mag "the canadians claimed refurbishing the gm place, home of the vancouver canucks, would create undue economic hardship and add to the already daunting preparations to get ready to welcome the world."

WTF?

i don't know anything about olympic politics. but this seems rediculous. so vancouver campaigns for the olympics, wins the contract, and then basically says 'by the way...we don't want to spend the money to provide the facilities for olympic hockey, we'll just use an nhl sized rink.'

this is bs. is anyone else upset about this?

[RadioGaGa 162]

i, like many, love watching olympic hockey partly because of the olympic sized rinks and the style of play the extra room promotes.

from reading my february edition of usa hockey, i just learned the 2010 olympics will be played on nhl sized rinks. according to usa hockey mag "the canadians claimed refurbishing the gm place, home of the vancouver canucks, would create undue economic hardship and add to the already daunting preparations to get ready to welcome the world."

WTF?

i don't know anything about olympic politics. but this seems rediculous. so vancouver campaigns for the olympics, wins the contract, and then basically says 'by the way...we don't want to spend the money to provide the facilities for olympic hockey, we'll just use an nhl sized rink.'

this is bs. is anyone else upset about this?

It was played on NHL sized rinks in Salt Lake wasn't it?

[moose77 0]

No, The "E" Center in West Valley City, Utah was designed to allow for the boards to be "expanded" the extra 15 feet in width.

[WhiskeyTango19 0]

I think that's a bunch of nonsense. The rest of the world should not have to conform to NHL standards because Vancouver doesn't feel like holding up their end of the contract to hold the Olympics.

I will say this though: Canada IS the hockey nation of the world. Hands down. But that doesn't mean that the rest of the world should bow to them, especially on a stage of this magnitude.

[shooter27 116]

I tend to think that having the games on an NHL sized sheet has the ability to improve the quality of the play. It will certainly make the games quite a bit more physical. I haven't loved the last couple Olympic hockey competitions because I've always felt the wide ice slowed down the game in the offensive zone and made forwards a bit too stationary (similar to basketball).

That being said, I agree, Vancouver should be forced to make the necessary renovations to the facility. If you are going to host the Olympics you should do it by their rules.

[JR97 2]

No, The "E" Center in West Valley City, Utah was designed to allow for the boards to be "expanded" the extra 15 feet in width.

The 'E' center was for the high profile games. There were 4 other rinks used for both mens and womens games and they are all Olympic size. The Olympics were the best thing to happen for Utah hockey. No more driving an hour for 5:00 am or 1:00 am games. But all of the rinks and growth in ice hockey has pretty much killed roller and dek hockey.

I can't imagine Vancouver not using multiple rinks. I also speculate that winning the bid meant addressing the rink size issue in all of the rinks to be used.

[BigDipper 0]

And then the debate on whether NHL players should/should not play in the Olympics begins......

[moose77 0]

No, The "E" Center in West Valley City, Utah was designed to allow for the boards to be "expanded" the extra 15 feet in width.

The 'E' center was for the high profile games. There were 4 other rinks used for both mens and womens games and they are all Olympic size. The Olympics were the best thing to happen for Utah hockey. No more driving an hour for 5:00 am or 1:00 am games. But all of the rinks and growth in ice hockey has pretty much killed roller and dek hockey.

I can't imagine Vancouver not using multiple rinks. I also speculate that winning the bid meant addressing the rink size issue in all of the rinks to be used.

I know the one in Provo was also used, but where were the other two? The Ice Sheet in Ogden was supposed to originally be a women's hockey venue but it ended up being used for curling.

[JR97 2]

No, The "E" Center in West Valley City, Utah was designed to allow for the boards to be "expanded" the extra 15 feet in width.

The 'E' center was for the high profile games. There were 4 other rinks used for both mens and womens games and they are all Olympic size. The Olympics were the best thing to happen for Utah hockey. No more driving an hour for 5:00 am or 1:00 am games. But all of the rinks and growth in ice hockey has pretty much killed roller and dek hockey.

I can't imagine Vancouver not using multiple rinks. I also speculate that winning the bid meant addressing the rink size issue in all of the rinks to be used.

I know the one in Provo was also used, but where were the other two? The Ice Sheet in Ogden was supposed to originally be a women's hockey venue but it ended up being used for curling.

I think the women were playing at Steiner up by the U of U and out in West Valley at the Accord Arena. I know Steiner and the Accord were also used for practices. I swear there were early round men's games at Steiner. You from around here? The stuck a rink back in the middle of the speed skating oval. That's where I'll be doing summer league. There's also a nice rink up in Park City. Luc Robitaille just had some charity game up there during Sundance.

[moose77 0]

I think the women were playing at Steiner up by the U of U and out in West Valley at the Accord Arena. I know Steiner and the Accord were also used for practices. I swear there were early round men's games at Steiner. You from around here? The stuck a rink back in the middle of the speed skating oval. That's where I'll be doing summer league. There's also a nice rink up in Park City. Luc Robitaille just had some charity game up there during Sundance.

I'm actually a native of Ogden. I grew up there until I was 10 then we moved to Washington State, where I "discovered" the great game of hockey by watching my first game on Hockey Night in Canada. When we left in June 1979, the Ogden rink was the one they used to have in the Golden Spike Livestock Show building before it burned down. I skated in that building once when I was down visiting in the early 1990s and I guess it burned not long afterwards. Came back in 1994 for my cousin's wedding and skated for the first time at The Ice Sheet. GREAT building, except they still had all those windown open to the west letting in all that light. Next time I was down in 2002 for my dad's memorial service, I brought the skates and went up there to blow off some steam. I saw they still had the signage up from the Olympics and that the windows had been blacked out. Also realized after a few minutes I'm not used to skating at 4000+ feet! Sure takes the wind out of you REAL quick.

[BK 0]

They have quite a bit of ice here in Utah.

Theres The Peaks in Provo where I play. It has the potential to be one of the best places I have played in, but the management doesn't budget enough for upkeep, they hire anybody and will let them drive the zam, there is concrete everywhere (carpet is worn down to it), and only 2/3 of the sheets are flooded. The other is covered with astro turf and rigged for indoor soccer. Ice is BAD on the south rink where they have public skate.. im talking the puck slides under the zam doors in the summer and it you can see grey concrete under the ice. North rink isn't bad but they wont let anybody play on it but highschool and college. House league is out of luck. They built it to be an olympic venue. This is where they had the women's games in the Olympics. Only reason this place hasn't gone under is that I believe the city is helping with the finances. It would look stupid to have an Olympic venue go bust.

They also built the Oval in Sandy. I haven't skated up there but heard its really nice. Its a full speedskate oval with enough ice in the middle to host games when they rearrange the boards.

Ecenter isn't bad either. I personally don't like the ice. I'm not sure why. Great venue though. Go Griz.

SLC has a rec sheet that is the worst venue/ice I have ever been on. The ice is soft as warm butter and you have to step over high concrete to get on the bench. I'm not even sure if its around anymore.

Heber has the last outdoor rink. I haven't been up there yet. I'm going to make a trip out of it sometime this season with the wife. I have to check out the ice in Park City too.

For you old timers, do you remember the Utah lake sheet? That place was a small piece of heaven.

[Tikkanen 1]

My uncle lives in Heber, can't believe they have a hockey rink there. It's like going in a time machine when I go there from Orange County.

[Hockeyman9621 0]

I like the idea. It's like seeing glorified NHL games. I am one for tradition though, and in that sense it is kind of lame.

[D aka speck 0]

I've had the great opportunity of playing on Olympic sized ice.

It's very different...

I say...

move the games to a place that accomodates the Olympic standards!

Take all the players out of thier comfort level and let the true stars shine.

[JR97 2]

They have quite a bit of ice here in Utah.

Theres The Peaks in Provo where I play. It has the potential to be one of the best places I have played in, but the management doesn't budget enough for upkeep, they hire anybody and will let them drive the zam, there is concrete everywhere (carpet is worn down to it), and only 2/3 of the sheets are flooded. The other is covered with astro turf and rigged for indoor soccer. Ice is BAD on the south rink where they have public skate.. im talking the puck slides under the zam doors in the summer and it you can see grey concrete under the ice. North rink isn't bad but they wont let anybody play on it but highschool and college. House league is out of luck. They built it to be an olympic venue. This is where they had the women's games in the Olympics. Only reason this place hasn't gone under is that I believe the city is helping with the finances. It would look stupid to have an Olympic venue go bust.

They also built the Oval in Sandy. I haven't skated up there but heard its really nice. Its a full speedskate oval with enough ice in the middle to host games when they rearrange the boards.

Ecenter isn't bad either. I personally don't like the ice. I'm not sure why. Great venue though. Go Griz.

SLC has a rec sheet that is the worst venue/ice I have ever been on. The ice is soft as warm butter and you have to step over high concrete to get on the bench. I'm not even sure if its around anymore.

Heber has the last outdoor rink. I haven't been up there yet. I'm going to make a trip out of it sometime this season with the wife. I have to check out the ice in Park City too.

For you old timers, do you remember the Utah lake sheet? That place was a small piece of heaven.

Are you playing rec or college?

Which SLC rec sheet? Cottonwood? That rink is a dinasour. The new Murray rink is awesome. The Steiner rinks are ok. The Accord in West Valley is the best ice I've been on this year. The Oval used to be the best ice when it was an outdoor rink covered with a bubble but it was damn frigid playing there at night. The Utah Lake sheet was epic. I didn't know it was gone.

sorry to hijack this thread. :)

[BK 0]

They have quite a bit of ice here in Utah.

Theres The Peaks in Provo where I play. It has the potential to be one of the best places I have played in, but the management doesn't budget enough for upkeep, they hire anybody and will let them drive the zam, there is concrete everywhere (carpet is worn down to it), and only 2/3 of the sheets are flooded. The other is covered with astro turf and rigged for indoor soccer. Ice is BAD on the south rink where they have public skate.. im talking the puck slides under the zam doors in the summer and it you can see grey concrete under the ice. North rink isn't bad but they wont let anybody play on it but highschool and college. House league is out of luck. They built it to be an olympic venue. This is where they had the women's games in the Olympics. Only reason this place hasn't gone under is that I believe the city is helping with the finances. It would look stupid to have an Olympic venue go bust.

They also built the Oval in Sandy. I haven't skated up there but heard its really nice. Its a full speedskate oval with enough ice in the middle to host games when they rearrange the boards.

Ecenter isn't bad either. I personally don't like the ice. I'm not sure why. Great venue though. Go Griz.

SLC has a rec sheet that is the worst venue/ice I have ever been on. The ice is soft as warm butter and you have to step over high concrete to get on the bench. I'm not even sure if its around anymore.

Heber has the last outdoor rink. I haven't been up there yet. I'm going to make a trip out of it sometime this season with the wife. I have to check out the ice in Park City too.

For you old timers, do you remember the Utah lake sheet? That place was a small piece of heaven.

Are you playing rec or college?

Which SLC rec sheet? Cottonwood? That rink is a dinasour. The new Murray rink is awesome. The Steiner rinks are ok. The Accord in West Valley is the best ice I've been on this year. The Oval used to be the best ice when it was an outdoor rink covered with a bubble but it was damn frigid playing there at night. The Utah Lake sheet was epic. I didn't know it was gone.

sorry to hijack this thread. :)

I play rec. I want to head up to the Murray sheet so I can get into a contact league. I've heard good things about it too. They demolished the Utah Lake rink like 12 years ago. I was honestly sad to see it go. Outdoor rinks have a charm to them and remind me of skating back in Minnesota. It was great too, the wind off the lake was bitter cold so it kept it frozen solid, even when it warmed up a little bit.

[nyrmetros 0]

i, like many, love watching olympic hockey partly because of the olympic sized rinks and the style of play the extra room promotes.

from reading my february edition of usa hockey, i just learned the 2010 olympics will be played on nhl sized rinks. according to usa hockey mag "the canadians claimed refurbishing the gm place, home of the vancouver canucks, would create undue economic hardship and add to the already daunting preparations to get ready to welcome the world."

WTF?

i don't know anything about olympic politics. but this seems rediculous. so vancouver campaigns for the olympics, wins the contract, and then basically says 'by the way...we don't want to spend the money to provide the facilities for olympic hockey, we'll just use an nhl sized rink.'

this is bs. is anyone else upset about this?

I was hoping to see IIHF rinks at the 2010 games when the USA wins gold.

[cxo 0]

Aren't they going to have to build at least some new facilities and venues for all the other sports? I understand that these buildings aren't cheap, but they don't have to be made to NHL-crowd capacities either, so why aren't they building a new rink to IIHF specs? Just about every other Olympic host city has had to do so to my memory.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

this is just a bunch of bull......that is one reason i love watching olympic hockey....come on now dont take that away from me!!!!