Rink Rater RETURNS to the Ice!
Rink Rater RETURNS to the Ice!
We're BACK, baby! And this time, we've got a whole new game plan!
Ever driven hours to a hockey tournament, walked into an unfamiliar rink, and thought, "Holy cow, it's FREEZING in here!" Or discovered the concessions were closed, the parking was a nightmare, or there wasn't a skate sharpening service anywhere in sight?
Oh yes - we've been there, too!
That's exactly why I created Rink Rater back in 2016. And after a few years of the app sitting on the bench, I'm beyond excited to announce that Rink Rater is officially BACK!
New look. New features. A whole lot of Hockey Rink reviews. And a new teammate named TJ who's ready to help hockey families everywhere.
But first, a little backstory...
It All Started in the Stands...
Like so many hockey parents, my wife & I, along with our parents who loved to go to as many games as they could, have spent countless hours sitting in freezing arenas, driving to tournaments, and visiting rinks we'd never been to before.
One day, sitting in the stands, I thought, "Wouldn't it be great if we knew what to expect BEFORE arriving at a new rink? Because Holy Sht, I'm pretty chilly!"
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: How cold is it? Is there decent food? Are the bathrooms clean? Is parking a hassle? And most importantly, where's the nearest GOOD cup of coffee?!
And just like that, the idea for Rink Rater was born.
I purchased RinkRater.com, worked with a greatdevelopment team to build the original app, and we launched it in 2016.
What happened next was pretty exciting.
Hockey families started downloading the app, rating their experiences, and helping other families know what to expect before their next road trip.
Before long, we had grown to approximately 10,000 users who had written about the same number of rink reviews!
It was incredibly rewarding to see an idea that started in the stands turn into something useful for hockey families across North America.
And then...ugh
COVID Sent Us to the Penalty Box
Like just about everything else in the hockey world, covid brought Rink Rater to a screeching halt.
Rinks closed. Tournaments disappeared. Hockey families stayed home.
Meanwhile, the technology behind the original app was getting older, and keeping it running was becoming increasingly difficult.
When I looked into rebuilding it, the estimated cost was going to about $15,000. Um yeah. Can't do it. Since Rink Rater hadn't yet generated enough revenue to justify that investment, I had to make the tough decision to pull it from the App Store & Google Play.
That one hurt.
But I never gave up on the idea.
I still owned the domain. I still had the reviews. And I still believed hockey families could benefit from sharing their experiences with one another.
Rink Rater wasn't finished yet by golly!
Enter Rink Rater 2.0 — And a Little Help From AI!
Fast-forward to today.
With all the advancements in AI-powered development tools, I started wondering...
Could I actually rebuild Rink Rater myself?
I'm a designer by trade, not a traditional software developer. But with a lot of experimenting, problem-solving, late nights, and help from AI tools, I began bringing Rink Rater back to life.
And here we are!
Rink Rater 2.0 is LIVE!
We've completely reimagined the experience, making it easier for hockey families to find rinks, explore reviews, share their experiences, and get helpful information before hitting the road.
But there's one new feature I'm especially excited about...
Meet TJ — Your New Hockey Rink Insider! 🏒
Imagine being able to ask a simple question about a hockey rink and get a helpful answer based on the experiences and reviews from other hockey families. who have been there and want to give back a little.
That's exactly what we're building with Ask TJ!
TJ is our new AI-powered hockey buddy who helps make sense of the thousands of rink reviews shared by our community.
Heading to a rink you've never visited?
Try asking TJ:
"How cold is this rink?"
"What's the parking situation like?"
"Are the concessions any good?"
"What should parents know before visiting this arena?"
Instead of digging through dozens of individual reviews, TJ can help summarize what other hockey families have experienced.
Of course, TJ can only work with the information that's available. The more reviews our community contributes, the smarter his answers can be.
And that's where YOU come in!
Over 14,000 Rink Reviews — And We're Just Getting Started!
One of the most exciting parts of this relaunch is that we're not starting from scratch.
Thanks to the reviews from our original Rink Rater community and our collaboration with For the Love of Hockey, we're bringing together more than 14,000 rink reviews!
That's thousands of real experiences from hockey families who have been there, done that, and probably forgotten their kid's water bottle at least once along the way.
Your helpful reviews are the heart of Rink Rater.
And with Ask TJ helping turn all that community knowledge into useful answers, those experiences can help even more families.
We're also excited about our continued collaboration with with My Hockey Rankings who was the original resource for helping to power each rink's key info.
Hockey Families Helping Hockey Families
The best information about a hockey rink comes from the people who have actually been there.
Not a fancy marketing brochure. Not a perfectly staged photo.
Real hockey moms, dads, players, coaches, and fans sharing their honest experiences.
That's what made the original Rink Rater special, and it's what I want to build upon with Rink Rater 2.0.
But I also see an opportunity to do something bigger.
Beyond rink reviews, I want Rink Rater to become a place where young players and hockey families can learn, grow, and celebrate everything that makes this sport great.
You can expect a sidebar focus on - Safety. Sportsmanship. Respect for referees. Supporting teammates. Winning with class and losing with dignity.
Because great hockey experiences aren't just about what happens on the scoreboard.
They're about the lessons, friendships, and memories we make along the way.
And I'd love for Rink Rater to play a small part in making those experiences even better.
We're Back. Now We Need YOU!
This is the part I'm most excited about.
Rink Rater was built for hockey families, and its future depends on hockey families helping one another.
So whether you're an original Rink Rater user or just discovering us for the first time, I'd love for you to jump in!
Here's how you can help us get rolling:
Explore Rink Rater 2.0! Search for your home rink or the next arena on your tournament schedule.
Give Ask TJ a try! Ask about a rink and see what other hockey families have to say.
Leave a review! Your experience might be exactly what another hockey family needs to know.
Spread the word! Share Rink Rater with your teammates, coaches, and hockey-parent friends.
Give Rink Rater a Follow: you can find us on Facebook, Instagram & soon, YouTube.
And please, tell me what you think! What do you love? What could be better? What features would make your hockey travels easier?
We're just getting warmed up, and your feedback will help shape what comes next.
See You at the Rink!
Bringing Rink Rater back has been a pretty incredible journey; both from a learning perspective and opportunity to grow something that will only continue to become a stronger resource for the Hockey Community.
From an idea in the stands, to thousands of users, to shutting everything down, to rebuilding the whole thing...
It's been a wild ride.
But seeing Rink Rater back on the ice makes every bit of it worthwhile.
Thank you to everyone who supported the original app, contributed reviews, or encouraged me to bring it back.
And to all the new hockey families joining us...
WELCOME TO RINK RATER 2.0!
Let's make those long hockey road trips a little easier, help one another discover great rinks, and have some fun along the way.
Thanks all!
Senan & Kate (Head Rink Raters)
Know Before You Go!
