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Pine Street Arena in Potsdam officially opens for ice season Oct. 11, mainly for private use

Posted 10/6/20

POTSDAM -- Pine Street Arena will officially open for the ice season Sunday, Oct. 11, initially primarily to Potsdam Junior Hockey Association and Potsdam Figure Skating Club members. Schedule and …

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Pine Street Arena in Potsdam officially opens for ice season Oct. 11, mainly for private use

Posted

POTSDAM -- Pine Street Arena will officially open for the ice season Sunday, Oct. 11, initially primarily to Potsdam Junior Hockey Association and Potsdam Figure Skating Club members.

Schedule and programming modifications have been made due to the pandemic, said Potsdam Recreation Director Trey Smutz.

When opening in October, ice time will be available by an appointment basis only. “The Recreation Department will not be holding any public skating or open hockey sessions, at least in the months of October and November,” said Smutz.

“However, we will regularly consult with village trustees, and other local arenas, and the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department to determine when and how public sessions can resume and will continuously monitor events in the Potsdam Central School District to make that determination,” he said.

“With other local arenas, such as Clarkson University’s Cheel Arena and SUNY Potsdam’s Maxcy Hall unavailable to outside groups at the moment, the department has been tasked with trying to accommodate an extra 15 hours of ice per week, just between our two largest users and supporters of Pine Street,” he said.

Smutz said the hockey association and figure skating club are both adhering to health and safety protocols. They will be renting the majority of ice time available, especially on the weekends when public rentals are typically available.”

“These organizations will assist the arena in efforts of social distancing, and each have specific entering and exiting guidelines they are to follow, including how many skaters they can have on the ice at one time,” said Smutz.

The arena will require all players, coaches, parents, and staff to wear a mask when entering and exiting the building. All are encouraged to wear a mask at all times while in the building, and masks will be required if six-foot social distancing cannot be maintained at any point.

“If we do come to the point where public sessions are available, the Recreation Department will outline face mask and social distancing requirements, along with screening requirements upon check-in for the public,” he said.

For more information about ice rentals, email Recreation Director Trey Smutz at tsmutz@vi.potsdam.ny.us or call 315-265-4030.