Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/599904
STARRINKS.COM NOVEMBER.DECEMBER.2015 / 19 THE COMFORTS OF HOME As anyone who has ever grown up around hockey can tell you, the unsung heroes of hockey at the grassroots level are the relatives and friends who drive their loved ones to the rink and offer moral support, often contending with predawn wakeup calls and frigid winter temperatures. With the well-being of these often unsung, but extremely vital members of the hockey community in mind, Raymond J. Bourque Arena has introduced some valuable amenities to help spectators watch their loved ones a little more comfortably. "In the arena, we have seamless heat- ing all the way around," Lilly said. "At the Grand Opening, we turned on all the heaters in the arena to try them out and people were fanning themselves off it was so hot. That used to be unheard of." Unheard of, maybe. But especially as winter grips New England in the middle of hockey season, this addition will undoubtedly not go unappreciated. EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND As much as its sparkling new amenities and variety of luxuries call attention to the new facility, the building's namesake is also a major part of its plan for success. Although Ray Bourque was born in Montreal, he's been a resident of the North Shore of Massachusetts for decades, dating back to when the Boston Bruins practiced in nearby Danvers before Ristuccia Arena opened in Wilmington, Mass., in 1987. Fourteen years after he retired from the NHL, Bourque's name still carries a lot of weight in the metro- politan Boston area. "He was brought to Endicott by a friend of Endicott," Wylie said of Bourque. "He was brought to Endicott just to see what we were doing and the growth. When Ray got on campus, he met with our president and we walked around the facilities. He heard about our vision to have a rink, and that's how the relationship started. "With him being on our campus, the community we have and the students, that's how it all flourished and it's all kind of grew from there. It's been really wonderful. He was at the dedication, and all the youth kids—and the college kids— were going crazy to see him. He's such a gracious person. Not only with a track record of playing, but he's been a long- time resident of the North Shore. He lives 15-20 minutes away. "He's definitely going to be around a bit and catch some games here. I can imag- ine that he's going to be out on campus and seeing how the facility is being run and operated. If he gives his opinion, we want to listen. Having him around makes us better." J "At the learn-to-skate level, that's where I think they're going to see the biggest jump, initially. It'll get those kids involved at a place that's close to home. I think that's going to be huge. In time, this rink will help to grow every level of their programs." –JAY LILLY