Saranac Lake — The Saranac Lake Civic Center is set to reopen for the 2025-26 ice season on Sunday, with a safety and infrastructure upgrade in place: a replacement of its nearly 25-year-old dasher board facing.
Dasher boards—also known as hockey boards—form the lower perimeter of an ice rink and play a crucial role in both safety and game play. Over the summer, the Civic Center undertook a significant renovation, replacing aging and deteriorated components with new ½-inch HDPE (high-density polyethylene) panels. This durable material is renowned for its high impact resistance, smooth finish, moisture resistance, and low maintenance requirements.
“The dasher board system was installed in 2001 and the facing was coming to the end of its 20-25-year lifespan,” said Matt Wolter, Operations Manager at the Civic Center. “We’ve made ongoing repairs over the years, but replacement of the facing was overdue. This project will support safe and enjoyable play for another two decades or more.”
Dasher boards and rink shielding systems are essential to protecting both players and spectators during hockey and other on-ice events. Without the entire system in optimal condition, the risk of injury increases significantly.
The upgrade was completed during the summer months between regular events like roller skating, the Saranac Lake High School graduation, and the popular Antique Show. By replacing only the facing and kickplates with HDPE panels while preserving the existing structural frames, the Civic Center was able to avoid the high cost of a full system replacement. This approach was key for the nonprofit organization.
“The Civic Center staff worked hard to complete the project in time for the new season,” said Marnie Crane, a Civic Center representative. “We’re excited to show the community the improvements during our Ice Season Opener on September 28 from 11AM to 1PM.”
The public is invited to come tour the facility, see the new boards in action, and celebrate the start of another great season on the ice.