Hi, I’m Ryan — founder and owner of Polar Bear Rinks — and this is our story.

The spirit of Polar Bear Rinks goes back to my childhood. My dad built a rink in our backyard for my siblings and I, and nobody took more pride in their rink than he did. He always said it was all about QOI — Quality of Ice.

Those rinks became the center of our winters. Countless hours were spent out in the cold, under the lights, playing action-packed games of hockey with family and friends. Beyond the game itself, my dad passed down to us a love for the tradition of building and caring for a rink.

Recently, my brothers and I recorded a podcast where we reflected on our childhood rink. The video below is a part of that conversation, and I think it captures the passion for backyard hockey that our dad instilled in us — and the spirit of this company.

Now, as a father of four, I want to carry that tradition forward — teaching my kids the art of building backyard rinks and helping other families across Minnesota create the same memories I grew up with.

If you love backyard hockey like I do but don’t have the time (or desire!) to set up and take down your rink each year, we’d be happy to help.

And if you’re a do-it-yourself outdoor rink enthusiast, I’d love for you to follow along with us on Facebook and Instagram, and join us on this adventure.