It is the dream of every kid to grow up and play in the NHL. Unfortunately, only a few get to do so, as hockey is not a popular sport among children. That is why we have to settle for making these dreams come true by building our own hockey rink! This article will teach you everything you need to know about building a hockey rink completely out of LEGO bricks!
Table of Contents
The Need For A Rink
Hockey is a fast-paced sport that requires a lot of skill and concentration. While it is a fantastic game, it is not meant for children and can be quite dangerous if played in the street. It is also not practical to practice hockey on a busy street corner, especially after school hours when adults are trying to get their kids to come inside for dinner.
That is why most people have to practice at night, on an empty patch of field, or in a backyard. The problem is that a backyard is not always available, and the field can be crowded during the day. If you want to practice during the day, you will have to find a room in a school or find a space in a gym.
The remedy to this is simple: build your own hockey rink!
There are many benefits to building a hockey rink. You can control the space, make it big or small, and shape it to suit your needs. You can also add fun features like lights and sounds to make it more immersive.
The Materials You Will Need
To build a hockey rink, you will need four materials: concrete, steel, wood, and ice. Concrete is used to form the base of the rink, while steel is used to form the wall and roof. The woods are used to make the boards for skating, and the ice is used to keep the temperature low and to provide you with an authentic hockey experience when playing.
The first step is to choose an area for the rink in your backyard, near a hose or a swimming pool. If you do not have a lot of room, you can build the rink in your kitchen or in a corner of the living room. Just make sure that you do not disturb any homeowners’ associations rules about outdoor construction.
How To Build A Concrete Rink
To build a concrete rink, you will need four straight wooden boards that are 3.5 feet wide and 12 inches thick. The boards should be placed on the ground with their edges even, forming a square shape. Make sure that the edges of the boards are even with the adjacent boards by cutting away the ends so they are flush. The boards should be spaced 16 inches apart so you can safely fit a hockey puck between them. You will also need 16 inch square concrete blocks for the base of the rink. Make sure you choose these blocks with high compressive strength so you do not have to replace the entire base every time you mow the lawn or do some extra gardening. You will also need steel rebar that is tied with concrete to create a strong and stable foundation. To connect the wall to the ground, wrap the rebar around a pole set into the ground, making a right angle at the top. This will help keep the wall standing firm and prevent it from being damaged by high winds or flooding from a heavy rainstorm.
How To Build A Steel Rink
Like concrete, steel is another great material for building a hockey rink. It is more versatile than concrete and can withstand extreme temperatures without fading or cracking. To build a steel rink, you will need four parallel bars that are 16 inches apart and 12 inches thick. The bars should be placed so they form a cross shape with ends intersecting at the center. Make sure that the bars are level and plumb by measuring diagonally from corner to corner. The next step is to bend the ends of the bars so they form a sharp 90 degree angle. The last step is to weld the joints to create a continuous block of steel to form the wall of the rink. If you have a welder, you can use it to join the bars into a single piece of steel. You can practice on this steel surface as much as you like, as it will not wear out like concrete does with constant use or extreme weather conditions, such as excessive heat or cold. If you live in a cold climate, you will need to add insulation to the walls and ceiling to keep the temperature low inside the rink. Without it, the ice could turn to liquid and cause major damage to your equipment.
How To Build A Tree-stump-mounted Ice Rink
A tree-stump-mounted ice rink is exactly what it sounds like: an ice rink built into the ground using tree stumps for support. The stumps should be at least three times as wide as the ice rink and four times as tall. Make sure you have either a mechanical ice maker or a hand-crank freezer to get the process started, as this part is quite manual. You will need to monitor the ice level and make sure it does not get too low, as the whole thing can flood if it does. The advantage of this style of ice rink is that you do not need to be limited by geography. It can be built anywhere, even in an area where it gets extremely hot during the day. Just make sure that you have the proper space for it, as it is quite a large structure when placed in its entirety. You should also secure it well against damage due to high winds or heavy snow loads. If you want to ensure that the ice is of good quality, remove all the snow and ice from the area around the stumps in advance so it does not melt and refreeze. This can cause major damage to your equipment and compromise the quality of the ice. It is also a good idea to cover the stumps with a tarp or some other waterproof surface during the day, as the sun can rapidly heat up the stumps, causing a quick meltdown if they are not properly shielded.
The Finished Product
Once you have your four materials, you can start putting them together. Begin by laying the concrete base and leveling it off with a smooth surface. Next, you can set up the wall formation by attaching it to the concrete base with steel rebar. The final step is to build the roof using wood boards that are 16 inches high and resting on steel I-beams. To make it look like an authentic hockey rink, use white or gray wooden boards with an acrylic coating for the surfaces that are in direct sunlight and black wooden boards with a powder coating for the other parts. For a more professional look, use wooden boards with a marbleized pattern on them. Do not be afraid to experiment with different colors and patterns to find one that suits your needs best.
Congratulations, you have just built a full-sized hockey rink! Now you can practice your puck handling, shooting, and skating skills on a beautiful surface without any risks of injury to yourself or your kids. Play hockey with your family and friends, or rent a room at the local sports complex to invite other families and have some competitions! If you want, you can also add some artificial ice to make it even more realistic.