In the News

“ Burlington Pond debuts in April”

Half-size pad may be backyard rink of the new millennium

Burlington Post - Sports, pg. 37 & 40

Friday, March 30, 2001

by Kevin Nagel © 2001 Burlington Post

“We're here to complement the hockey associations and schools. We wanted to make a state-of-the-art facility with more individualized
attention on and off the ice.”

- Greg Moore

Co-Owner, Burlington Pond

A great many Canadians remember skating the winter days away on frozen lakes and rivers in their youth.

In what may be the new millennium's take on the old backyard rink, The Burlington Pond Hockey Training Centre will open its doors officially in
mid-April.

It's the realization of a dream for Greg Moore, who with a partner has built what he describes as a health club with a rink instead of a basketball
court. As far as Moore knows, it's the first of its kind in Canada .

The Pond is located at 845 Harrington Ct. off Harvester Road , between Guelph Line and Walker 's Line, and features a smaller ice surface
complete with regulation boards, nets and all the other amenities found with official size arenas.

“People hear about it and think it's a small surface but they're surprised when they see it,” said Moore, a former university player, junior and rep
coach and father to talented Burlington skater Michele Moore. “There are other very small pads, sometimes half of which are plastic, fo
r shooting practice, but none this size.”

The actual ice surface is exactly half the size of an international pad. The 100-by-50 foot rink, says Moore , is perfect for instruction,
three-on-three games and training.

“Europeans, because of the shortage of ice, divide the rink for practices, even at the elite level,” said Moore . “With the smaller surface,
players learn to handle the puck in enclosed areas, they handle the puck more and the goalies get a lot more shots.”

In Fact, Moore 's motto for the Pond is: ‘Confining the space quickens the pace.'

Former pro Dave Gagner, who had a 700-plus point NHL career over 15 years, recently started a business installing mainly outdoor ice surfaces ( customicerinks.com ) and wholeheartedly endorses the rink and Moore's objectives.

“Getting ice time is very important,” said Gagner, whose company installed Moore 's ice. “The classic European player is very good in
confined spaces. They can come out of the corners very quickly laterally and they're strong in traffic. That's why this type of situation
(smaller ice) will help kids that come here.”

Gagner grew up playing hockey as many hours a day as possible, calling the time he spent skating as one of his warmest childhood memories.

“I installed a rink at my place (in Oakville ) for my kids (a son and two daughters). My son was outside skating before school this week,” he added.

Shower facilities, a lounge and exercise room are being installed over the next few weeks. Moore will offer top-flight instruction to players of
all levels of ability, from pros to pre-schoolers, as well as three-on-three hockey leagues and birthday parties. Moore even custom-built an ice
resurfacer that's half the size of Zambonis used in pro games.

He's excited about finally getting the building operational after construction started late last year. Moore has a typical workout in mind.

“Players can work in the exercise room for 10 minutes so they don't have to stretch on the ice, then play three-on-three hockey for fun, and
follow that with drills to hone their skills,” said Moore. “Then end it with more three-on-three. I want the players to come out and have
fun - that's why we did all this.”

Moore hopes the programs the Burlington Pond has to offer don't step on anyone's toes in the process. “We're here to complement the
hockey associations and schools,” said Moore , “We wanted to make a state-of-the-art facility with more individualized attention on and off the ice.”

A day camp is being planned for the summer where many of Moore 's former players from Junior and rep teams will be hired as counsellors.
Moore will set rental price figures soon. He figures it will be slightly more than half the cost of renting the ice at a traditional arena.

For more information on Burlington Pond programs, call 631-9061.