The Pavilion ice rink in Bend opens for new season
With, as you'd expect, changes and limits due to COVID-19 restrictions
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Pavilion ice rink in Bend closed early in the spring, because of COVID-19, but now it's back for this winter season.
"It's great to be back and have ice in this area," hockey player Aaron Olson said Monday.
For six years, Olson has been participating in Bend's adult hockey league, and was one of the first one the ice when the rink reopened. While most of the skating programs are back at The Pavilion, there's one noticeable program missing.
"It's obviously disappointing that we can't have games or play pickup," Olson said. "That's where a lot of that camaraderie comes from."
Hockey is considered a contact sport by the Oregon Health Authority, so at the moment there are no scheduled adult league games or scrimmages. The rink still has free skate, figure skate, curling and learn to play hockey programs though.
But the interest is as high as ever.
Kevin Collier, The Pavilion's facility manager, told NewsChannel 21, "There's a chance that if you don't pre-register, we will be at capacity."
It's the first time The Pavilion is asking guests to pre-register for free skate times.
That's not the only thing changing this season. Face masks are required, and every program's capacity has been lowered. Skate sessions are also more spread out, so the facility and rink can be cleaned more often.
Collier said the community has been understanding, in regard to the new rules.
"Hopefully, some day we will get back to leagues," Collier said. "I just think we are going to, you know, continue to be patient. And when we can open up and have hockey again, we will be ready, and people will be ready to go."
Getting hockey back is something Olson happens sooner rather than later.
"Hopefully, fingers crossed," Olson said. "Next year, or later this year , we will be ready to go."
More details: https://www.bendparksandrec.org/ice-season-begins-reserved-public-skate-sessions-offered-daily/
