The Nuttley Kirby Family backyard rink took a lot of work to build. Courtesy photos.
SIMONE’s Ice Palace sees major hockey action.
By REJEAN CANTLON-Amateur Sports
This year is definitely the year of the outdoor rink.
Thanks to the latest cold snap, backyard ice surfaces are popping up all over our neighbourhoods, more so now than ever before due to COVID-19 and lockdown restrictions.
Looking for activities to stay active and fit have been challenging this winter. Getting outside and exercising seem like a logical fix to curb the boredom and monotony of life in-doors.
It can be argued that South Etobicoke families have had more of an opportunity to bond on the ice than ever before, especially being so close to home.
Shane Nuttley-Kirby, his wife and 2 children, Dylan (age 2.5) and Shane Jr. (age 6) are spending countless hours on the rink in their backyard building that bon
Nuttley-Kirby, a professional power skating instructor says, “having the outdoor rink is more about play and less about a learning tool for my boys. Installing the rink was a no-doubter for our family.”
Shane hopes that once the lockdown restrictions ease, they will be able to share their backyard frozen treasure with more children to help them learn how to skate and more importantly, to have fun.
Check out these other backyard hockey hot spots in Etobicoke: