When I was a teen, I used to go to the local hockey rink in town to shoot the puck around. After a storm there would be three or four feet of snow covering the entire rink. We didn’t have any machinery, snow blowers or equipment to use … there was always a stack of shovels next to the boards somewhere. I’d think nothing of it and start shoveling with a shovel like the guy in this image and spend the entire day clearing snow. Usually a couple of other young guys like me at that age would show up and in all about three to four guys could clear all that snow in about six hours of work.

It was always neat. I’d clear a small four foot wide patch of clear ice and young kids would show up and play a game on the patch of clear ice. For a break, I’d join their game for a while. Then go back to work.

By the time half the ice was clear, larger games would start happening.

By the time all the ice had been uncovered, we’d make one last pass to clear all the shaved ice off the surface, smooth everything down and the teens and adults would come out for a big game.

But by that time it would be dark and I would be so exhausted that I’d watch for a while and then head home.