Brampton announces backyard ice rink contest winners
Published February 7, 2022 at 10:44 am
Brampton’s first backyard ice rink contest has come to a close, and Mayor Patrick Brown says he hopes the event will become an annual tradition.
On Saturday, the city announced the three winning rinks. Markus Witte, Roberto Carreiro, and Jason and Jaxson Strachan were the big winners in the contest for building their respective rinks.
All three rink owners won a a one-hour skate with Mayor Brown and NHL alumni Doug Gilmour and Wendel Clark.
Other prizes included Toronto Maple Leaf game tickets donated by Royal LePage Vendex Realty, a signed Wayne Gretzky Team Canada jersey, and a signed copy of Gretzky’s book “Stories of the Game.”
Thanks to my friends @wendelclark17 and @douggilmour for spending the day in #Brampton visiting community and backyard rinks.
#93 and #17 are great Canadians and wonderful role models. They are generous with their time and incredible ambassadors for the hockey community.
— Patrick Brown (@patrickbrownont) February 6, 2022
The City of Brampton announced the contest last month and invited residents to build an ice rink in their backyard after pandemic restrictions closed indoor amenities in Brampton.
Brown said the contest was inspired by the city’s backyard gardening competition launched during the pandemic.
Photos needed to be submitted by January 30, and the rinks were judged on durability, creativity, and safety.
Judges included Brown, Clark, Gilmour, and several Brampton city councillors.
Brow said in a post on Twitter that the rink competition could become an annual event.
Host of Coach’s Corner and Hometown Hockey Ron MacLean threw his support behind the Brampton contest in a video message to Brampton on Twitter.
Winners of the 2022 Brampton backyard ice rink contest pose with Mayor Patrick Brown.