Deerfield’s outdoor hockey rink was first put up in January 2021. This earlier version of the rink was smaller and leased from a third-party company called Ice America, according to Chief Financial Officer Matthew Sheehy. As of 2023, Deerfield Academy now owns the hockey rink.

Regarding the timing and set up of the outdoor hockey rink, Mr. Sheehy said, “The facilities and grounds professionals target the holiday break as the optimal time to begin the setup and construction of the rink.” He described how people delivered containers and placed them at the end of Albany Road after the Thanksgiving holiday break, containing all the parts necessary for the rink’s set up. 

Although weather conditions can have a large impact on the success of the setup, the goal of the rink is to have it be fully functional when students returned after Winter Break. 

Contrary to popular belief, the outdoor ice hockey rink was not created to increase the number of boys and girls hockey practice times, but instead, according to Mr. Sheehy, to “establish a fun outdoor winter activity for the community to socialize safely outdoors during the pandemic.” Loulla Rousou ’25 said, “I am glad that the outdoor rink is used for fun activities as opposed to hockey practice times as it creates an exciting event for all students.” In previous years, the rink has created an area for students and faculty to convene and have fun outdoors with the social distancing rules and protocol in place during COVID. Mr. Sheehy said, “It was not associated with athletics.” 

Post-COVID, the ice hockey rink remained primarily for student activities and the Deerfield community’s collective enjoyment. However, the rink also provides flexibility when the hockey teams overlap with practice times and multiple home games, and Mr. Sheehy said it “provided a space for recreational hockey participation.” 

In addition, Mr. Sheehy said, “The Office of Student Life, in consultation with the student activities committee, is working on special programming for the rink as a space for social events and evening outdoor activities during the winter term.” The temporary dining hall construction will not impair the construction of the hockey rink. However, Mr. Sheehy admitted that “there may be some operational challenges that will need to be solved, such as the dumping of snow and ice from the Zamboni, but the plan is to set up and provide the outdoor rink for student and community enjoyment this winter.” 

Regarding student use of the outdoor rink, Allegra Alfaro ‘25 said, “Last winter term I learned how to play hockey on the ice rink with friends, and it has been a really fun activity in the winter, especially since it is harder to get outside, unlike the spring or fall.” 

Echoing the sentiments of Alfaro, Rousou said, “Since freshman year, the outdoor hockey rink has been a staple winter activity at Deerfield and is a unique experience that my friends and I love to take advantage of.” 

The outdoor hockey rink has prevailed through pre and post-pandemic eras and will continue through the unknown times of the temporary dining hall.