Ice Rink
Cloverdale Ice Rink
The Cloverdale skating rink is at the base of Gallagher Hill and beside the Cloverdale Community League Hall. The rink is available to use for free for all community league members.
Skating for the 2023–2024 season is currently OPEN.
Membership
Don’t have a membership yet? Purchase or Renew by clicking the button below.
Help Out!
We need your help to keep the rink in tip-top condition! Please volunteer to help maintain the ice by emailing Jordan and rink@cloverdalecommunity.com
Rink Rules
- SKATERS USE THE RINK AND FACILITIES AT THEIR OWN RISK
- Alcohol is prohibited
- Helmets are strongly recommended
- Children should be supervised by a responsible person/adult
- Use of cell phones and/or headphones while on the ice is not recommended
- Carrying an infant on the ice is not recommended
- Skaters should skate at a safe speed
- No loitering along rink boards
- Skating in a manner that endangers or interferes with other skater’s safety or pleasure is strictly forbidden
- No fighting, pushing, checking, foul language, smoking, spitting or high sticking
- The Community League reserves the right to revoke privileges from any person who does not follow rules, shows unacceptable conduct, or for any other just cause
- Community League assumes no responsibility for the actions of individual and/or group users
History
The current rink is adjacent to the location of the original CCL rink (then called Bennett School Community League) The original rink was 200 feet long and 137 feet wide, it was certainly one of the largest community rinks in the city and a magnet for skaters and shinny players young and old. A skating carnival was held in January, with prizes put up by local businesses. The Edmonton Journal, which reported that a “moccasin dance” was also held on the rink that month, observed that the ice surface was alive with skaters every day after school and suggested it was a model for other city neighbourhoods.
The rink also hosted organized, competitive hockey games where fans lined the boards and threw snowballs at visiting players or referees when they made calls against the home team. Girls played as well, sometimes against the boys. Ernie Lewin said he and some of his teammates were in awe of a female player named Isabel Ward, who was famed for a red stick and her willingness to use it on opponents. When the junior boys played the senior girls, said Lewin, “you stayed clear of that red hockey stick!”
The Edmonton Community League provided a formally organized Senior hockey league in which Cloverdale was a competitive team. An elaborate collage hangs above the fireplace in the Cloverdale Community Hall commemorating the 1938/1939 team celebrating their 3rd win of the Joe Simpson trophy, awarded to the league champions. Many of these players grew up locally, playing under George “Pops” Hustler at Bennett School. Two of his proteges, brothers Neil and Mac Colville, played for the New York Rangers in the 1930’s and 1940’s.
Source: The Heart of the City
Modern
The current Cloverdale Community League (CCL) rink was built in the summer of 2023 and sits on the original location of several versions of the modern setup. The rink provides a hub for the neighbourhood during the winter months for recreation, fitness and fun.
The current rink was built, as the last version of the CCL rink, built in the 1990’s had reached its end of life and was starting to necessitate extra volunteer hours each year with growing maintenance of the natural construction materials. It was built by Global Sports with the intention of creating a safe, durable facility that should stand up to the weather and use. The rink also has a higher chainlink than the old rink which includes further coverage on the corners. There is a larger maintenance gate and a raised bench with 2 players’ gates. The old rink was recycled and will be rebuilt west of Edmonton on an acreage subdivision.
Over the past decade, several improvements have been made to the facility including LED lighting, new snow removal equipment, painting and energy efficiency improvements.
The CCL rink is 100% maintained by community-based volunteers who assist with ice maintenance, snow clearing, ice scraping and locking up nightly. These volunteers are then rewarded with the opportunity to book the rink for their own use during their commitment.
At this time, we do not have the capability to provide further ice rentals.
Schedule
