The most significant part of Minnesota winters is bundling up in gloves, coats, hats, scarves galore, only to take them off later, and the tying up of skates, usually in places that do not serve as full-time ice rinks. Of course, many Minnesotans end up populating indoor ice rinks, but it is not unusual to see a lake or iced over baseball field to have skate marks and hockey stick marks on them.

Frozen Lakes 

In Minnesota, among other Northern states where frigid temperatures are nothing new, ice fishing and pond hockey take over the winters of many locals.

For the Spartans who live on or around lakes, either on Minneapolis lakes like Lake Nokomis or Lake Harriet or lakes in more remote locations up further north, there is a multitude of activities to participate in.

Sophomore Garrett Pauly, who lives close to Lake Harriet, pointed out that ice fishing and pond hockey is not all that the lakes have seen the likes of. “It depends on the amount of snow, but I often see people snowshoeing or skiing on lakes if any,” Pauly said.

Man-Made Lakes

Acting as parks in warmer weather, Minnesota also hosts man-made rinks in the winter. Places like Groveland Recreation Center’s ice rink and that of Palace Community Center are neighborhood rinks, not unlike the lake rinks in Minneapolis, where people find time to play pickup or organized games of hockey.

As a neighborhood rink, Groveland ice rink holds significance for the people it lives in the midst of. To sophomore Erin Magnuson, who is a long time hockey player and skater in general, time spent at Groveland means a lot to her.

“My dad and my sister would often, and occasionally do still, play hockey there. I would have late night hockey practices there sometimes too. It’s such a nice thing to have in my neighborhood that a lot of people don’t get the advantage of experiencing,” Magnuson said.

While the cold doesn’t look like its going away anytime soon, it is best to head out onto the ice during these coming weeks while the temperature is still low.