40 / SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER.2015 RINKMAGAZINE.COM
by DENNIS VANDER SCHAAFF – CIT
S
afety has always been a big
concern for everyone involved in
hockey. It's a risk associated with
a game that requires moving at
fast paces on ice with sticks.
But more concerning than just broken
bones and missing teeth is the increasing
risk of spinal and head injuries to players
of all ages. It's just as concerning for rink
managers and operators who work hard to
ensure the safety of all patrons.
In 2013 former hockey player Tom
Smith introduced the Look-Up Line
as a possible solution in reducing these
injuries. A bright-orange warning track
that surrounds the perimeter of the ice
surface, the Look-Up Line is meant to
serve as an alert for players in relation
to their distance to the boards. Now
seen in several rinks across the nation,
our arena, Stephen C. West Ice Arena in
Breckenridge, Colorado, is one of the lat-
est to notice the benefits of the Look-Up
Line as it relates to player safety.
Here's how my staff and I at Stephen C.
West Ice Arena did it.
HOW To
Rink Safety
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF STEPHEN C. WEST ICE ARENA
Breckenridge
arena takes
steps to reduce
injuries with
Look-Up Line
