Rink and Court Area (General Hrs: ~9am to ~9pm)

Closures during general hours occur when:

• colder than feeling like -22°C

• above 0°C, when ice is soft,

• snow is still covering the entire skating surface (join in for snow removal - see below) or

• during an RCL event (nothing planned yet for 2026).

Preparing for the Season

Every year, when preparing for making ice (in Nov/Dec), the fenced area will be closed as we flood night after night to build the minimum 4” base. This process depends on weather. Although a base can be built in a couple weeks, that’s only possible under perfect conditions.

Building base ice takes longer when:

• it snows - sometimes flooding can melt it, only if it’s a skiff.

• we get a thaw (above zero) and ice melts.

• it’s colder than -15 (the ideal flood temp is between -7 and -10).

Membership Reminder

The Edmonton Federation Community Leagues requires anyone using rink and court area to have a community league membership. Entering the gated area requires a valid membership from any community league.

Purchase an annual Ritchie resident membership or a membership with your home league to participate.

Ice Season

For winter, both the rink and court area (outer rink) is flooded as early as November, typically open by December, and closes typically in March when it melts. The rink and outer rink area is operated by dedicated volunteers, not the City of Edmonton or paid contractors.

Court Season

During the other months, the outer rink / court area hosts Sportsball, tennis, pickleball and basketball while the inner rink hosts YegWheel, ball hockey, skateboarding, and more pickleball.

Closures 2026

• Friday, June 5 - entire court area - Escuella Mill Creek - Fiesta

• September 12 - entire court area - Barrel Fest

Volunteering:

RCL volunteers put in hundreds of hours (typically more than 400) to prepare rink and flood, shovel, and maintain the ice. If you’d like to join the rink crew and help with snow removal, swing by after it stops snowing or get added to the text list. We wait until all the flakes fall from a snow event before we start shoveling and ask for about 1 hour of help.

Snow Removal (for anyone): If you’re interested in joining the mass snow removal effort, join the call/text list. Fill out form below.

Key Holders (openings): If you’re interested in being a key holder and learn how to open a safe rink, reach out and we’ll set up an short orientation and get you set-up. Fill out form below.

Rink Coordinators (filled): These are our special volunteers to lead the rink stuff. This includes coordinating key holder schedules, snow removal call-out and liaise with Sports Director for needs or issues.

Contact: Rink@Ritchie-League.com if interested.

Winter Rules and Rink Operations:

Open daily at 9 a.m. and when a volunteer can open the gate.

Closes at ~9 p.m. or when:

• colder than -19°C,

• above 0°C,

• snow is still covering the skating surface or

• during an RCL event.

Skaters use the space at their own risk. Expectations and rules for entering on the rink or outer rink area during winter season.

• A community league (any league) membership is required to use the skating surfaces.

• Ice is slippery and hard: a helmet and protective equipment is strongly recommended for all skaters.

• We recommend not carrying infants on the ice and to not text while skating.

• Children require supervision by an adult or responsible adult member.

• Alcohol consumption and smoking is prohibited.

• No spitting, fighting, foul language, body checking, or pushing.

• Skaters need to maintain stick and puck control at all times.

• Parking your car along the fence is at your own (sometimes pucks fly off crossbar and over the fence).

Winter Rink Rentals: RCL will explore options for winter rink rentals with a commitment to always have the outer rink area open to its members.

A friendly note about outdoor rinks run by volunteers and Alberta weather.

I know it can be disappointing when the Ritchie rink is not open. Here is the dilemma the volunteers have been having year after year.

When the cold weather comes in early, we can’t predict how long it would stay cold. If it appears it will stay (and not jump over zero) we move to try get the ice in. Volunteers need about a week to layer flooding and get thick enough for skating. If weather shifts above above zero degrees before there’s enough ice, we can’t open and hopefully we don’t loose the water (water is pricy). If ice is too soft ice and it’s not below -10 to repair days damage, the ice becomes very rough and increase the rate of ice melt.

When it’s very cold, we close the rink down because it’s too risky for unattended kids (which isn’t allowed but it happens) and it can make for ice damage. Costing more time and water to repair.

Our volunteer ‘ice guy’ has been doing the ice for many years and it’s so different now. Alberta's weather has been changing for the past several years and ice makers are at the mercy of the weather.

When it comes to snow removal, we’re looking at options to get that mass off as soon as possible. If we can hire someone to remove snow, we will consider that. If we can get a communication line for volunteers to show up, we will consider that too!

Email: Rink@ritchie-league.com to join the snow removal team.

Court Season

We usually open the courts for tennis and pickleball in April or May. Courts close in October (ish).

We have 2 outdoor asphalt tennis courts (with nets) and 3 pickleball courts inside the rink (without nets).

RCL pickleball drop-in program starts in July. Check out the program page for current days and times.