by CONNIE ADAIR
Toronto Star

Custom rink cool upgrade for backyard

Skate for up to
five months a year

Former NHLer
developed idea

When Oakville resident Jim MacKenzie's custom-designed house was finished four years ago, he decide to add the ultimate upgrade - a permanent refrigerated ice rink in the backyard. "I have memories of playing on a natural ice surface. I played shinny and would be out from after school until 11 at night, stopping only to eat and do my homework. We had all kinds of fun." MacKenzie says.

MacKenzie's father told him about Custom Ice Inc., a Burlington-based company specializing in refrigerated ice rinks custom made for backyard use. His father even volunteered to pick up the $100,000-plus tab. MacKenzie, one of Custom Ice's first customers, says, "it;s been a wonderful experience. It doesn't get used as much now because the kids are busy. Jamie, 15 is busy with the GTHL and high school. Philip, 17, is more into rugby but skates occasionally."

Having a rink to skate on five months of the year offers developing hockey players lots of freedom, MacKenzie says. "Whenever it's artificial ice indoors, the time is supervised and there are drills and kids wear full equipment. It's not the same as kids going out into the backyard and having fun." MacKenzie opted for a permanent rink, with a concrete pad and an 80 by 40-foot surface. His rink has boards, lights and netting all around. There's even a change room with storage for hockey equipment.

For anyone contemplating installing a rink, Custom Ice founder Dave Gagner says access to the backyard is a lot easier before a house is built. And planning the rink's placement with the landscaping and pool design means site preparation can be done at the same time, he says.

Gagner, a former NHL hockey player, says he always dreamed o having a backyard rink. "in 1984, I practiced outdoors in Germany before the olympics. "it was great, but with the weather patterns here, I realized refrigeration would be required."

Former NHL hockey player Dave Gagner, a partner in Custom Ice, and his son Sam.

After he retired from a 15-year hockey career that included playing fro the New York Rangers, the Minnesota NOrth Stars and the Toronto Maple Leafs, Gagner started researching, then hired a Toronto company to install his backyard rink. Gagner and Brendan Lenko, a mechanical engineer working on the project, found a common bond. They partnered with Glenn Winder and opened for business in January 2000. Sales this year outpaced their first year six-fold.

Custom Ice has installed more than 100 rinks, mainly in southern Ontario and the eastern United States. Rinks range from 20 by 40 feet to 85 by 200-foot regulation sized rinks. The company has developed technology that allows them to build removable rinks over swimming pools. It also does installations on concrete pads, which can be used as tennis or basketball courts in warmer months. custom Ice has also developed refrigeration units that use residential power, its own piping system and lightweight boards that look like NHL boards. The company says the rinks have enough refrigeration for up to five months of outdoor skating.

Costs start at about $20 per square foot for portable models and $40 for permanent rinks. The benefactor of Gagner's 50 by 90-foot backyard rink is his 15-year-old son Sam, who was 10 when the rink was built. Sam, who plays for the Toronto Marlboroughs, spends countless hours on the ice. But it's fun for the whole family. dave and his wife, Jo-Anne, have a 13-year-old daughter, Jessica and a 11-year-old daughter Renee, who both play hockey.

"My wife and I love it." Gagner says. "it's a great way to build memories."

Custom Ice Rinks Inc.; 1-866-877-8840 or 905 632-8840