In the darkness on the edge of town
Cody Ewers
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Down the Hill
As a carload of college students journey to the end of Hideaway Lane, glimmers of light reflect against a yellow fluorescent street sign reading, "The Rink," on the Connor's family farm.
The vehicle sidles to a halt before a shed, gently illuminated by the natural ambiance of a southern Michigan countryside. Freshman and local resident Scott Lantis cheerfully crunches by and disappears into a dark landscape of snow and pines.
A large amber moon sitting low in the sky briefly steals some attention before dim lights flicker and radiate from the top of the 40-foot tree line.
An icy corridor leads students around the shed and into a 16-year-old ice rink with authentic hockey boards, two nets, floodlights and a warming shed that sits just off the ice's edge.
President and CEO of the locally owned County National Bank in Hillsdale, Craig Connor, generously shares his handmade, 16-year old rink with anyone who will shovel the ice after they're finished.
"At first it didn't have boards or lights…it wasn't much of a rink," said Lantis of the rink's beginning years. "But nowadays when you think winter, you think the Connor's rink."
Despite his upbringing as a basketball player, Lantis said he would now much rather play hockey games at the rink than a basketball game, any day.
Lantis and his father have helped the Connors set up the rink for the last ten winters; they vouch for the incredible amount of work that goes into its construction and maintenance throughout the year.
To get the ice primed and ready for skating, Connor must pour thin layers of water every couple hours until enough ice is laid for a base layer. After that, and each time it's used, he must resurface it with a homemade zamboni, made from PVC piping, a few old rags and a hose.
These days, however, Connor limps around on a foot, broken while playing in his men's hockey league at the Optimist Ice Arena in Jackson.
His daughter, Bonnie, said he bought a bigger rubber boot that could fit over his injured foot so he could still maintain the ice for everyone else's enjoyment.
Connor's dedication to his rink stems from his passion for hockey and his desire to share the game with others.
"He does it all for the love of the game," Bonnie said.
Bonnie started out with figure skates, but had to soon switch over to a hockey boot so she could keep up with her brother and father, both of whom play organized hockey.
Bonnie said the rink is a nonjudgmental place to enjoy the game; whether you're a seasoned hockey player or a first-timer, there's room for everyone on the ice.
"All the elements we've added over the years have created this mystical rink," Bonnie said. "It's like my own secret garden; my dad and I call it our little slice of heaven."
The vehicle sidles to a halt before a shed, gently illuminated by the natural ambiance of a southern Michigan countryside. Freshman and local resident Scott Lantis cheerfully crunches by and disappears into a dark landscape of snow and pines.
A large amber moon sitting low in the sky briefly steals some attention before dim lights flicker and radiate from the top of the 40-foot tree line.
An icy corridor leads students around the shed and into a 16-year-old ice rink with authentic hockey boards, two nets, floodlights and a warming shed that sits just off the ice's edge.
President and CEO of the locally owned County National Bank in Hillsdale, Craig Connor, generously shares his handmade, 16-year old rink with anyone who will shovel the ice after they're finished.
"At first it didn't have boards or lights…it wasn't much of a rink," said Lantis of the rink's beginning years. "But nowadays when you think winter, you think the Connor's rink."
Despite his upbringing as a basketball player, Lantis said he would now much rather play hockey games at the rink than a basketball game, any day.
Lantis and his father have helped the Connors set up the rink for the last ten winters; they vouch for the incredible amount of work that goes into its construction and maintenance throughout the year.
To get the ice primed and ready for skating, Connor must pour thin layers of water every couple hours until enough ice is laid for a base layer. After that, and each time it's used, he must resurface it with a homemade zamboni, made from PVC piping, a few old rags and a hose.
These days, however, Connor limps around on a foot, broken while playing in his men's hockey league at the Optimist Ice Arena in Jackson.
His daughter, Bonnie, said he bought a bigger rubber boot that could fit over his injured foot so he could still maintain the ice for everyone else's enjoyment.
Connor's dedication to his rink stems from his passion for hockey and his desire to share the game with others.
"He does it all for the love of the game," Bonnie said.
Bonnie started out with figure skates, but had to soon switch over to a hockey boot so she could keep up with her brother and father, both of whom play organized hockey.
Bonnie said the rink is a nonjudgmental place to enjoy the game; whether you're a seasoned hockey player or a first-timer, there's room for everyone on the ice.
"All the elements we've added over the years have created this mystical rink," Bonnie said. "It's like my own secret garden; my dad and I call it our little slice of heaven."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Joy Pavelski
posted 2/11/10 @ 12:37 PM EST
Lovely writing, Cody.
I might remind eds (and writers) to note comma errors, like those around "Craig Connor" and here: "Connor limps around on a foot, broken while playing. (Continued…)
Ben Calvin
posted 2/12/10 @ 1:41 PM EST
When our families were younger it was the place for New Year's celebration, which was truly a family event. Much credit to the Connor family for bringing "that slice of heaven" to all those who enjoys the warmth and friendship their rink. (Continued…)
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