A much-anticipated TV series that premieres this week to share the sights, sounds and stories of Manitoba’s outdoor hockey scene.
Local filmmaker Randy Frykas has focused his talents on documenting outdoor hockey across multiple provinces. His five-episode series called Outdoor Hockey Club: The Manitoba Chapter is coming out on Bell Fibe TV1 on Thursday, March 20.
“It’s a collection of outdoor hockey stories from around the province, including a couple in Grosse Isle,” Frykas said.
“I spent the winter visiting rinks throughout the province capturing a variety of stories. Viewers will get to experience outdoor hockey from the perspective of the rink-makers, the volunteers, the parents and the players.”
Grosse Isle makes a couple appearances throughout the series, including interviews with Chuck and Glen Lefley. Viewers can also get a glimpse of an afternoon skate with Nicole Hutchinson, Ella Riddell, Maria Riddell and Josyln Tetlock, who all played on the Warren Collegiate female hockey team this past season.
For 16-year-old Maria Riddell of Warren, her favourite pastime is going to the Grosse Isle outdoor rink with her friends. She said it was a cool opportunity to be featured in Outdoor Hockey Club: The Manitoba Chapter.
“I feel honoured to be asked and share what the outdoor rink means to me,” said Riddell, who has been playing hockey since she was seven.
“I hope the video will encourage other girls to go skating on their local outdoor rink and hopefully enjoy it as much as I do.”
Monica Baldwin, board member for the Grosse Isle Recreation Centre, added that the outdoor rink is an important community hub.
“Our outdoor rink has been a vital part of our community for many years, providing a space for people of all ages to come together for fun, exercise and socializing,” she said.
“Used by both local residents and those from surrounding communities, our outdoor rink is more than just ice — it’s a cherished meeting place that keeps our community active and connected throughout the winter months.”
Excitement is building in the Grosse Isle community, where residents look forward to seeing their rink featured in the Outdoor Hockey Club series.
“So many dedicated volunteers put in countless hours to get the rink up and running and maintain the ice all winter long, so seeing it recognized in this way was truly special. The outdoor rink is a source of pride for our community, and we’ve recently made several upgrades to ensure it remains a gathering place for years to come,” Baldwin said.
“Our local hockey players were thrilled to be featured in the series and couldn’t wait to see the videos shared on social media. They have a deep love for the outdoor rink, and it was an incredible experience to have Randy capture them all enjoying the ice together.”
At the same time, it was a positive experience to work with Frykas throughout the filming process.
“Randy’s passion for filming and capturing every detail was evident throughout the process. It was a fantastic experience for our community to work with him and showcase our outdoor rink. His creativity and love for outdoor hockey were truly inspiring to see,” Baldwin said.
“We’ve had a sneak peek of Randy’s upcoming series featuring the Grosse Isle outdoor rink, and we can’t wait to see the full episode when it premieres on March 20.”
All five episodes of Outdoor Hockey Club: The Manitoba Chapter will be available March 20 on Bell Fibe TV Channel 1 and the Fibe TV app. For all Bell TV subscribers, the series is free to watch, and it will be available in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes.
Frykas is always looking for outdoor hockey stories, and he encourages people to reach out to him through the OHC website (outdoorhockey.club), Instagram (www.instagram.com/outdoorhockeyclub) or email (info@outdoorhockey.club).
