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in Harlem in New York City have shown how access to ice hockey can build confidence, teamwork, and resilience in young people.
Pittsfield’ s new rink could be part of a similar movement— hosting clinics, broomball games, figure skating lessons, and inclusive programs that give everyone a chance to experience the joy of skating. For Regen, who grew up skating with his father on Lake Buel, it’ s personal. Whether organizing the Berkshire Pond Hockey Classic or building the new rink, he seeks platforms for connection.
As the Pittsfield rink moves toward its debut, Regen and others are already thinking ahead to night skating, youth hockey clinics, perhaps even a figure skating club. But more than anything, they’ re thinking about access.
" This is about people," Regen says. " Skating is something you don ' t forget as a kid. Whether it ' s your first goal or your first fall, it sticks with you.”
So as winter rolls in and temperatures drop, whether you ' re cheering at Benedict Pond, skating inside the boards in Monterey, or possibly taking your first laps outside in Pittsfield, one thing is certain: The Berkshires is lacing up for its best skating season yet. The sound of steel on ice, the warmth of community, and the promise of winter traditions old and new, that ' s the real magic of Berkshire ice. n
Mary Sipp Green, Sunset Late August, oil on panel, 16.5” x 17”
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Holiday 2025 2023 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // 99