ICECAPADES
Backyard rink and fire pit keeping Dominion residents outside this winter
This backyard rink has become a centre for outdoor activity in an oceanside neighbourhood in Dominion. The 55-by-35 foot ice surface was built and maintained by Scott McCulloch and son Riley Turnbull. The family, including Riley’s mother Melinda, has opened up their backyard winter wonderland to friends and neighbours. The venue also includes a rink-side fire pit, benches and lights that enable evening use.
DOMINION, N.S. – Call it a rink for all ages.
Clad in a Toronto Maple Leafs replica Mitch Marner hockey jersey, Scott McCulloch is all smiles as he skates around the backyard ice surface he put in last November. Not only is his favourite NHL team giving fans hope of their first Stanley Cup in more than half a century, but his outdoor rink is all the rage in his ocean-side neighbourhood in the former town of Dominion, located just north of Glace Bay.
At one end, 75-year-old Junior Morrison is showing the younger generation that he still has some moves, while at the other end of the 55 ft. by 35 ft. rink, three-year-old Reese and his twin sister Riley are making progress just three days after father Mark Scott laced up their blades for the first time.
“This is where they first started skating and that was just a few days ago,” said Scott, who lives a few houses away on the dead-end street that ends near cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
“It's great here. With the kids out here I'm also getting more time on the skates and outside.”
FAMILY AND FRIENDS
And he's not the only one. On Sunday afternoon, a group of about 15 family members and friends are enjoying being outdoors in the minus-four degree temperature. Snowflakes enhance the rink-side ambiance as they lazily fall to the ground.
For those who get tired, there are benches and chairs nearby. For those who might be feeling a bit chilly, there is a fire pit churning out heat just steps away from McCulloch's ‘rink of dreams'. And for those in need of some internal heat, a cup of hot chocolate can be conjured up inside the warm confines of the Park Street residence.
On this day, McCulloch's wife Melinda Turnbull is not wearing skates. But she's still a whirlwind of activity as she bustles around the backyard taking pictures, chatting with her guests and generally ensuring everyone is having a great time.
“It's been wonderful — the rink has kind of become a gathering place for the neighbourhood,” said Turnbull, who is also wearing a Maple Leafs sweater, hers bearing the No. 34 of star forward Auston Matthews.
Her only disappointment on the day is that 15-yearold son Riley didn't make it home in time to get in some group photographs.
“Since the weather has been good for skating we're getting lots of people coming over. Riley and his friends love it and so do some of the older guys around here. It gets people outside when they otherwise might just be stuck inside.”
Meanwhile, the consistent below-zero temperatures continue to be good news for backyard rink builders and outdoor skating enthusiasts who have been enjoying the outdoor activity.