Hockey occasionally takes a back seat but the increasing rumors of a potential East or even Northeast Coast landfall of Hurricane Earl has us not on edge but at least aware of what is going on with the not so little wrecking ball (Sorry Mark Recchi).  Thanks to the Weather Channel, here is that dreaded “cone of uncertainty”

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(Photo Credit: The Weather Channel Front Page)

Now before people get a huge chuckle and ask how hockey can be impacted by a hurricane, I say take a look at this.  Here is some damage from Hurricane Ike in 2008 to a concession stand area near an ice rink.  That is right, you cannot even see it.

So what would happen here?  Thanks to Alison from the Nixon Family Blog for this picture. Something important to keep in mind is the following.  The hurricane does not have to make a direct hit to cause damage.  The city of Rahway was severely flooded by Tropical Storm Felix which was a weak hurricane that just missed New Jersey about a decade ago.  The nearby Inman Sports Club suffered very heavy damage during that storm but was able to reopen just months later.  There are several ice rinks in the area, including two fairly famous ones on Staten Island.

What would some heavy winds and flooding do?  Well it would wreak some major havoc at the rinks.  It could even cause some damage.  Obviously the Devils play in Newark, the Rangers are right in Manhattan but the Islanders are out on Long Island a bit.  Surely Earl may impact them a bit more than say New Jersey or Manhattan but one never knows.

This sounds even more crazy but the area almost seems due for a Hurricane.  It has been a while since Hurricane Gloria for me personally.  That was 1985 to be exact.  The 85-90 mph winds then caused some structural damages to roofs and the old Skate USA in Edison.  What would those heavy winds and/or flooding do today?  Well given how dry it has been.  It is a dangerous combination that we hope does not come to fruition.

Now we temper our statements by saying there is only about a 5 maybe 10% chance of Hurricane Earl hitting directly.  However, as everyone understands, it does not take a direct hit to cause a lot of damage.  Just ask those people impacted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 sometime.

So ice rink managers I have talked to in the area are actually keeping their eye on “Mother Nature” for a change.  Because a normal refuge from the heat could be under the most stress if a hurricane comes rolling in.  Stay tuned later in the week for more updates.  Hopefully Earl takes the right turn sooner and no one has to go to rinks to take pictures of damages.  Hang in there local ice rink fans.

When a bar has its doors open…you know its warm.

You have probably seen it all this winter and spring.  Everything from flooding rains and crippling snowstorms all the way to record heat in April?  This is not some horrible April Fools but the reality of just some really unusual weather.  This is not global warming by the way just for all those GW nuts out there that think it every chance they get.

However depending on weather reports you have heard temperatures in tonight’s Atlanta-New Jersey game at 7pm will be around 85 degrees ladies and gentlemen.  The high today will be around 90.  Now it has been warm for a couple days now and this is about where that ice starts to get a little choppy and chippy.  Optimal ice for a hockey game is between 24 and 26 degrees.  With the humidity fluctuating and the doors open at 6….this game in Atlanta could be determined by who negotiates the funny bounces best.  God just wait until June when it is like this all the time.  April is a bit early.

Here is a bit more on what makes ice work because this is a good pre-playoff food for thought.


When creating a new ice surface, indoor conditions are very important. MacMillan says he likes to “keep the skating surface at 24 to 26 F (about -4 C), the building temperature at about 63 F (17 C), and the indoor humidity at about 30 percent. But if it’s warm outdoors and we have an event where the doors are open and all that warm air comes in, then we have to adjust it. Even one degree can make a big difference in the quality of the ice.”

An indoor high humidity can create a fog over the ice. The Raleigh arena has more than 770,000 square feet, and requires 12 dehumidifiers throughout the building to keep the air dry indoors. The outdoor temperature can also affect the ice conditions. The arena and ice temperatures must change to compensate for the heat and humidity that will come in when the arena doors are opened to fans and spectators.

The hope is that the dehumidifiers do their job and nothing breaks down as far as zambonis, etc.  What if it did?  Well there can be some fog on the ice or the ice can completely break down with puddles everywhere and players and refs along with officials trying to patch the ice a bit.  Everyone remembers the following game…don’t they?

See how bad it can get?

Just think that is nothing.  Think back to every June and even the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals Game 5 that went 3 overtimes before Dallas won.  The goal was scored off a weird bounce from you guessed it…the ice!  It is just that time of year and really the aim of this was to get fans ready for it.  As your team advances further into the playoffs, the bounces get more and more goofy.  If you wonder why they say just throw it at the net, you will remember real quick come rounds 2 and 3.

The crazy temperature swings this year also do not help.  Outside conditions really do effect what goes on inside.  One degree really makes a difference.  So to those fine folks at the arenas that keep the ice playable….here is a cider raised to you.  Your work is much appreciated when the playoffs get their most heated.