Sean Riley (background) and Jose Jimenez perform scheduled maintenance to the South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Memorial Ice Arena’s rink on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. The rink is the only indoor ice facility in Southern West Virginia and is expected to reopen in early August.
South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Memorial Ice Arena’s rink is under repairs on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. In the background, a fan is being used to circulate hot outside air to help melt the ice.
Bootprints can be seen in floor of the South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Memorial Ice Arena’s rink on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. The rink is under scheduled repairs and is expected to reopen in August.
Sean Riley (background) and Jose Jimenez perform scheduled maintenance to the South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Memorial Ice Arena’s rink on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. The rink is the only indoor ice facility in Southern West Virginia and is expected to reopen in early August.
LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
The coolest place in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä is heating up as crews at the South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Memorial Ice Arena trade their Zambonis for industrial fans to melt down the rink for the first time in five years.
The only indoor ice rink in Southern West Virginia is closed for July for what Hunter Moles, the director of recreation for the city of South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, called regular maintenance.
"We're just taking the ice down," Moles said. "We do this probably every two to three years in the summertime."
This summer, the boards around the ice also are being restored because of wear that causes them bend out from old age and hits from hockey players.
According to Moles, no events had to be moved or canceled because of the maintenance. Also, all of the summer camps took place in June in preparation for the closure, he said.Â
Shelby Bayliss, the ice arena manager, said the last time the ice was completely melted was in 2020. According to Bayliss, to melt the ice, they shave it down as much as possible, turn the refrigeration off, open all the doors and bring in large fans to get hot summer air moving over the ice.
South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Memorial Ice Arena’s rink is under repairs on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. In the background, a fan is being used to circulate hot outside air to help melt the ice.
LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
Veteran hockey mom Jenna Jeffrey, whose 17-year-old son, Logan, plays for the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Chiefs high school team, supports the closure, despite the slight inconvenience to some families.
"They have done this type of maintenance in the past," Jeffrey said. "It has been a little while since they have done that maintenance."Â
Jeffrey described ongoing issues with the rink's ice quality, explaining that heavy use from multiple programs had taken a toll. The facility serves everyone from 8-year-olds in youth hockey to high school varsity players, figure skaters and the general public.
According to Jeffrey, who has been involved with the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Amateur Hockey Association for 12 years, the head coach of the high school team is hosting some off-ice conditioning during July for skaters who want to stay on the ice year-round.
"The kids [who] are really into hockey train all year," Jeffrey said.
Bootprints can be seen in floor of the South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Memorial Ice Arena’s rink on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. The rink is under scheduled repairs and is expected to reopen in August.
LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
"We are hopeful that, by them doing the maintenance this month, the kids can get back on the ice," Jeffrey said, noting that teams typically begin their seasons in late August or early September.Â
Jeffrey said facility repairs are crucial for the sport's continued growth in the region.
"I am grateful for this city, that they are putting the money in to redo the ice for these kids," Jeffrey said. "Hockey is really growing."
The rink is expected to reopen Aug. 4, just in time for the new hockey season to begin.
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