Rich Fleming doesn’t skate anymore, but is continuing his love for hockey by maintaining an outdoor rink in Barrie.
The city provides the water and hoses but Rich spends about 6 hours a day keeping the rink at Hanmer Park smooth.
"It's a great warm feeling,” said Fleming. “I put a lot of work and effort into it and then I come down here on weekends and see the kids out here. It gives you a feeling that you can't buy, it really does."
The kids in the neighbourhood call their local hero ‘The Iceman’.
“I think Richie is being really nice and awesome,” said Chloe Barron. “He does it every year, and it's really fun and I think he's being really generous to everyone by making the skating rink."
Rich also collects used skates for the kids who come to his rink without gear.
"There's a lot of kids that I see don't have the skates and stuff and I want to make sure they all have the opportunity to go out and skate,” he said.
He has given out 15 pairs of skates and countless donated hats and mittens.
If you have an extra pair of skates or a pair of gloves you would like to donate, drop them off to ‘The Iceman’ at Hanmer Park.
