Pickup Hockey and Skating in Maine: Rinks and Drop-In Times

Maine's rink season has started. AllOutMaine lists 28 places to play hockey and 29 places to skate, and 7 drop-in hockey listings. The indoor rinks are running now. The outdoor rinks and ponds open once the cold sets in. Here's where to get on the ice this winter, from noon pickup in Portland to free outdoor skating in Kennebunk.

Drop-in hockey you can join now

These indoor rinks have adult pickup hockey listed on AllOutMaine. Every listing links to its source.

Midcoast Recreation Center, Rockport

It has more hockey drop-ins listed than anywhere else on AllOutMaine. It has an NHL-size indoor rink, plus restrooms.

• Noon Hour Hockey (adult): Wednesdays 12–1 PM, $17 a session
• Tuesday Night Co-ed Hockey: Tuesdays 9:30–10:30 PM, $17 a session
• Dusty Pucks pick-up hockey (55+): Tuesdays and Thursdays 8–9 AM, $17 a session

Session packages are listed for all three.

William B. Troubh Ice Arena, Portland

Adult co-ed pickup hockey (18+) runs Tuesday through Friday, 1:40–2:40 PM. It's listed at $10 a session for residents and non-residents alike, and a 10-punch pass is available. The early afternoon slot works well if you have a flexible lunch or a late shift. The Pine Tree Curling Club league plays here too (more on curling below).

Falmouth Family Ice Center, Falmouth

Two indoor rinks. The Women's Hockey Society drop-in scrimmage is listed for Mondays and Fridays, 9:30–10:30 AM, at $10. There's also free skating on the pond, listed daily 10 AM–9 PM. Pond skating depends on the ice, so check before you go.

Norway Savings Bank Arena, Auburn

Two indoor rinks for public skating and hockey. Shinny hockey, an organized scrimmage, is listed at $10 per person. The listing doesn't have set times, so check the arena's schedule.

Camden National Bank Ice Vault, Augusta

Weekend Warrior pick-up hockey is listed for Saturdays 7–8 AM. No cost is listed, so ask when you sign up.

More indoor rinks to ask about

These rinks are on the map for hockey or skating but don't have drop-in times listed yet. Ask about public skates, stick-and-puck or adult ice. A call or a look at their site is the best first step.

• Penobscot Ice Arena, Brewer: public skate, stick-and-puck and adult hockey are listed
• Sawyer Arena, Bangor
• Alfond Arena (UMaine), Orono: public skating times listed
• The Colisée, Lewiston
• Biddeford Ice Arena, Biddeford
• USM Ice Arena, Gorham
• Sukee Arena, Winslow

If you find pickup times at one of these, you can add them for everyone: tap + → Add drop-in times.

Outdoor rinks and ponds, once it freezes

Outdoor ice in Maine usually waits for a solid stretch of cold, so most of these open later in the winter. Ice comes and goes with the weather. Check conditions before you load up the car.

Waterhouse Center, Kennebunk

An outdoor rink in winter with free public skating, listed daily 8 AM–8 PM. Bring your own skates.

Portland

• The Rink at Thompson's Point: seasonal outdoor rink for skating and hockey
• Payson Park: seasonal outdoor rink, plus a sledding hill with snowmaking
• Riverside Golf Course: 2 outdoor skating rinks, groomed Nordic trails and sledding hills
• Deering Oaks Park: pond skating when it's frozen

Greater Portland and the Midcoast

• Cornelia Warren Four Season Rink, Westbrook: seasonal outdoor rink
• Blake Skating Pond, Yarmouth: an outdoor pond with lights, handy after dark
• Brunswick Town Mall Ice Rink and Brunswick Recreation Fields (Lishness), Brunswick: both seasonal outdoor rinks
• Pineland Farms Outdoor Center, New Gloucester: an outdoor skating pond next to groomed Nordic trails

Central, Western and Northern Maine

• Caldwell Ice Rink, Brewer: winter season only
• Bucksport Municipal Ice Rink, Bucksport: winter season only
• Lengyel Fields, Orono: seasonal ice rink
• Richmond High School & Marcia Buker, Richmond: seasonal outdoor rink
• Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Center: an NHL-size outdoor rink near 90 km of Nordic trails
• Mount Blue State Park, Weld: a skating rink plus Nordic trails and a sliding hill

Curling: the winter sport anyone can try

Curling is a great way to get on the ice without skating. Belfast Curling Club has 3 indoor sheets. Its season runs mid-October to March, with Learn to Curl sessions in October and January. In Portland, the Pine Tree Curling Club league plays at Troubh Ice Arena. Check with either club for how to join.

Tips for your first pickup skate

• Bring full gear for pickup hockey. Most rinks expect it, and many require a helmet with a cage. Ask the rink what they need.
• Pack a light and a dark jersey. Teams are often split by color on the spot.
• Arrive a little early. Some sessions cap the number of skaters or ask you to sign in first.
• Every level is welcome. Shinny and open pickup are usually relaxed. Pass the puck, keep the slapshots down, and you'll fit right in.
• Skating only? Public skates and outdoor rinks need nothing more than skates and warm layers.

How to find a game

• See every listing on hockey drop-in times and skating drop-ins.
• Browse rinks for hockey or the skating map to find one near you. Follow a rink to hear about new games there.
• Check upcoming pickup games across Maine.
• Got ice time or a frozen pond and a few friends? Post a game and nearby players who play hockey will hear about it.

Looking for more cold-weather ideas? See Indoor Pickup Sports in Maine This Winter.

FAQ

Where can adults play pickup hockey in Maine?

Drop-in hockey is listed at Midcoast Recreation Center in Rockport, Troubh Ice Arena in Portland, Falmouth Family Ice Center, Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn and the Ice Vault in Augusta. See all hockey drop-ins for times.

How much does drop-in hockey cost in Maine?

The listings range from $10 a session (Troubh, Falmouth, Auburn) to $17 a session (Midcoast Recreation Center). Prices change, so check with the rink before you go.

Where can I skate for free in Maine?

Waterhouse Center in Kennebunk lists free public skating daily from 8 AM to 8 PM in winter, and Falmouth Family Ice Center lists free skating on the pond. Many outdoor town rinks are open once they freeze.

When do outdoor rinks open in Maine?

It depends on the weather. Most outdoor rinks and ponds need a steady stretch of cold, so they usually open later in the winter. Check each rink's page or town before you go.