-- [ From: Kepler * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] -- > When I was growing up on Long Island, there was literally 1 (ONE!) rink within > 30 miles of my house. Commack Arena? (later converted to a skateboard arena, so for a while there were ZERO near my house) L.I. had decent ice on the local ponds in January and February, but at best it was an 8 week skating season, and the local talent showed it. More than once, I saw a clear breakaway spoiled by an exposed tree root (high speed to zero in 0.5 seconds -- quite a sight). I'm sure people in a dozen other "borderline" hockey areas have the same stories. -- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Greg Berge * Portland, Oregon * [log in to unmask] * www.spiritone.com/~kepler * HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.