Garrett & Kristina Marshall

I want to say first and foremost it is sad to hear that one of our staple buildings in Rockford known as the Riverview Ice House is set to close in the near future.  My family and I have had many fond memories at the facility and surrounding establishments in the downtown area.  

It really doesn’t matter what season of the year it is, hockey is a year round sport! So needless to say when our son had practice, in town or games we would,  with many other families enjoy a drink and appetizers during the week and weekend at several places in the downtown area but particularly Prairie Street was our second home( besides the rink) The waiters and waitresses really got to know our families and our hockey kids schedules during the week since it was an every week occurrence! It’s was kinda like Cheers  “everybody knows your name." Riverview on the water and the surrounding establishments have really been a purpose to gather and make lifetime friends here in the community! We call each other our hockey families!

We would hang inside the rink before and after games, walk next door to Prairie street, walk down the street to market street and enjoy many establishments that are near by supporting the local restaurants and icehouse! Of course all the while the boys got ready to hit the ice in the locker room for the next practice, their next shift, their next high five in the hallway to their teammate and Coach! To the meeting room, doing yoga, hanging in the meeting room socializing with one another. All these memories come together at this beloved ice rink week week after  month after month year after year! I want to say on behalf of myself and our family we hope to hear the icehouse will prevail! Hockey is a close knit sport all across the nation bringing families together. I hope the RPD thinks really hard and long about the affects of closing the beloved Rockfordian ice rink right here in our hometown! The rink is a very special place in all hockey families lives!!!