Richmond is a city of sports enthusiasts, with a rich history in baseball, soccer, and tennis. It’s a common misconception that local interest in hockey, figure skating, and other rink sports has been cooling. But this year, the ice sports community is taking its shot at the hearts and minds of Richmonders with a flurry of new teams and facility improvements. As the seasons turn and events head indoors, winter sports are warming up. In this sports-obsessed city, athletes and business owners in the ice world are betting on an upgraded facility, a pipeline of young talent and possibly some big players to herald a renaissance of ice sports across town.
The Growing Popularity of Ice Sports
Richmond’s ice culture is driven by a network of hockey clubs, including the Richmond Generals and Hockey Night in Richmond, and figure skating groups such as the Richmond and Central Virginia figure skating clubs and the Greater Richmond Ice Theatre. Both University of Virginia and University of Richmond have college club teams that train and compete in Richmond, acting as a draw for fans and players interested in watching high-level play. Facilities for players and coaches are dotted across the region, including rinks in Henrico, Chesterfield and Powhatan counties.
To make lifelong players and enthusiasts, skating clubs focus on youth participation, most commonly through learn-to-skate classes. “We start age 4, and we have lessons 12 months a year; we never stop,” Rizer says. “I would say 98% of kids go through the learn-to-skate program and then will go into more serious figure skating or hockey, and from there synchro or theater.
Other factors, such as the upcoming Winter Olympic Games and popular regional professional teams, also drive attention and participation. Figure skating is largely helped by the former; the ecosystem of clubs and skaters in Washington, D.C., feeding to the Olympics boosts Richmond’s position as well. “A few years ago, we had Ilia Malinin, who is now the world champion, compete down here, since he’s from D.C.,” Rizler says. Malinin, a 20-year-old Fairfax County native, is America’s top contender for men’s singles gold in the 2026 Winter Olympics and a prominent figure in the country’s figure skating scene.
The aim is the same in the hockey world, says Ryan Winfree, general manager of the Powhatan Ice Den. “We’re trying to follow a lot of what some of the NHL markets are doing, because their growth is really exceptional, especially from a grassroots standpoint. ... They focus a lot on coaching, a lot on development, a lot on skating. That youth growth is crucial, so even when kids start to kind of drop out in teenage years ... we can keep feeding it to be strong.
Read also: Winter Fun at Hamilton Ice Arena
Facilities play a major role in creating and maintaining that self-propagating market. The area’s private rinks - where the majority of Richmond skates - each only have one sheet, which limits the amount of ice time available in a day. Shuffling between private lessons before school, classes throughout the day and hockey practices at night is a size challenge as much as a scheduling challenge.
The Rise of Girls' Hockey
Londyn Buske is one in a growing movement of girls breaking into the sport. USA Hockey, the governing body for ice hockey in America, reports that, of the roughly 400,000 players enrolled in youth hockey programs today, about 72,000, or 18%, are girls. While still a male-dominated sport, girls’ hockey has become one of the fastest-growing youth sports in the United States. USA Hockey reports a 65% participation increase since 2010. And last season, 5,000 more girls and women registered nationwide than the year before.
“From a business perspective, female hockey players are untapped potential,” says Ryan Winfree, general manager of Powhatan Ice Den. “Interest is just exploding. These girls are competitive and are ready to play, and we want to make sure and have the space for them.
To lead the new girls’ team in Powhatan, Winfree recruited Michelle Walton, who played competitive AAA youth hockey. “She is all in,” Winfree says. Since opening, Powhatan Ice Den has become known for its training and development programs. The Washington Capitals have also played an active role in building the momentum around youth hockey in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Both boys and girls can sign up for its Future Caps Learn to Play program, where all hockey gear is provided.
Another initiative of the Washington Capitals, All Caps All Her, specifically works to recruit female athletes to ice hockey. “Between the ages of 4 and 9, girls are trying soccer, dance, basketball and taekwondo, and we want to add hockey to that list,” says Jessie Thompson, director of youth hockey development for the Washington Capitals and a University of Richmond graduate. Since All Caps All Her was founded in 2021, the program has engaged over 5,000 women and girls, 3,300 of which were first timers to hockey. Thompson says one of the Caps’ main goals is giving female athletes more opportunities to play on all-girls teams.
Read also: Ice Skating in Great Neck
Heather Buske wants the same for her daughter, Londyn. “When she plays with other girls, she’s just more confident, and she gets to feel that camaraderie she normally doesn’t get because she’s not in the locker room with the boys,” she says. “There’s just something different when they hit the ice and see other girls.
The field is expanding on an international level, too. In August, Mattel debuted its first PWHL Barbie doll, which quickly sold out.
Growth of women's hockey and the PWHL New York
“I love that Londyn can now see women playing - she never talked about playing long-term until she saw the PWHL players,” Buske says.
New Facilities and Opportunities
To solve this problem, some in the business are thinking big: 81,000 square feet, to be exact. “We’re really focused on the community aspect of growing [ice sports] locally, but also, we want to put Richmond on the map as a great hosting space, so that’s an opportunity for tourism, too,” Winfree says.
Winfree, who will also lead the Ice Box as its general manager, expects the first phase of the rink to open next summer: the first of two planned sheets of ice, a pro shop and concessions, four locker rooms, and roughly 350 of the expected 700 spectator seats. The intimate size of Richmond’s ice sports community means supply and demand play a role in bringing the Ice Box to fruition.
Read also: Ice Skating at AZ Ice Gilbert
The Ice Box is receiving support from one of the region’s fastest-growing industries, though: sports tourism. The Chesterfield County Sports, Visitation and Entertainment division, founded in 2023, provides promotional and logistical help to sports facilities in the county to capitalize on the multibillion-dollar sports tourism industry in the state. “I think this is about a home-field advantage,” says J.C. Poma, its executive director.
Just as the Henrico Sports & Events Center, which opened in 2023, has landed major sporting events and multiday tournaments, Poma, Winfree and others expect the new rink to attract players and families in hockey and figure skating hubs from the north and south while letting Richmond’s local athletes flourish. “We all are understanding of the desire for more sheet and ice time. ... When [they] get to that phase two, that’s a big opportunity to partner with the other sheets in town,” Poma says.
Ice Rinks in Richmond
- Powhatan Ice Den: The newest rink in the region hosts youth hockey leagues, pickup games and learn-to-skate programs. Open year-round. 1580 Oakbridge Terrace, Powhatan.
- Richmond Ice Zone: North Chesterfield County’s Olympic-size rink hosts lessons and club sports and has a full-service cafe. Open year-round. 636 Johnston Willis Drive, North Chesterfield.
- SkateNation Plus: Short Pump’s all-in-one destination for ice sports, laser tag, arcade games and more. Open year-round. 350 Pouncey Tract Road, Glen Allen.
- Stony Point Fashion Park: Skate out the holiday season at Stony Point Fashion Park’s outdoor pop-up rink. Open seasonally from November through January. 9200 Stony Point Parkway, Richmond.
- Pop-Up skating rink in Carver: A new container bar and event space in Carver will feature a pop-up skating rink starting in mid-November. 900 Axtell St.