Los Alamos County Councilor Sara Scott, Community Services Director Cory Styron and Recreation Program Manager Mike Lippiatt drop a ceremonial puck Wednesday at the Los Alamos Ice Rink. Photo Courtesy LAC

Los Alamos Hockey Association President Bob Nolen shakes hands Wednesday with Los Alamos County Councilor Sara Scott. Photo Courtesy LAC

COUNTY NEWS RELEASE

Los Alamos County Councilor Sara Scott, County Department Director of Community Services Cory Styron, and Recreation Program Manager Mike Lippiatt dropped the ceremonial puck today, Dec. 29, at the Annual Hockey Tournament/Jamboree hosted by the Los Alamos Hockey Association at the Los Alamos Ice Rink.  Representatives from LAHA recognized the trio with a ceremonial puck for their efforts last year that got LAHA team members on the ice to safely practice while adhering to changing public health orders related to the pandemic.  

As shelter in place orders were extended or renewed and State mandated capacity limits for ice rinks had to be reconsidered as the Los Alamos rink is an outdoor facility, Scott, Styron, and Lippiatt worked through many hurdles to get the rink open and skaters on the ice.    

According to Lippiatt it was a team effort that took many conversations within the County and with the State before a light scheduling plan could be reached that appeased all concerned.

“Sara was relentless in her efforts to help us get the rink open, and we all were extremely flexible, and changed our approaches and direction multiple times, to finally get LAHA and the public some ice time,” he said.

The rink was finally able to open on December 26, 2020.  Although no hockey games were held in Los Alamos, LAHA team members were able to get in necessary practice to compete at other venues.  

The ceremonial puck presented to Scott, Styron and Lippiatt has “Thank you LA County” engraved on it with the LAHA logo.