Rink of Dreams

HURON — The Edwards family, because of COVID-19 restrictions, can't travel to Columbus for Blue Jackets games. So, without leaving their backyard, six relatives created a home-ice advantage for themselves, where they can still enjoy, and now play, the beloved sport. Father Bryan — a self-admittedly hockey fanatic, developed during his Bowling Green State University college days — recently built a 20-by-12 ice rink for his children. Along with his wife, Angie, their four children — Christina, 15; Dominic, 14; Ethan, 12; and Faith, 7 — inherited Bryan's deep passion for the game and always sought a place to play. "They have been wanting to go out on the ice," said Bryan, whose family lives on South Street in Huron, near Lake Front Park, which leads into Lake Erie. "But it hasn't been thick enough to play on." Finally, when the season's coldest snap began on Wednesday night, Bryan figured he'd hatch his long-awaited plan. "If I was going to do this, I needed to do it now," said Bryan, who works as the marketing and communications director for Lake Erie Shores & Islands, the area's tourism bureau. "So I ran up to the local home improvement store, did some YouTube video-watching and bought the plastic and lumber (for the borders)," he added. "We already had the sticks and nets. Before this, we would play in the living room, moving the furniture out of the way. There are no indoor ice arenas around here." After establishing the playing surface, Bryan filled in this enclosed space with water from his home's hose. A few days later, during this past weekend, the ice reached a depth of about 4 inches, perfect for his children to begin playing. "Since then, they have been on it every day for several hours," Bryan said. Bryan considers Christina the biggest hockey nut of his children. Together, they watch every Columbus Blue Jackets game. They also named their puppy Boone after superstar Blue Jackets player Boone Jenner. She's been practicing her passing, shooting and evading maneuvers — all skills needed to achieve her dream of becoming the National Hockey League's first female player. "I want to play on the Blue Jackets," Christina said. "I love hockey. It's my favorite thing to do. It's very fast-paced, and you can't get distracted while playing." Her brother Ethan shares a similar passion. "This is just so much fun," said Ethan, who's already sporting bruises from falling down a few times. But just like any seasoned pro, he embraces the pain, letting it fuel his drive. "I took a puck to the knee, but I'm fine," said Ethan, who documented the family's creation on his YouTube channel, Okay Burrito Vlogs. Before Angie and Bryan decided to commit $300 for this project, they asked themselves a question: "Are we going to get $300 worth of entertainment out of this?" And, so far, they've exceeded that initial monetary investment. "They were so geeked about doing this," Bryan said. "We have been at home, going on a full year now, and we are trying to find fun things for us to do together, as a family, while they are being homeschooled." He continued: "We knew everyone would play on the ice, and there is nothing nearby like this. The kids are safe, too. We have gotten much more than $300 worth of value out of it. This will create memories that my kids will have forever." The know-how on hockey jargon People walking or driving by the Edwards' home in Huron might hear some strange terms shouted from their new hockey rink. Here's a glossary of some basic terms to better understand the sport: • Assist: An assist is credited to a player, previously handling the puck, who helps set up a goal. • Breakaway: A clear scoring opportunity where no defensive player is between the puck carrier and the goaltender. • Deke: A fake by a player in possession of the puck in order to get around an opponent or to make a goalie move out of position. • One-timer: When a player shoots the puck immediately upon receiving it without stopping it first. • Power play: This happens when a team has a one- or two-player advantage over the opposition due to penalties. • Save: When a goalie prevents a shot from going into the net. • Slap shot: This happens when the player swings the stick back and then quickly forward, slapping the puck ahead with a forehand shot. Source: Utah Amateur Hockey Association