Mike Machnik writes:
 
>Perhaps the most unusual thing about
>Air Force's Cadet Ice Arena is the fact that it has netting not only
>behind the two goals, but also all the way around the glass - at
>least, on the side opposite the benches.  I don't remember seeing it
>on the side with the benches.  The netting is on the same side of the
>rink as the press box.  I have never seen this before.
 
>This was apparently done this season after an injury to a baby or
>small child in the stands who was hit with a puck.
 
>What is perhaps surprising is that this hasn't been done in more
>rinks.  It may be something to consider, that we may see it more and
>more as time goes by.
 
I know Mike hasn't had occasion to visit Princeton in the last five
seasons, but Baker Rink has its own similar quirk. In 1991-92, Don
Cahoon's first year with the Tigers, a puck struck the mother of
Tigers' freshman Ethan Early in the head and cut her for quite
a few stitches. Mary Early, being related to Ethan, was tough
enough to handle it gracefully - as was her husband, James, an
attorney in New Haven, Ct. Cahoon was angling for new boards and
glass, however, and Mr. Early wrote a letter (on firm stationary,
of course) to the Princeton administration suggesting that new,
higher glass might alleviate the problem. Cahoon got his new
boards and glass -- but the glass at Baker is now of uniform
height all the way around the rink, not just high behind each
net. It creates a 'fishbowl' effect that is even more discernable
because Baker isn't very big. Among other things, it really
cuts down on the amount of noise from the game that reaches the
fans. Postscript - Cahoon's new boards were VERY hard. Sophomore
forward David Scowby bruised his ribs in the first game with the
new setup after taking a hit along the wall.
 
Geoff Howell
Drop the Puck Magazine
 
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