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Will Weather Cooperate for Hockey in Williamsport?

WILLIAMSPORT — If you have not noticed, it is not exactly hockey weather outside. Still, the new pro-team in Williamsport started training camp Monday wit...

WILLIAMSPORT -- If you have not noticed, it is not exactly hockey weather outside. Still, the new pro-team in Williamsport started training camp Monday without ice.

The outdoor rink at Bowman Field in Williamsport was supposed to have ice by now.

Crews have spent the last couple weeks building the rink for the upcoming hockey season.

Mother Nature, on the other hand, has not quite been working with them and a string of warm days has prevented any ice-making.

"Originally a couple of weeks ago supposed to get on the ice hopefully today, probably not until Wednesday," said Williamsport Outlaws Coach Chris Firriolo.

Firriolo is still optimistic there will be ice long before the first game next Wednesday.

Players showed up for the first day of training camp and without ice are looking forward to the first day they can skate and get ready for the season ahead.

"Once it gets going the next couple days we'll be on there twice a day having workouts. We'll be tip-top ready to go," said team member Trevor Karasiewicz.

A little more than a week away from the first game that is supposed to be played at Airmen Pond at Bowman Field, and the temperatures are in the 60's.

When crews do finally have cold enough temperatures to make ice, they said they have a specialized cover to put over the entire rink to keep the ice there, no matter what the temperature.

"Hopefully the weather will be in our favor, opening night is supposed to be 70 degrees that day. Which is great, probably drop down to 50 at night," said Coach Firriolo.

The ice rink will also be open to the public for skating and lessons. City crews have some final preps to get the outdoor rink ready for a scheduled ribbon cutting scheduled for Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the hockey team hopes fans are ready to brave the elements when the season starts.

"You can play hockey in any weather outside. It's like pond hockey when growing up as a kid. This will be a great experience," said team member Chris Leveille.

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