The first Sky Tavern Skating Ring was built by Keston Ramsey 75 years ago. Mr. Ramsey was the founder of the Sky Tavern Ski Area and Resort and ice skating and hockey were part of the early resort scene.

When guests were finished skiing they could have a nice dinner at Sky Tavern and then go out and enjoy night skating and hockey with lights on a pond. Just like in the West’s first big ski resort, Sun Valley, Idaho, Keston wanted to be able to offer everyone a full winter experience.

Back then hockey gear was at a premium in the West Kes had tall tales of local kids fashioning their own sticks out of pine, fir and occasionally, oak. He said the oak sticks were unbreakable but weighed a ton and were soon sitting on the bench while the lighter pine and fir sticks gained popularity.

When the Ramsey’s sold Sky Tavern many years later the game of hockey, ice skating and even the lake itself disappeared under the sands of time, lack of interest and of all things, a parking lot.

The Resurrection

After seeing photos of the old rink on Grassy Lake a group of volunteers led by Mike Selby decided almost a decade ago to resurrect skating and the game of hockey at Sky Tavern. They had their work cut out for them. The area of the lake they wanted to rehabilitate had been used as a dump for discarded asphalt, old tires and other industrial waste that had been dumped in the lake over the last half century and the lake had really become not much more than a marsh. Not easily dissuaded, these devoted hockey players cleaned up the area and, with the help of Bill Henderson of Sky Tavern, brought this portion of the lake back to life. Wildlife, hikers, and of course, hockey players all rejoiced that a small part of Grassy Lake had been reborn.

For the first time in many years hockey had found its way back to Sky Tavern. Since that first year the interest in skating and playing hockey at Sky Tavern on an outdoor pond has grown exponentially. Whereas the first few years a dozen or two games were played when conditions were ripe and folks felt like shoveling and flooding the ice, interest in pond hockey at Sky Tavern grew to first 30, then 40 and now, well over 70 games in a season. To highlight the interest that Sky Tavern Hockey has garnered, the Sky Tavern Hockey Facebook page now has over 500 members.

Skiing and Hockey for all!

In a mirror reflection of the Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program, the goal of Sky Tavern Hockey is to provide low cost hockey opportunities for children and their parents. This “Family Style” hockey play allows parents to be on the ice playing with their kids in a no contact, positive and rewarding hockey environment where our goal is for “Everyone to get a Goal” no matter their age level, skill level or ability. With this focus on individual and team success children learn the fundamentals quickly even without prior skating experience. There is something about chasing that puck around the ice that motivates non-skaters to become hockey players within a few short hours.

We have adapted the game in ways that encourages all players to be involved with their team despite the vast skill difference between a four year old’s first time on ice and a 44 year old Canadian with thirty years hockey experience.

As part of the Sky Tavern philosophy, it is important that all ages can enjoy this sport safely together which is unique to Sky Tavern hockey. In a world where most sports are segregated by gender and age, both the ski and hockey programs at Sky Tavern bring families together under the guiding philosophy that families that play together, stay together.

We also offer weekly specialty games as well, including: Mighty Mite Mondays (12 and under), Wednesday Women’s Power Hockey and Teen Thursdays.

Sky Tavern Hockey: Unique in the entire West

The Sky Tavern Hockey Rink is the only rink in the Western United States on a pond with lights and boards and open to all who are interested. It is unique in wanting to bring pond hockey to all affordably and safely regardless of age, gender or ability.

The Sky Tavern philosophy has always been to not let money get in the way of kids having fun outdoors. Both the ski and the hockey programs believers subscribe to this philosophy which is why all the work that goes into these programs is done primarily by volunteers. Like so much here at Sky Tavern, this rink was created, maintained and kept alive with not much more than donated time, materials and an excess of elbow grease and volunteer hours.

Our aim is to keep the hockey tradition alive here at Sky Tavern by supporting hockey for all as we have been doing since 2013.