OT: Former ice rink in Phoenix?

[Summer Rose]

Today I was talking to a good friend about ice rinks (we were on our way to BTM to help him pick out his first pair of skates). He mentioned that there used to be one around 35th Ave and Indian School in Phoenix. I first skated at Oceanside in the early 90's, and don't remember this rink ever existing (not saying that it didn't). I was just looking for information about it.

 

[Guest]

I don't recall the one that was on 35th and Indian School. On a similar topic, there used to be one in Metro Center Mall when I was a kid. The Arcadia Ice one was once part of a mall as well, so that must have been the thing to do in the 70's.

 

[jacobhockey13]

Ozzie Ice? Small rink with two half sheets. Great for stick time.

 

[XX]

Ozzie Ice? Small rink with two half sheets. Great for stick time.

32nd and Shea. Maybe the guy got mixed up?

 

[Dr VinnyBoombatz]

32nd and Shea. Maybe the guy got mixed up?

Yeah...that has to be the one. Back in the day it had "artificial" ice and then they put in real ice.

 

[Summer Rose]

I remember Ozzie. Had a fun 3 on 3 tournament there once. My high school team had some practices scheduled there as well.

 

[The Feckless Puck]

I don't recall the one that was on 35th and Indian School. On a similar topic, there used to be one in Metro Center Mall when I was a kid. The Arcadia Ice one was once part of a mall as well, so that must have been the thing to do in the 70's.

Only time I've ever ice skated was at Arcadia Ice.

 

[Dirty Old Man]

Only time I've ever ice skated was at Arcadia Ice.

When I started playing circa 2000, I'd occasionally do Hacker at Arcadia, and most of the old timers always called it by its former name, Tower. Then 10 years later I'm driving along Thomas Rd in the area at night, look up and see this big radio/tv tower, and thought "ohhhhhhh"

 

[kihekah19*]

Today I was talking to a good friend about ice rinks (we were on our way to BTM to help him pick out his first pair of skates). He mentioned that there used to be one around 35th Ave and Indian School in Phoenix. I first skated at Oceanside in the early 90's, and don't remember this rink ever existing (not saying that it didn't). I was just looking for information about it.

I was out here briefly in the early 80's and I remember some team mates discussing a rink that I believe they called the "wagon wheel", or the "wheel house" that if memory serves, would have been in that area.

 

[Dirty Old Man]

Is that the old history of the indoor soccer facility at 39th Ave/Indian School perhaps?

 

[ssmatik]

Is that the old history of the indoor soccer facility at 39th Ave/Indian School perhaps?

No, it was at 27th Ave and Indian School. After the rink closed (I can't remember the name) it was replaced by the Golden 8Ball pool hall. The Golden 8Ball moved there from right down the road in the shopping center where the business Costco is now. The building is still there and is a thrift store. 2740 W Indian School Rd

 

[twominutes]

thats the one, was just out of high school at the time so must have been mid 70's, didn't last in that location a real long time

 

[twominutes]

was run by the same outfit that ran tower plaza (arcadia) and metro center rinks

 

[Summer Rose]

was run by the same outfit that ran tower plaza (arcadia) and metro center rinks

Was it Jim Rogers back then too?

 

[Tanic]

No, it was at 27th Ave and Indian School. After the rink closed (I can't remember the name) it was replaced by the Golden 8Ball pool hall. The Golden 8Ball moved there from right down the road in the shopping center where the business Costco is now. The building is still there and is a thrift store. 2740 W Indian School Rd

+1

It was called Ice Palace West and run by the Ice Palace which is now Arcadia. The sheet was about 150 feet long and only had glass on two sides. The south goal and east side had cinder blocks above the board tops. I'm still sore from those checks.

 

[BuffaloAZ]

Pretty sad story about what happened there (and what possibly led to its closing).

 

[kihekah19*]

Pretty sad story about what happened there (and what possibly led to its closing).

Care to expand on that?

 

[Dirty Old Man]

Care to expand on that?

I assumed he referred to Ozzie Ice instead of the one pictured, but I could be wrong.

link

 

[kihekah19*]

I assumed he referred to Ozzie Ice instead of the one pictured, but I could be wrong.

link

Kind of what I was thinking, but the murder really didn't have any bearing on it's closure, that I'm aware of anyway.

 

[BuffaloAZ]

I was referring to Ozzie Ice mistakenly. That's what I get for skimming and not reading everything! sorry about that.

 

[kihekah19*]

I was referring to Ozzie Ice mistakenly. That's what I get for skimming and not reading everything! sorry about that.

No worries

 

[paulnick9092]

Yes, I believe it was called Ice Palace West and it was at 2740 W Indian School Rd. It has been many things including a furniture store. We used to play "Broom Ball" in the late 70's I believe. We rented it after closing and formed our own team of friends. We used a broom, tennis shoes and a volley/beach ball.

 

[Sinurgy]

I believe Ozzie Ice is where Matthews got a lot of his reps in when he was a youngster.

 

[Lilhoody]

When I started playing circa 2000, I'd occasionally do Hacker at Arcadia, and most of the old timers always called it by its former name, Tower. Then 10 years later I'm driving along Thomas Rd in the area at night, look up and see this big radio/tv tower, and thought "ohhhhhhh"

Remember when a guy climbed it and fell off?

 

[Sinurgy]

Remember when a guy climbed it and fell off?

I do, a friend of mine actually filmed it. Dude was kind of playing around up there, like I'm not sure he intended to jump, suddenly lost his grip and that was it. Tragic series of events to say the least.

Oh and yeah, I always knew it as Tower Plaza as well or "tower" for short.