by HockeyHigh » Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:37 pm
Ice is not cold or hot, it's soft or hard. The harder the ice is, is usually attributed to the coldness of a rink. A very cold rink (like Bott.) will have very fast, and fractured ice (the ice shatters easily, as it is brittle). Softer ice (with a warmer environment) like the REA, is often far slower, more fatiguing to players, and is far less brittle than its hard counterpart. Most players enjoy harder ice, but fans often like warm arenas, such as the REA. This brings the whole thing down to an entertainment versus competition dilemma when rinks are being made. Obviously the REA chose fans over players, but players generally adapt to the conditions quickly.
Personally, I like the colder rinks, with the harder ice. They are more damaging to skate blades, but the speed and the ease of movement makes the games more intense and enjoyable.