The Factory Ice House is located off Alternate-1 in Wake Forest, NC 1839-200 S. Main Street Wake Forest, NC 27587 919-453-1500

HockeyCat Rink Information

Amenities: The Factory Ice House has 2 ice surfaces, meeting rooms, an indoor soccer rink and pro shop. The Factory is a converted factory building that has shops, restaurants and fitness facilities. As of April 2005, many of the shops are still under construction. The management seems committed to creating a good hockey (and indoor soccer) facility.

Locker Rooms: The 8 player locker rooms include showers, bathrooms and are a decent size, but get crowded with about 12-15 skaters. The 2 Referee locker rooms are adequate. They are also in between the player's locker rooms, which can lead to potential problems.

Seating:Seating is virtually non-existent. Standing room is at floor level. One rink does have a riser that can accommodate a few people.

Ice: The ice at the Factory is in reasonably good shape. Construction of the facility surrounding the rinks has created a dust and dirt problem for the zamboni area. Some of the debris finds its way into the corners. This should go away when construction is completed. The boards, plexiglass, scorers table and penalty areas are well-maintained, which is consistent with a new rink.

Cleanliness:This facility shines in this area. The rink is new, which helps. However, staff can be seen cleaning the locker rooms and restrooms at all times of the day. Even wiping fingerprints off the glass.

Snack Bar Area: This is not something that we usually discuss on HockeyCat, but the two rink design allows for the snack bar to be centrally located. This allows parents to stay warm while their kids are getting dressed. The area is very well laid out. Gourmet Coffee and Tea is available.

Pro Shop: The Pro Shop has all of the things you would expect, including some composite sticks and a reasonable selection of safety equipment. If you forget something, they are likely to have it there.

Overall: The Factory Ice House is an excellent facility. The two rinks allow for more stick-and-puck times. It also makes a great place to host a tournament, because of the 2 rink design. While it is a little off the beaten path, it is close enough to be a reasonable alternative.

Directions:Coming from I-40 West take 540 to Exit 16 toward Capital Blvd. Merge onto Capital BLVD and go north about 5.5 miles. The road will open back up to 3 lanes at this point. Turn Right at light on Alt-1 (South Main Street). Go about 8/10 of a mile and the entrance is on the right, slightly hidden behind a shopping center.

From All other directions. Get on Capital BLVD and take it to ALT-1 (South Main Street). Turn onto Alt-1 toward Wake Forest. Go about 8/10 of a mile and the entrance is on the right, slightly hidden behind a shopping center.

Leagues:Men's - B, B/C, C and Over 35 Elite League

Website: www.factoryicehouse.com

HockeyCat Rating: 4.0 paws (out of 5)

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