  Skating
at the Mall
Whether you’re an Olympic hopeful or just hoping to stay on your
feet, the Iceplex beckons with two NHL regulation rinks.
By Caitlin Jennings
An ice rink on the 8th floor of the Ballston Mall parking garage? Shopping
and skating? Say, you may just have something there.
When the Washington Capitals and Arlington County officials realized the
possibilities, they quickly began construction on Arlington’s first indoor ice
rink. That was back in March 2005. This month their joint $42 million project
comes to fruition. The Kettler Capitals Iceplex opened its doors to select
programs on November 11, with more options on the way for Arlingtonians. In
addition to the two—yes, two—NHL regulation rinks, the facility offers eight
locker rooms, a snack bar, a pro shop for hockey and figure skating, heated
viewing areas, arcade games and skate rental. Eight floors above the corner of
North Glebe Road and North Randolph Street, the 137,000-square-foot facility can
certainly claim the title of America’s loftiest rink.
County officials are quick to gush—and who can blame them?
“We’re very pleased to welcome the Washington Capitals to their new home in
Arlington,” says Chris Zimmerman, chair of the Arlington County Board. “Hockey
teams, figure skating, free Caps practices … and right on Metro’s Orange Line!””
“It’s an incredible asset to the community,” agrees Diana Sun, the county’s
director of communications. “There [are] a lot of people in Arlington who play
hockey [or figure skate].”
 Until now, youth teams had to travel outside the county and compete for limited
ice time to practice. Just ask Yorktown Ice Hockey Club manager Steve Gomberg, whose
team used to drive to Reston for 5:30 a.m. sessions. Now they practice in
Ballston at 5 p.m. “We really like having home ice so close,” says Gomberg, “and
the new facility is state-of-the-art. The ice is fast and fun to skate on. This
is the best skating facility in the D.C. area.”
For the general public, the complex will offer multiple programs year-round,
including skating lessons for children and adults, freestyle sessions for figure
skaters, fitness skate sessions, pickup games, broomball, adult hockey leagues
and hockey lessons. If all this seems a little too structured for you, drop by
for public skating sessions on a rink rigged with a disco ball. The Caps will also donate 500 hours of skating time annually to economically disadvantaged skaters or those who are physically or mentally challenged.
The Iceplex is heaven to diehard hockey fans, as the Caps will open their
practices to the public for free, offering opportunities to chat with players
and seek autographs. If you do follow another NHL team, well, keep it to
yourself in the stands, but watch the schedule, as visiting team practices will
also be free and open to the public.
Replacing the Caps old practice site, Piney Orchard Ice Arena in Anne Arundel
County, the Iceplex offers players more than just another oval. The
20,000-square-foot training center includes a weight room and fitness center, a
theater-style classroom, athletic and medical training facilities and player
lounges. The front-office staff will split workspace with the WNBA Washington
Mystics staff, just above the training facility.
It’s a win-win situation for Arlingtonians, who can benefit from 11,500 hours of
ice time annually in a convenient spot beside the Ballston Metro. The rink may
also boost the local economy, as parents who drop their kids at practice will
likely grab a bite at a restaurant, browse the mall or catch a movie for
grownups—no offense to the skating penguins.
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