Scott Ross

From the day I was born, it felt like the second day of my life when I set foot in Riverview Icehouse. Riverview Icehouse was like a second home to me as I grew up on 1st street, which is less than a block away. I probably spent more time at Riverview than I did at my house. Without Riverview,  I never would have been introduced to the best game on earth, and I also would not have met some of the best people that are still in my life today. 

I would come home from school and go right to the rink everyday, asking the zamboni driver if I could please go on the ice and skate. I am sure they got sick of me asking and finally decided to give in. Thanks to the employees of Riverview, I was able to be on the ice a lot and that helped me improve on the ice.

I am also blessed to have met and skated with some of the best people and friends I still have today. I have skated with some of the best hockey players to come out of Rockford and also knew people who call Rockford home. I met Tim Mattila at a very young age and I was on the ice with him constantly whether it be a Sunday skate in the summer time, his week long camp or playing for him and winning four state championships. Tim Mattila built the Rockford Hockey club and along the way, won 16 state championships and was just inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame.

Rockford also had one of the best men's league teams called the Raiders. They would have tournaments at Riverview and I would go watch them play, run the scoreboard for them and eventually was asked by Jay Graham to skate with them at a very young age, and that was such a privelage. I also skated with players like Troy Mattila, drafted by the islanders), TR Moreau (played for Badgers), Dave Caselena (played at RPI), Oak Hewer (played for Icehogs), and Raitis Ivannis (played for Icehogs and NHL) just to name a few. I, myself, played for the RHC and four years as an Icemen.

Every time I walk into that building, I am always reminded about how lucky I was to be able to have this facility. We are blessed to have a studio rink which has been a major impact on the skill we have in Rockford. Now, it's a necessity for the Juniorhogs house league and Mite programs. After playing, I became Scott Burfoot’s and Don Walkers’ assistant with the running of the Junior Icehogs program. This program has grown and is continuing to grow because of a facility like Riverview. Please, let's pull together and keep it open.