Friday night was Opening Night for the renovated Knickerbacker Ice Arena in Lansingburgh. Mayor Carmella Mantello, a 'Burgh native herself, and Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin were among those lacing up their skates for the first public skate at the Knick since 2018.
WNYT has a brief video:
Now, residents have an alternative to Frear Park for public skating. Frear's ice rink was the only game in town after Hudson Valley Community College closed Robert Conway Rink, named for the former mayor, in 2022 when the board of trustees acted on bad advice. That same bad advice forced LaSalle Institute's hockey team to relocate to Frear, where they are playing their home games for the third straight season, and fourth in the last five.
A personal note: A few months back, I'd reached out to LaSalle coach Tim Flanigan, and he had expressed some interest in the prospect of LaSalle moving their home games across town to the Knick in the event Conway Rink doesn't get re-opened. The Knick is a little more accessible on the bus lines to commuters than Frear is, and always has been. Attendance at Frear hasn't been like it was at HVCC, due to fewer bleachers.
And, then, there is Lansingburgh High, situated not too far from the Knick. Lansingburgh doesn't have a hockey team, but the re-opening of the Knick might change that, provided, of course, that there's room in the district budget to add hockey to the athletic program. Given the budget problems the Lansingburgh district has faced in recent years, this is not guaranteed, but it is a nice idea to have. A united team covering Lansingburgh & neighboring Cohoes wouldn't be out of the question, either.
The Lansingburgh Boys & Girls Club could also benefit by adding a skating program.
So, then, what is the next move? I guess we'll find out in due course. Stay tuned.
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