The weather has quickly gotten cold, and the hockey season should already be underway. Therefore, it's time to pull out your skates, sharpen them up and hit the ice for some public open skate.

What's a better was to get out of the house and get away from the overcrowded malls in the area? Simply go to one of the local ice rinks and spending some time crashing into the boards and suffering bruises after hitting the ice (well, hopefully not). Or just gracefully gliding around the rink.

Here are some of the local ice rinks and each one's availability for public open skate.

The Northtown Center at Amherst, 1615 Amherst Manor Dr., Williamsville  (631-7555)

Check out the Northtown Center at Amherst website, and click on the PDF version of the open skate schedule for the month. It will list all of the public open skate times day by day.

Brighton Arena Ice Skating Rink, 251 Brompton Rd., Tonawanda (693-3505)

Public open skate on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Open until March 8, 2014. Check out the Brighton Arena Ice Skating Rink website and read the PDF version of the extra available dates for public open skate.

Lincoln Arena Ice Skating Rink, 1200 Parker Blvd., Tonawanda (833-7757)

Recreational skating on Mondays/Wednesdays (4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.), Saturdays (3:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.), and Sundays (1:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.). Family skate is on Thursdays (6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.) and Fridays (6:45 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.). Middle school skate is on Saturdays from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Open until March 9, 2014. Check out the Lincoln Arena Ice Skating Rink website and click on the PDF version of the extra available dates for public open skate.

Ruben “Bud” Bakewell Riverside Ice Rink, 2607 Niagara St., Buffalo (875-4820)

Public open skate is on Sundays (2 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.), Mondays (3 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.), Thursdays (5 p.m. - 6:50 p.m.), Fridays (2 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.), and Saturdays (1 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.). Call ahead of time to double check that there is not a special event and the ice is still available.

City adult residents are $2, and adult non-residents are $3. Skate rentals cost $3.

Buffalo State College Ice Arena, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo (878-4198)

The home ice rink for both Buffalo State's men's and women's varsity teams, as well as the Canisius College men's hockey team. The arena has also been used as a practice facility for the Buffalo Sabres.

Public open skate on weekdays are $2, while weeknight and weekend public open skates are $2 for children and $3 for adults. Skate rentals are $2 for adults and $1 for children. Buffalo State students with a valid ID are free. Check out the Buffalo State College Ice Arena website, or call them to find out the weekly availability for public open skate.

Cheektowaga Recreation Center Arena, 2600 Harlem Rd., Cheektowaga (897-7218)

Public open skate on Fridays/Saturdays (7 p.m. - 8:50 p.m.) and Sundays (2:45 p.m. - 4:35 p.m.). The Sunday public open skates begin on December 1. Check out the Cheektowaga Recreation Center Arena website for more information.

Hamburg Township Ice Arena, 2982 Lakeview Rd., Hamburg (649-8771)

Public open skate on Tuesday through Friday (11 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.), Fridays (8 p.m. - 9:50 p.m.), and Sundays (2 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.).

Youth are $5, and adults are $6. With a discount card, youth are $4 and adults $5. Skate rentals are $2 and helmet rentals are also $2. Anyone under 14 years old must wear a helmet (bicycle helmets are acceptable). For more information, check out the Hamburg Township Ice Arena website.

Dwyer Arena – Niagara University Ice Complex, University Dr., Lewiston (286-8782)

The home arena for both the Niagara University men's and women's Division I teams, and the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles youth hockey organization. This arena hosted part of the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championships, and also hosts the Buffalo Sabres player development camp each year in June.

Public open skate on Fridays (7:35 p.m. - 8:25 p.m.), and Sundays (6:30 p.m. - 7:20 p.m.). It is $5 to skate, and skate rentals are $3. For more information, check out the Dwyer Arena website.

Think Rink, 41 Riley St., East Aurora (628-0036)

This is the same portable rink that was used in the inaugural NHL Winter Classic in Buffalo at Ralph Wilson Stadium, when the Sabres played against the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008. Now it has a permanent cement rink under an open-sided pavilion.

Public open skate on Fridays (7 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.), Saturdays (1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.), and Sundays (1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.).

Adults 19 and over are $5, students and seniors 62 and older are $4, and children under four years old are free with a paying adult. Skate sharpening is $5 and skate rentals are $3. Check out the Think Rink website for additional dates for open skate (off days for school and holidays).

West Seneca Ice Rink, 1250 Union Rd., West Seneca (674-6086)

Public open skate on Fridays/Saturdays (7 p.m. - 8:50 p.m.), and Sundays (1:15 p.m. - 3:05 p.m.). Adult open skate (18 and older) on Tuesdays through Thursdays (9:20 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.). Closes April 13, 2014.

Residents are $3 and non-residents are $5. Skate rentals are $3, but they are not available for the adult open skate. For more information, check out the West Seneca Ice Rink website.

North Buffalo Ice Rink, 156 Tacoma Ave., Buffalo (873-8481)

Public open skate on Mondays/Thursdays (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.), Tuesdays/Wednesdays (4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.), Fridays/Sundays (7 p.m. - 9 p.m.), and Saturdays (5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.) Open until March 30, 2014.

Children under five years old are free. Ages 5-17 are $1, and anyone older than 18 is $2. Skate rentals are $2. For more information, check out the North Buffalo Ice Rink website.

Falleti Ice Arena, 22 Evans St., Batavia (585) 344-3991

Cheapskates are Monday through Friday (11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.), and Wednesdays (7:40 p.m. - 8:40 p.m.). These open skates are $3 each, and skate rentals are $3 per session.

Weekend open skates are Fridays (7 p.m. - 8:50 p.m.) and Sundays (1 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.). These are $5 each and $3 for children four years old and under. Skate rentals are $3 per session.

A season pass is $199 for a family and $99 for an individual. The Sunday family package includes four admission and four skate rentals for $25. For more information, check out the Falleti Ice Arena website.

Hyde Park Twin Ice Rinks, 911 Robbins Dr., Niagara Falls (285-0715)

Public open skate on Monday and Wednesday, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., and Saturday, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Admission is $5, and skate rentals are $2.


View Public Skate Availability in Western New York in a larger map

Contributed by Brandon Kilijanski and Rachel Specht

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