In Cazenovia, getting hockey players on the ice this winter feels like a dream come true.
When the season was put on pause for the Cazenovia Lakers, those dry skates sat home, though not for too long.
What You Need To Know
- Cazenovia Lakers got the okay to start practicing but are waiting for the OK to play games
- The team's typical practice spot is off-limits this year
- Playing on the town's small rink was an effort of several parents
Parents got the idea to practice at Burton Street Park. The man keeping this rink in tip-top shape is Mark Costello.
He calls himself the "rink supervisor." He’s the keeper of this "Rink of Dreams."
“They’re hard to keep up for the longterm for a guy like me,” said Costello.
Costello played ice hockey nearly all his life, and in all of that time, he’s been maintaining this rink by flooding it. Whether it’s 8 p.m. or 3 a.m., Mark is out here to keep the rink icy.
Everyone at the rink stops by to say hi to Mark, because although he’s been doing this work for a long time, this year is extra important.
The way Mark sees it, he’d be out here no matter what.
“Sometimes, I try to get my wife out here. It’s kind of romantic. The stars are out, but she’s never taken me up on that,” said Costello.
The "Rink of Dreams" is just where he belongs.
“I love hockey. This is my favorite place on earth,” said Costello.
