World Juniors fans can get in a skate on metro area’s refrigerated outdoor rinks

Some of those thousands of fans in the Twin Cities to watch the world’s best under-20 hockey players at the World Junior Championship no doubt like to skate, too. Here are several notable refrigerated outdoor rinks in the metro area, some with equipment rental.

The city maintains three outdoor refrigerated rinks, all 90-by-180 feet and all with new boards installed last year.

The rinks are well-used and popular, said Clare Cloyd, the city’s public service manager. So much so that some visiting NHL teams seek them out before games vs. the Wild.

“The players seem to appreciate the community feel and a chance to skate on a local outdoor rink similar to the ones they grew up playing on,” she added. Lighting at all the sites keeps the action humming until about 9 p.m.

Although the rinks are set up for hockey, they attract the casual skater, too. Cloyd said users do a good job of managing their interests “depending on the level of skaters at any given time.”

North Dale and Phalen have nonrefrigerated rinks, too.

More information: stpaul.gov/icerinks

The rink at the massive complex doesn’t allow hockey sticks or pucks during skate hours. The rink is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. during the hockey championship. It is closed Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. More information: bit.ly/WoodRink

John Rose MN Oval, 2661 Civic Center Drive

The oval rules in scale alone: It covers 110,000 square feet. It accommodates all manner of ice activity and is considered a world-class speedskating site. Public skaters often loop the oval, while hockey players have at it in the interior. Public skating and open hockey are in different blocks of time between now and the end of the tournament. Times vary. More information: bit.ly/RoseOval

Goat Hill Park, 4391 Lexington Av.

The park’s south rink is covered and refrigerated. It is located near a second outdoor rink, contingent on weather. There is a warming house for both, which opened last winter. An online calendar shows open blocks, with dedicated “leisure skating,” and also community use, when pucks, sticks and balls are allowed. Times vary. More information: bit.ly/Eaganrink

Known as the ROC, the Recreation Outdoor Center is a covered rink in winter. Public skating and hockey-playing have dedicated times Fridays and weekends. Otherwise, the rink is open to the public for general use if it isn’t rented or hosting an event. More information: bit.ly/LouisRink