Laurel Ice Gardens - Maryland Terrapins
- Gregory Koch
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
Laurel Ice Gardens 13800 Old Gunpowder Road
Laurel, MD 20707
Year Opened: 1996
Capacity: 500
Here Comes the Hockey Turtle
The American Collegiate Hockey Association is the leading organization for club collegiate ice hockey in the United States and is a step below NCAA ice hockey. Most of the teams that compete at this level do not sponsor hockey at an NCAA level, although a few do. The Maryland Terrapins compete in Division II of the ACHA, and as there is no ice arena on campus, they play their home games in nearby Laurel, at the Laurel Ice Gardens, a municipal rink that is home to several different amateur teams.
The Ice Gardens actually includes several different rinks, and the Terrapins typically play their home games in Logsdon Pavilion, a rink located in the back of the Ice Gardens with some permanent seating plus standing room. If you are attending a different team's event on a different rink here, the experience may be somewhat different, as not all of them have permanent seating.
Food & Beverage 4
The Laurel Ice Gardens has a nice little snack bar called Icebreakers Cafe, which serves up a good selection of food. There are some tables in the cafe where fans can sit and eat before the game or to warm up during intermission, or you can take your food into the rink and eat it there. Menu options include burgers, spicy chicken sandwiches, quesadillas, chicken tenders, and pizza. French fries are also available as a side.
Like many ice rinks, The Gardens also serves breakfast all day, as they cater to a wide range of skaters who are coming in and training at different times. You can get an egg and cheese sandwich (sausage or bacon optional) or pancakes with eggs. A Caesar salad with grilled chicken is also available and is considered breakfast for some reason.
To drink, bottled water, soda, and hot coffee are available. Prices for an entree will typically run around $12, while breakfast costs $6-$7.
Atmosphere 4
Although Logsdon Pavilion is the nicest of the three rinks at the Laurel Ice Gardens, it is still a fairly basic experience. There are a few rows of elevated metal bleachers with very little legroom, and when those fill up (which they will), fans can stand along the glass and watch from there. The good news is you are up close to the action. There is also a PA announcer who announces starting lineups, goal scorers, and penalties, which is not a given for this level. A scoreboard behind one goal shows fans basic information, including time remaining on penalties.
The team offers some promotions throughout the season, including fundraisers and giveaways. Overall, the atmosphere at a Terps hockey game is good - just be sure to arrive early if you want a seat. However, there is little point in arriving more than half an hour or so early, as another event will still be going on the rink.
One thing to keep in mind is that it is very cold in the ice Gardens, even compared to other hockey rinks. Be sure to wear appropriate attire.
Neighborhood 3
Laurel is a very pleasant suburb of Washington, D.C., but unfortunately, the best parts of the town are several miles from the Ice Gardens. You will find restaurants here of just about any variety, from Olive on Main serving Mediterranean fare to Mid Atlantic Seafood to Bella Indian and Italian Cuisine, which sounds like a weird combination, but the locals say it's quite good. You will have to drive a bit to get to any of this from the Ice Gardens, though, which brings this score down.
Fans 4
The Terrapins draw a couple of hundred fans to a typical home game at the Ice Gardens. The crowd here is extremely knowledgeable about the team and the players, and many of them go to almost every home game. Although they aren't the loudest bunch, and the fact that many of them are spread out along the glass doesn't help with the crowd noise, they quite clearly care about their team.
Access 3
Laurel is located right off Interstate 95, just north of where it splits from I-495 (the Capital Beltway). There is a large, spacious lot at The Ice Gardens, and while it gets crowded, you should be able to find a space. If you enter through the front doors, you will need to turn left and walk through one of the other rinks, then through the doors of Logsdon Pavilion. Staff can direct you if you are unsure of where to go. You can also enter through the side doors, which will put you right in Logsdon. There are tables selling tickets at both entrances.
There are several restrooms located throughout the Ice Gardens, including one directly outside the doors to Logsdon Pavilion. You should generally not have to wait to use one, though it depends on what else is going on at the other rinks. Since many people use them after coming directly off the ice, there is often water on the floor, but there is no reason to suspect it is anything more sinister.
Return on Investment 5
Admission to Maryland Terrapins hockey games is just $5, with tickets sold at the door. Cash and Venmo are accepted, but the cell signal is quite spotty inside the Ice Gardens, so you may struggle to pay with your phone. It is best to bring cash just in case.
The food at the Icebreakers Cafe is a bit expensive, but it is of good enough quality that it seems like a fair price.
Overall, a Maryland Terrapins hockey game is an excellent value.
Extras 3
There are game machines in the lobby of the Laurel Ice Gardens for kids to play with, including a claw machine.
Free programs with rosters for both teams are available at the ticket table for Terrapins games.
A third and final star for all the friendly staff here, both those working for the Ice Gardens and those working for Terps Hockey.
Final Thoughts
While club hockey doesn't have all the fancy bells and whistles of the NCAA level, a Maryland Terrapins hockey game is still a fun experience. Fans of the Terps, or of hockey in general, should check out a game here at the Laurel Ice Gardens.
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