To Me It’s Heaven…And It’s In Orono

On the weekend, I drove to Orono. One big reason. I needed to see The Rink! The Harold Alfond Sports Arena. The Black Bears had played in Portland the night before, so there was little activity around the arena. And...an unlocked door! To me, a kid in a candy store. I stepped in and was greeted by total silence. And I looked out over an untouched sheet of fresh ice. Heaven. I was the only one in the place. As I walked around the concourse, and down to ice level behind the penalty boxes, I thought of course of how individual and unique the arena is, and how jammed packed with fans how crazy it must get.

But I also remembered reading about  Bobby Orr and how he liked to go into a rink, alone, hours and hours before a game and just sit there. The smells. The cool air. The solitude. The anticipation of the atmosphere. It's motivational. I can't wait to skate on that hallowed ice.