Mountain View Ice Arena — Local services in Vancouver

I began driving from Chehalis to MVIA to watch one Vancouver Rangers Junior A hockey game per month this winter and will continue making the trip for Senior A league doubleheaders on Sundays for another month or two. These are my impressions as a spectator.

First, MVIA is easy to get to and very accessible. Mill Plain Boulevard is a major road in Vancouver, lots of stoplights but the traffic is usually okay and it's a straight shot to the rink once you take the exit off I-205. MVIA is right next to a church and between the two, there's plenty of parking out front.

The configuration is one I've never seen at a rink. When you enter the building and approach the ice, there's an open area from the red line to one of the goals, with some picnic tables and attached swivel chairs placed along the dasher boards and against the rear wall. Good for people who want to eat food and watch the game.

The stands are raised and run between the red line and the goal at the other end. Beneath the stands are four locker rooms and two restrooms with a breezeway between them. These appear to be the only restrooms in the entire building, which could be a problem if you really have to go but have to stand in line instead. A minus. The heaters above the stands do a decent job, but they aren't used often. By the way, Rangers fans get into the game much more than Junior A fans up in Seattle. They create a good atmosphere. Too bad the local newspaper is more supportive of the hockey team across the river than the one in the city they represent, but is it what it is.

The snack bar has very good prices and the quality of food is generally pretty good. Patience helps because the food can come out pretty slowly, but it's worth what you pay when you get it.

Like a lot of places, the staff is sort of hit-and-miss: Most are good, friendly employees; a handful of others seem to be biding time until they get a better job. In general, though, I generally find the people good to work with at MVIA. There appeared to be a siege mentality among employees at another rink I used to attend games at up north, the kind you see when management browbeats the people under them, but I see nothing of that here. Happier people, much more smiles.

In all, I've liked watching hockey games at MVIA. There's room for improvement but it's one of the better rinks I've been to...

At this point in my life and probably for decades to come, this is now my home ice rink (I was in LA for 12 years before). In spite of the years of threatened closure by its owners, the church next door (which used to be the second rink), MVIA has actually gotten better in recent months. In fact, I would say that it has gotten a LOT BETTER than ever. I'm talking primarily about the ice quality, but I also mean the atmosphere and staff reception. As for ice quality, I now consider MVIA to have the best ice in the Portland/Vancouver area. That's a big deal, because up until last spring, my fellow speedskaters and I had considered it to be the absolute worst ice in the area. Kudos to the management for this incredible turnaround. I always eagerly look forward to the next time that I will be skating there.

[2/8/2022 update] I am almost certain that MVIA is now among the best ice sheets in the West Coast, and that's saying a lot. [5/12/2022 update] Too much to explain since the last update, but to summarize, the ice quality is on the mend, and on its way to becoming once more the best ice on the West Coast. Way to go, MVIA! [7/18/2022 update] Even with deep hockey ruts, the quality of the ice continues to be good for speedskating practice. [9/19/2022 update] The ice continues to be good for speedskating, but I sincerely hope for the surface to be shaved down soon, to get rid of the ruts. [3/5/2023 update] I am very happy to report that the ice is getting back to the point of being as perfect as we're ever going to see at this rink, and on an absolute scale, it is pretty darn good, especially for speedskating. Still the best ice on the West Coast? That is TBD. [1/21/2024 update] At the very least, I give them credit for maintaining consistently good ice for speedskating, and that is given that they have a busy...

Don’t rent skates here, they are not maintained or checked before being given to people paying to rent them.

I paid the $18, got skates, laced them, then waited for the ice to be smoothed. Once I got on the ice the left skate wasn’t sharpened at all so no weight could be put on it.

There was no inside edge and it was unsafe to be used. I got off the ice and turned them in. I explained the issue and the kid behind the counter was pretty rude about it.

They were very busy so I get it but, their skates should be checked daily especially if they get this busy. They had no more size 10s so I had no choice but to leave.

I asked if they do refunds and they do not so I paid $18 to skate 10 feet with one sharpened skate. The staff is usually very nice but today wasn’t the case.

I used to play hockey and I am getting back into skating after almost a decade off the ice. This place is close to home and is a great facility but the rentals are a liability.

They really should be able to give refunds for cases like this and really should check their equipment before giving it to paying customers.

I guess I won’t be coming back until I get my own...