Backyard Ice Rink Contest - The Rocket DVD
January 16, 2008 by John
Filed under Past Contests
We recently received 2 copies of The Rocket
The extraordinary story of Maurice “The Rocket” Richard, whose tireless fight on and off the ice ignited – and forever changed – a generation. As a young boy from blue collar Québec, Richard had a dream to play in the National Hockey League. Beneath his soft-spoken, working class exterior burned a passion that transformed this young factory working into “The Rocket.”
In the 1950s pre-helmet days of hockey, facing constant discrimination, The Rocket played with a finesse, speed, and the fire that defied all odds and made him a legend.
This is the first movie I’ve seen that showed what hockey was like in the 40s and 50s. It was also a great insight into living in Quebec during this time period. This is one of those movies that after it is over you jump on the computer and do more research on Richard, the Richard Riot, and the Quiet Revolution. If you are a hockey fan than this movie is a must watch.
Now for the contest. A couple months ago I wrote a post about how to build a simple backyard hockey rink. The response I got to that post and my subsequent posts on backyard rinks was amazing. Even more incredible to me is how many parents out there are putting in the time and effort to build a rink for their kids to give them something fun to do during the winter months. With so much negative news filling the news it is wonderful to see so many people knowing what is important - fun times with their family.
I decided that a hockey movie would tie in perfectly with all my ice rink posts and all those people who wrote such wonderful comments deserved an entry. Here’s the rules to enter:
- Receive 1 entry for posting a comment to this post OR to any of my ice rink posts.
- Receive 2 entries for sending pictures of your backyard rink and a little info about the rink. Post a comment that you’d like to send pictures and I will email you requesting the pictures and additional information.
- Contest runs through January 31st, winner announced February 1st
I am building a photo gallery of backyard ice rinks in a new section of the site. So many people have been using my posts and your comments as a resource to build their own rink and I think having a collection of rink photos would be a great addition.
If you haven’t done so already, check out my previous posts about how to build a backyard ice rink, tips, build your own rink rake, and much more. Also make sure to scroll through the wonderful comments. I posted replies to questions on there and also learned a lot myself from the great tips. Keep checking the backyard ice rink page and look for new photo collections going up. Right now I have pictures of the rinks my dad made. Next will be a collection of my rink photos followed by photos from John in Massachusetts who has a gorgeous rink setup on his basketball court.
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Wow, this sounds so cool! I wish I lived where my kids could have a backyard rink, but we’re lucky to get snow at all!!
Hello, We don’t have a backyard hockey rink because our subdivision won’t allow it. My husband is; however, a huge
hockey fan! It is the sport he most enjoys watching whether
it is a live “Blues” hockey game or on TV. Please enter me in
your DVD contest. He would really love the movie! Thanks,Cindi
I wanted to say thanks for your detailed instructions about building a backyard rink. My girls got ice skates for Christmas and I got power tools which I promptly put to use building our rink. Its about 10×20, and just enough space to slide around
We have had such fun with it, and I have plans for a better one next year!
Here is a picture of our very first backyard rink:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curlytop/2136413127/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curlytop/2136412413/
It has quite a bit more ice in it now, that was after a week of freezing.
My question is about the connector between the pvc pipe and the hose on the DIY rink rake. The connector I bought was leaking like crazy, and it finally snapped off between where the hose screwed in and where it connects to the pipe. Is there a metal version of this type of connector? What connector are you using? I am using one I bought at lowe’s. In place of my poor broken rink rake, I am just using a showering head garden waterer right now. Its working okay, but probably not as well as the rink rake.
Again, thanks for all the great information, my girls really appreciate it!
we would love to win this movie!! thanks
I have such fond memories of flooding our pond to make it nice and smooth. I also have fond memories of NOT flooding it and falling over ever bump and stick in the ice!!
Thanks for the entry and as for a rink, a bit too warm down here so we just watch the hockey channel!!!
Wow, sounds great. Too bad we are too warm here!!
Well, no backyard rink here so I’ll just have to take the one entry.
i live in texas so no ice rink here, but thanks for the entry
I wish we had enough of a backyard to make a rink. We definately have the cold! I saw recently someone’s dad had made their garage into an indoor rink for hockey play and skating.
I would love to watch the movie, and we have a hockey nut in our family, too.
Looks wonderful! Count me in!
I’ve never built a backyard ice rink, although my boys would propably love one!
Thanks for a great give-away!
I love sport movies especially any to do with skating. What a great gift
pick me!
I love to watch movies like this.
My grandson loves movies
I would love to win a copy of this dvd.. its actually on my “to watch” list
I blogged you too
http://www.prizeatron.com
my mother grew up in montreal, and loved The Rocket. i’d love to introduce my children to their grandma’s childhood hero.
My husband loves hockey! Great giveaway!
As a big hockey fan I would love to have a copy of this movie. I love reading about your family rink. I hope someday my boys will play hockey. After all my oldest has the initials NHL - so it should be mandatory
My husband is a hockey fan - but a backyard rink in Texas WOULD be a sight to see!
I was so lucky to have a wonderful neighbor that used to turn his backyard into an ice rink for all the neighbor kids to enjoy all winter. This looks like a fun movie for the entire family! Thanks for the chance to win.
No ice near here, but the movie sounds fun!
We don’t have a backyard ice rink, but the street feels like it’s made of ice right about now. I’d love to be entered in the contest.
I’d love to win this, we are hockey fans!
I’d love this! I’m trying to convince my 5 yr old to take Hockey lessons. So far, its a no go, so this could help! LOL!
I was a figure skater for many years and LOVE the ice! Wish we could have a backyard rink!
dansan826 at yahoo
My children would have a fit if we built and ice rink… of course, it usually doesn’t get cold enough to keep it frozen here either.
I blogged contest here:
http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2008/01/wednesday-edition-of-contests-galore_16.html
(I’m trying to catch up on my contest roundups.. I’m behind back to Jan. 11th lol)
I know this sounds silly, but I love hockey movies! This one sounds great too.
I happened upon your site while googling for tips on how to smooth out some cracks. This is my first year in the backyard rink biz.
Here’s a flickr set of the construction -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75077082@N00/sets/72157603615150153/
Here’s a video of how it turned out (this was prior to the January thaw in Eastern Ontario) -
http://jellybeans.squarespace.com/journal/2008/1/5/a-jellybeans-first-time-ever-production.html
Rink maintenance has been tough since the thaw. The huge winds scattered leaves and twigs on the surface, and I didn’t have a chance to pull them out before the surface froze again. I’m keeping at it though - that’s part of the fun after all!
Thanks for the great site full of tips - nj
Count me in please! : )
would love to win this!!!
I wish I could build a hockey rink in our backyard, but it might be difficult. Even cooler would be building a tiny hockey rink indoors though. Great site and interesting topics!
Count me in.