After Refrigeration System Issues, Nantucket Ice Rink Set To Reopen On Monday
David Creed •
When the Nantucket Ice Rink was forced to melt its ice on March 16th due to safety concerns uncovered by the fire department during an inspection, there were many hurdles to overcome in order to have the rink ready for the summer.
But thanks to some generous donations, countless members of the island community providing assistance in a variety of ways, and the actions by the rink’s board and most notably facilities director and rink manager Bryan Larivee, the rink announced this week that they are scheduled to reopen on Monday, July 7th with a brand-new refrigeration unit that was installed to replace the 20+ year old ammonia refrigeration unit. The upgrade will modernize the rink, to some degree, and allow it to operate much more efficiently while being ammonia-free.
“This new refrigeration is basically the new girlfriend and the old system is the ex-girlfriend,” Larivee said. “Every time you go in and kiss (use) the new system, you’re thinking of the old system, but you really just need to get over the old system and realize the new system is way better than the old one.”
Larivee said that when he and the board expressed a desire to have a new, permanent system in place by the summer, many people they consulted with laughed at the suggestion that they’d be able to do so in such a short period of time. However, the rink received some help from island native Max Paulsen, who had reached out to the rink, saying he wanted to give back to the community at a moment Larivee says was perfect timing.
“Max put me in touch with this guy Ian Storey, who is the rink engineering consultant for the National Hockey League,” Larivee said. “Max Paulsen also now works with the National Hockey League, so that was a big connection that helped us. Ian basically didn't laugh at us and took us seriously. He was like, "We can make this happen.”
Larivee, along with a couple of board members, made a trip this winter to Tabor Academy, which also underwent the same process of replacing its old, outdated ammonia system with a modern thermal refrigeration unit.
“We went and saw it, and we liked what we saw,” Larivee said. “We liked everything about it. The efficiency that it saved. Tabor has saved a bunch of money on energy. Their director said upwards of about 40 percent in the first year. That's a lot. That's big savings, especially for a nonprofit like us. That's big.”
Larivee said now that the ammonia system is out the door, they can call on local plumbers, electricians, and any other contractor needed if they need to make repairs, as opposed to the old process that required Nantucket Ice to fly in a contractor who was based off-island due to the ammonia concerns.
Larivee said the process has been long and has had its ups and downs. He said he and the rink are appreciative of the community for their support.
"When everything started rolling, it started slow, picked up some speed, and then just like any other project, there were some speed bumps," Larivee said. "Some sleepless nights for sure, not knowing if certain things were going to arrive on time and if we were going to make our deadline and get our camps. We've pulled together as a community with the people who've reached out and helped out. We've gotten tons of members of the community, believe it or not, have helped out by loaning stuff to us, loaning stuff to the contractors that are here because it's just tough logistically to work here. So that's been huge.”
The rink began to have concerns about its ability to stay open through the remainder of the winter season following a failed inspection in December 2024 by the Nantucket Fire Department, which uncovered several safety concerns pertaining to areas of the rink – notably its ammonia refrigeration system.
“For the safety and wellbeing of the community, the Nantucket Fire Department conducts regular inspections of public recreation facilities, including Nantucket Ice,” Cranson told the Current in January. “In late 2024, we observed several safety concerns associated with the rink’s ammonia refrigeration system, which could pose a significant risk and danger to public health and safety.”
Ultimately, the rink was able to install an ammonia detection system that allowed them to keep the ice open until March 16th. While the ice was being melted and the new system was being installed, they remained open for select events and activities, such as roller hockey.
Originally, the rink had planned to lease a temporary plant in order to open this summer. However, Larivee said they were able to expedite the process and install a permanent system.
The rink is expecting their fluid cooler to be in next week. Larivee said that he and rink assistant Jackson Agnello will be working through the weekend to ensure the rink is ready for business on Monday, when Keith and Brian Yandle’s hockey camp is scheduled to begin.
"We're excited,” Larivee said. "We're plugging away here and just trying to build as much ice as we can, get the Zamboni out there, and we should be in tip-top shape by Monday morning. It's going to be a busy holiday weekend, but we got to do what we got to do. Just trying to keep the kids happy, keep the community happy.”
The rink’s Board of Trustees released a statement this week expressing their gratitude for the community.
“We did it! The Nantucket Ice Rink is reopening,” the trustees said. “Because of you, we’re back and better than ever. We’re thrilled to announce that the Nantucket Ice Rink is officially reopening now with a brand-new chiller system. This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support, patience, and dedication of our entire community. From fundraising efforts to volunteers, partners, and everyone who rallied behind this project, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
The rink is still in need of many repairs and improvements, as the facility turned 23 years old this month. Larivee said they need to replace the dehumidification system within the next couple of years, as well as purchase a new Zamboni and batteries, improve the building’s tiling, and address many other needs.
“These things add up, but we need tons of stuff for the building," Larivee said. “It's starting to age. New partitions in bathrooms, new flooring. The flooring is starting to get bubbly up top. There's a lot of upgrades we could do… new paint. There's some outside stuff too, like shingles, new drainage systems on the outside. It's an old building, and it takes a lot of upkeep. Without money, it makes it tough. The only thing we sell here is ice. We don't sell anything else, so it is tough. But we're doing our best. We've added a bunch of programming for the summer with public skates every day, puck and stick regularly throughout the week. Hopefully people show up. Everybody asks for it.”
“While we’ve achieved our critical goal of reopening in time for summer, our work is far from over,” the rink’s board said in their statement. “Significant fundraising is still needed to fully cover the costs of this major upgrade and to ensure the long-term sustainability of the rink. Please consider making a donation to support the continued operation, maintenance, and future improvements of Nantucket Ice.”
Board member Max Perkins told the Current if anyone is interested in donating, larger and more substantial donations can be made to the Community Foundation for Nantucket and people can denote “operation” or “plant.” Smaller donations can be made through the website or checks.