Quick links
rink rat
DCHP-3 (Apr 2025)
n. & adj. — Sports, Informal, Slang
a person, esp. a child, who spends a lot of time at the local hockey arena.
Type: 4. Culturally Significant — Given the central position that the sport of hockey occupies in Canadian culture, it is no surprise to learn that the term rink rat, which names a person who spends most of their spare time at the local hockey arena, has existed for a long time, at least since the early 20th century if not earlier (see the 1934 and 1942 quotations). Rink rat continues to be in active use nearly a century later (see both 2023 quotations, Images 1 and 2).
Similar to parkade, which is common in both the former British colonies of Canada and South Africa, the term rink rat is most commonly used in both Canada and New Zealand (see Chart 1). OED-3 considers it "North American colloquial".
The term is listed in COD-2.
Similar to parkade, which is common in both the former British colonies of Canada and South Africa, the term rink rat is most commonly used in both Canada and New Zealand (see Chart 1). OED-3 considers it "North American colloquial".
The term is listed in COD-2.
See: parkade
In the early period, rink rats was a common hockey team name (see the 1915 quotation from Ontario, the 1922 quotation from BC, or the 1925 US quotation in OED-3).
Quotations
1915
GRIMSBY may not have a closed rink or a team in the O.H.A. but it still has lots of hockey matches. [...] There is about seven eleven teams in the town now, pretty nearly every street in the burg boasting one, and oh such names! There is the "Rink Rats," the "Tack Eaters" the "Bankers" the "Beavers" the "Maple Leafs" each school has a team and then we have games with Winona, Beamsville and Jericho.
1922
LEFTOVERS FADE BEFORE RINK RATS Slipping one over on the Leftovers, St. Saviour's Young Men's club team in a fast hockey clash yesterday afternoon, the Rink Rats of doubtful origin, got away with a 4-3 victory. The scorers were: Rink Rats, McVicar, H. Reiley, C. Reiley adn McQuaig. Leftovers, Hamilton, 2; Hinton, 1.
1934
Preston Town League hockey will be reorganized for 1934 at a meeting which is to be held here on Wednesday evening. In the past few years this league has proved very successful, while it has provided material for the junior and intermediate clubs of this year. The Steel Shank sextet have been the winners for the past two years, and it is expected that this club, along with the L.O.Y.B., Parker Steels and the Rink Rats, be represented in the league this season.
1942
A visit to a junior hockey club’s dressing room is a revelation to the uninformed. Let’s drop in on St. Boniface Athletics for example. The players pick out their favorite seats when the season opens and stay there for the balance of the campaign. Don’t ask me why [...]This is as good a time as any to put in a word for those genial gents, often called “rink rats,” a term they won’t disclaim, around the Olympic rink. It’s guys like “Jersey” (we don’t know his last name) and Don McCoy who we suppose is a professional, who make the Olympic such a friendly spot.
1957
[Headline] Rink Rats, Belles [a hockey team from Belleville] in Post-game Battle.
1964
[Headline] Rink Rat Became Harvard Bookworm
1965
I was a rink rat at the Forum [in Vancouver] in the days before the Zamboni (the motorized monster that cleans and resurfaces the ice between periods in hockey games).
1978
The coach admits his players will be trying to win each match but says, “The fans don't care that much about victories as long as the kids play their best.”
Ken is somewhat of a rink rat, devoted to his favourite game. You can find him at the arena directing team practices three times a week, and at two weekly games.
1996
But Prosofsky makes no secret that his first love is hockey, and always has been since his mom put him on skates in the family backyard in their home in Dalmeny when he was just 18 months old.
"I'd watch Tyler and I just wanted to be like him. Hockey was all there was to do in Dalmeny (in the winter)," and Garrett admits he was a rink rat, at the rink or on the family rink in the backyard every day.
When the family moved to Saskatoon when he was in Grade 8, Garrett lived in the Raider zone and in his first year in Saskatoon's minor hockey system, he started to realize that he had some hockey ability.
2008
Both Hansen and Grabner, who have played on the same line with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, had early exposure to the game. Hansen's father, a former Danish national team member, played professional hockey in suburban Copenhagen and introduced his rink-rat son to the game at age 10. Grabner lived across the street from an arena in Villach, a small city near the Italian and Slovenian borders, and began skating at age 5.
2013
Goudreau was a veritable rink rat at the time.
"I would sleep at the rink," he said.
But then, in an odd twist, he stopped playing for his "paroisse," at the bantam level.
"My dad said school was more important," Goudreau said.
2023
Bunny learned fast the need for co-operation, dedication and discipline in maintaining peace and harmony among the troops. She never took a time management course, because she had long mastered that skill before needing it. Besides, the idea of her studying time management is akin to Scotty Bowman taking coaching tips from a rink rat or telling Oscar Peterson to practise his scales.
2023
"I know I'm a bit of a rink rat," Tardi said. "So maybe that plays a little bit of a part in it that I'm always wanting to go to the rink and maybe somebody who's a little older maybe doesn't have the energy that I do to do that."
And he's got a similar take on the game to Koe.
"I think when I was back skipping in juniors, I called a bit of a non-traditional game. Kevin kind of does, as well, so maybe that's a part of why he wanted me on the team with him, because the way I view the game is a little bit different. I think I'm a lot more aggressive than junior curlers of my era anyway. And I know Kevin is a fairly aggressive game-caller, as well, so that works hand-in-hand.
References
- OED-3 • rink rat
- COD-2
Images
Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 16 March 2023
Image 1: A few rink rats waiting to be let onto the ice, 22 Sep. 2021
