Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/745428
24 / NOVEMBER.DECEMBER.2016 RINKMAGAZINE.COM Making a difference When a large crowd prompts something to go wrong, rink managers need to be prepared to deal with the situation. Trace the issue back and ask what could have been done differently. Determine what information was or wasn't available, and how it could be fixed next time. "Admittedly, there are some things that are out of one's control that happen," Hodgson said. "There inevitably are going to be things that happen, and I don't think it's so much what happens to you, it's how you respond to it." Large crowds ebb and flow. Rink managers, like Hodgson, have their work cut out for them when preparations need to be made on a much greater scale. Though sometimes difficult to visualize, managing large crowds has a significant impact on the community itself. Hodgson said he's grateful to do something every day he's passionate about. "I get to go to work every day trying to fulfill Mr. Engelstad's vision here, which was to provide a competitive advantage to our men's hockey program and to be an economic engine to our community," he said. "At the end of the day, like most employees here, I feel good about the impact we've having at the university, in our community and on people's lives. It's a pretty neat deal." J IT'S CRITICAL TO BE AWARE OF THE CROWD'S IMPACT ON THE AIR CONDITIONS AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES WITHIN THE ARENA. NOT CAREFULLY CONSIDERED, THOSE VARIABLES COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE ICE FLOOR.