By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — The William O. Smith Recreation Center’s ice rink opened for the 2024-25 season on Monday — the earliest opening in its 45 years.
Why open before September, the traditional start of the fall ice skating season that runs through March?
“There are more in (hockey) leagues in need of ice time,” said Recreation Center assistant manager Gary Baldwin.
Some teams have already practiced as far away as Jamestown.
The 18 and Under K-Bar Blades team plays its first game of the season against Webster on Sunday.
Then there’s the 16 and Under, 14 and Under, 12 and Under, 10 and Under, 8 and Under and 6 and Under teams, Baldwin said. There are also Division 1 and 2 teams from St. Bonaventure University and the Alfred College teams that play and practice here, as well as men’s league play and practice three nights a week.
After the floor of the ice rink was cleaned and the compressor was fired up, Baldwin and assistant manager Justin Retchless began the process of making ice on Aug. 10 by flooding the floor using hoses. Paint was added and the lines were put down and covered in water to freeze over Aug. 12-13.
Monday afternoon’s skate and shoot was attended by about 15 people ranging in age from 12-25. After limbering up, skating around a bot and taking shots on goal, those present broke into two teams for some hockey, passing back and forth up the ice and taking shots.
Dominic Cavallo, 14, of of Allegany was between the pipes as other players took turns at trying to get the puck past him.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Dominic said during a break. “It’s great to get back on the ice.”
His sister, Daria Cavallop, 16, who is also suited up, likes to skate with the adult league at night and is a reporter for the K-Bar Blades. She does a write-up after games for the newspaper.
Like others who were skating around and shooting the puck, she was glad to get back on the ice in Olean and wore a big smile like her brother.
Meanwhile, Baldwin and Retchless have a long list of events to prepare for over the season of the ice rink. The rink hosts as many as 150 birthday parties duri9ng public skating times. For more information call the rink at (716) 373-7465.
School field trips are also very popular, Baldwin said. “Our last day is the last Sunday in March, which next year is March 30,” he said. “It’s a long season, but a lot of fun.”
