The thought of hockey on an outdoor rink brings Arniel back to his childhood in Kingston, Ontario, and even after a life in hockey, it’s those thoughts that continue to bring a smile.
“Those are special memories. Running home from school, my older brother, grabbing your skates and going over to the nearest rink and getting into the shack there and putting them on,” said Arniel.
“Going out and playing until you had to get home for dinner, playing for a couple of hours. Those memories for me are kind of what comes back about these outdoor games. Just the way the league has gone about making it work, they have it down to a fine art.”
The 63-year-old says it’s a privilege to coach in an outdoor game.
“I think just to be able to stand back there (on the bench) and have the elements around you. The three games I was in, they were extremely cold, the time of year,” said Arniel.
“Hopefully next year, obviously at the end of October, it’ll start to get a little colder but that’s a great time for being around Winnipeg and being in Manitoba. I think really a special moment.”