The Minneapolis skyline glowed during the match between Rock and Roll and Sunnyvale on a crisp February evening. (Davis Steen)
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has had its struggles with keeping ice open for the winter season because of shifts in the weather. As covered in an earlier Northeaster, MPRB almost didn’t open most of the ice rinks this year due to only having one week of ice-skating availability in the winter of 2023-2024.
Two players muscling for position in front of the net. (Davis Steen)
However, Tuesday, Feb. 4, two teams took to the ice at Logan Park in a broomball match that pitted the Rock and Roll team against Sunnyvale. The single-digit temperatures didn’t stop the teams from enjoying the ice that hadn’t been open just a few days prior. Both teams are part of the Minneapolis Men’s B League, run by MPRB.
Left to right, fans Courtney, Phoebe and others dared the frigid temps. (Davis Steen)
An email sent by MPRB on Monday, Feb. 3, stated, “The current and forecasted warm weather has caused all Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board outdoor general skating and hockey rinks to temporarily close.” The email did offer some solace to those looking for outdoor activities on the ice: “Broomball rinks remain open.”
This frigid night, when the rinks had finally opened again for outdoor skating, it was 7 degrees at the halfway point of the game.
Recently dubbed “the hub of broomball nationally” by a Star Tribune article, broomball is nothing new to Minnesota. Minneapolis alone had 155 teams signed up in the 23 leagues they support. Four teams in total were playing that night on two separate rinks at Logan.
The goal net can be a lonely place when your team is on the attack. (Davis Steen)
“We play every Tuesday night,” a player from Rock and Roll shouted from the bench. Just before that the ref had alerted the teams to the possibility of overtime. Both teams grumbled that they wouldn’t be doing that, mostly due to the temperature.
The teams even drew a few fans. Phoebe and Courtney stood on the sides watching the players knock an orange ball with a stick called a broom. The original game was played with a regular broom you would typically use to sweep your floor, but the modern sport uses a stick with a rubber end.
Rock and Roll regrouped and caught their breath. (Davis Steen)
Before the game was over, teams from a later time slot started showing up to prepare for their match. The cold temperatures wouldn’t force these teams inside tonight.