If San Antonio gets freezing temperatures and a little bit of ice, everyone knows the whole city shuts down. But at the Ice and Golf Center at Northwoods, they make the ice fun for everyone. Northwoods opened in 2002 to provide a place for people to learn about and enjoy ice sports in San Antonio. Home to the only year-round ice rinks in town, it’s the perfect place to enjoy ice skating, hockey, and mini golf. For many men, the ice at Northwoods has become like a second home.
Hank Taylor, General Manager, told me that the chance to skate and play hockey is what brings most men to Northwoods. Some used to play hockey or skate as kids, while others are brand new to the activity. Northwoods offers a variety of programs for both inexperienced and skilled skaters to try. A great way to get started is the Learn to Skate classes for ages 4 and up with little to no experience. Everyone attending these sessions learns the basics of skating so they can enjoy the activity for leisure or progress to more advanced skills in figure skating or hockey lessons. When enrolled in the Learn to Skate classes, participants are encouraged to attend public skate sessions to practice their new skills. Hank said, “Most people come to public sessions regularly because they realize they’re having a lot of fun while getting great exercise.”
There is a lot of hockey being played at Northwoods, from young children to experts. For adults, there are teams of various experience and intensity levels. The Basic Hockey League is for beginners or experienced players who, as described on their website, have “some rust to knock off.” There is also the Adult Hockey League, described as semi-competitive, for more experienced skaters, ex-pros, and serious athletes who are ready to compete again.
Many children and teenagers are also spending time on the ice, and some play for the in-house Northwoods Excalibur Hockey Club. Northwoods also rents time on the ice rinks to many other youth organizations, including Junior Rampage, high school teams, and teams from UTSA and Texas State. Coast 2 Coast, a hockey skills academy, practices at Northwoods for two hours every weekday and then uses an on-site classroom for academic lessons with their teachers.
There are also plenty of opportunities at Northwoods to participate in figure skating. Learn to Skate classes start at the beginner level and progress from there. More experienced skaters can work their way up to participating in figure skating competitions hosted at Northwoods. On the day I visited, the freestyle session was full of people practicing their skills either independently or with an instructor.
Most of the men who visit Northwoods have no intention of joining a hockey team or entering figure skating competitions. They enjoy the public sessions because they’re having fun doing activities they can’t do anywhere else in San Antonio. Hank told me that the public sessions draw a large crowd, with many regulars on the ice. Because those sessions are 2-3 hours long, the ice must be resurfaced about halfway through, which gives the men a chance to hang out in the concessions area, have something to eat and drink, and get to know each other off the ice.
If you don’t want to skate, Northwoods also has an 18-hole mini-golf course that’s ready for the whole family to enjoy. Unlike the ice rinks, which can sometimes be reserved for team practice or games, the mini-golf course is open to the public. The winding paths, waterfalls, and ponds make it fun for everyone. The pro shop is another great asset of Northwoods. Hank told me that at the pro shop, “A beginner could get everything they need for figure skating or hockey.”
The Ice and Golf Center at Northwoods has become a second home for many San Antonio men to enjoy hockey and skating. But there is something for everyone in this family-friendly environment. The whole place feels welcoming to people of all skill levels, and there are many opportunities to practice and improve. Hank told me that one of his favorite parts of being at Northwoods is seeing the same people return repeatedly and form friendships both on and off the ice.
For many San Antonio men, the ice at Northwoods has become a second home for skating, hockey, friendship, and fun.