By Ashley M. Casey
Staff Writer
Users of the Lysander Ice Arena are hoping for a brighter future — literally.
Lysander Ice Arena has been selected as a quarterfinalist in the “Light Like the Pros” competition. Sponsored by power management company Eaton and the American Hockey League, the contest will grant a new LED lighting system to one rink in an AHL market. Lysander Ice Arena is representing the Syracuse Crunch, the local AHL team. The new system is worth about $50,000.
“Our rink lighting system is currently made of T5 high bay lights. With the high volume of foot traffic from members of our family year round, our lights are on a solid portion of the day and night,” reads the Lysander Ice Arena’s contest entry. “With a lighting system that is not energy efficient and running for long durations at a time, our energy bill is extremely high.”
Once quarterfinalist voting ends Feb. 2, the top 10 rinks will move on to the next round of voting. A winner will be announced in March.
Lysander Ice Arena is home to several local organizations, including Baker High School hockey, the Lysander Youth Hockey Association and the Syracuse Figure Skating Club. The arena also hosts lessons, parties and community events.
“The LED lights would make a huge difference for the Syracuse Figure Skating Club. Not only would it improve the overall quality of the appearance of the aging arena, but it would mean we can do more theatrically,” said Brittany Hoffman, who coaches for the Syracuse Figure Skating Club.
Hoffman said the club’s annual spring show features spotlights, floodlights and blackout lighting to accompany the skaters’ performances.
“With the upgraded lighting, we could take the show to the next level and add in more dramatic effects. You could even synchronize the lights to music,” she said. “If we win this competition, we would have something amazing that no other rink has in Central New York.”
The town of Lysander sold the rink to the Rochester-based DHD Ventures for $550,000 in 2015. Former National Hockey League player Rory Fitzpatrick manages both the Paul Louis Arena at the Skating Institute of Rochester and the Lysander Ice Arena.
“The new ownership and management of the Lysander Ice Arena is working hard to give the place all of the upgrades it needs. It takes time and, of course, money,” Hoffman said. “Winning this competition would mean everything to people like me who spend so much time there.”
To vote for the Lysander Ice Arena, visit lightlikethepros.com/vote/entries/168540940. Voting ends Feb. 2.
