HOME DEPOT BACKYARD RINK CONTEST
Brandon, MB. — Remember the movie Field of Dreams and how the voice told Iowa farmer to plow his cornfields, build a baseball diamond and “he” would come.
Well like the 1989 motion picutre, Western Manitoba hockey fans are being encouraged to build a backyard rink, enter it in this year’s Home Depot Backyard Rink Contest and have a chance to earn the right to play members of the Brandon Wheat Kings in a special game of shinny this winter.
The Contest, which officially begins this week with the arrival of the first snow to western Manitoba, will close on Friday, February 25th with the winner to be announced the following night at Westman Place when the Wheat Kings play host to the visiting Regina Pats.
Starting Wednesday, November 26th, fans can enter online at wheatkings.com or at BDO Fan Services at all Wheat King home games, beginning Friday, December 5th when the Regina Pats pay a visit to Westman Place.
While some fans have already started on their backyard ice palance, many more will begin over the course of the next few weeks.
All materials needed to build a backyard rink are available at your local Home Depot store.
For more information on how to build your own backyard rink, be sure to speak with the experts at The Home Depot. Following are some tips to consider if planning to enter this year’s contest.
TIPS ON HOW TO BUILD YOUR BACKYARD RINK
TIP #1: When thickening your ice, create thin layers at a time (0.5 cm). If you flood the rink with too much water at a time the thick layer of ice could crack.
TIP #2: Fill the cracks in the ice with snow rather than water. This prevents the water from seeping through the cracks and thawing the surface underneath resulting in shell ice.
TIP #3: Place your rink on a shaded, flat surface, close to a source of water and a source of light for night skating.
TIP #4: Sweep the ice around the perimeter with a corn broom to prevent a ridge from developing.
TIP #5: The warmer the weather, the finer the spray and the less water you should use. If you over-water in warm weather you will have a thin layer of ice over water commonly known as shell ice.
TIP #6: For warmer climates with less snow and the potential risk of rain, it is best to use a vapour barrier (plastic tarp) over a base of flat packed snow.
TIP #7: To clean the surface of your rink, scrape the ice with a sharp steel flat edge on a wide snow pusher.
TIP #8: When using a tarp under your ice surface, it should be approx. 2ft. longer and 2 ft. wider than the actual size of your rink.
TIP #9: First make your ice after three days of temperatures below 10C to ensure the ground if frozen. Ensure there is enough snow for a strong foundation or if using a tarp ensure the ice is 3 inches thick before you stand on it.
TIP #10: A plastic tarp helps protect grass from ice damage; gives a flatter rink in less time and helps contain the water during a substantial thaw. Also, 2 inch by 6 inch (or 8 inch) pressure-treated perimeter boards will help maintain your ice during a thaw.
The Home Depot is committed to hockey in neighbourhoods across Canada. For over 16 years, we’ve been giving our support to community hockey and helping to rebuild local rinks. The Home Depot has been a valuable Wheat Kings’ partner for over ten years and in addition to the Backyard Rink Contest, Home Depot presents the the Wheat Kings’ Family Skate Night.
This year’s Family Skate Night is Saturday, January 3rd when the Wheat Kings play host to the visiting Calgary Hitmen.
