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12/08/2022 09:25 AMPasquale G. “Patsy” DiLungo Veterans Memorial Ice Rink celebrated its grand re-opening on Nov. 19, following two years of renovations during the coronavirus pandemic. While several groups and individuals played a part in the reconstruction efforts, the rink’s maintainer Chris Avena is among the chief participants in that effort.
“It's a very humbling experience for me,” he said. “There have been so many pieces to the puzzle that have made this building look great. It’s very humbling to be in charge of a building that so many made beautiful. Life’s full of challenges, so I’m ready.”
Chris had set several goals for the reconstruction of the rink, which started with examining the building from the ground-up and grew from there. Fortunately, he is no stranger to the rink, having started his playing and coaching career at the facility over 30 years ago. Chris is also the current head coach of the North Haven High School team.
“I’ve been coaching since I was 22, and I’m 53. It’s been ingrained in me for a long time,” Chris said. “As I’ve been around rinks my whole life, [I asked], ‘what would I love about certain rinks, what would I dislike about certain rinks, how could we make this rink a combination of those two thoughts?’"
Among the new aspects of the rink that Chris helped see through was giving the rink a new sense of direction for attendees, whether they be visiting teams for games or resident families who step into the facilities for the first time since its temporary closure.
“That was one of the things I definitely wanted to see happen. Making sure everything was labeled properly, that we had a screen to display what was going on in the building, where people were going, just in case a representative from the building wasn’t there to greet them. I think we’ve accomplished that.”
Chris is the happiest about the moniker for the rink, naming it after the late Pasquale “Patsy” DiLungo, a sponsor of a couple of the teams he played on when he was younger. The choice was also in honor of Patsy’s son, Anthony, who passed away as well, and with whom Chris skated on the rink every other year for two years.
“I was a year younger than Anthony DiLungo, who was Patsy’s youngest son. Mr. DiLungo was great to us as players. He bought us gear, we wore DFG jackets, which was the name of his electric company, and got to play with Anthony every other year,” Chris said. “With Anthony’s passing as well, just to be able to be the person who’s in charge of the facility that bears their name is so humbling. I certainly put a lot of pressure on myself to make sure it lives up to their standards and what they would hope that the building would have and what it would be to a lot of other people.”
With the re-opening of the rink, Chris’ responsibilities now range from looking after the interior of the building, handling the monetary affairs, and ensuring that its events provide a fun and memorable experience for East Haven residents
“As the facilities maintainer, my job is to run the building. Run the business, keeping it looking the way that it does. But also to make sure that it generates revenue. And that’s the ins and outs of the everyday operation,” he said. “Whether it’s making the ice and driving our brand new WM ice resurfacer, running the pro shop to help generate revenue for the residents of the town, and renting the ice itself. All of that, and making sure it’s a safe environment and place that people enjoy coming to.”
A challenge for Chris going forward is to ensure that each experience for attendees at the rink is a positive one free of stress, which he is looking to achieve through a variety of possible events at the facility in the future, starting with reinvigorating the spirit of hockey after many had missed out on the sport during the pandemic.
“I think missing the rink for two has maybe curtailed enthusiasm from the town as a whole,” Chris said. “But our learn to skate program is up and running. We’re working with East Haven Youth Hockey, from a town and building perspective, to engage the youth more. Show them that hockey is a sport that everyone can enjoy. Put it on people’s radar again. I think it’s something that is totally doable.”
Under his leadership at the newly renovated site, Chris sees a multitude of possibilities revolving around hockey and skating-related events to bring more energy around the rink, and further bolster its appeal and position in East Haven.
“We’re looking to do theme nights from a public skating standpoint, maybe bringing in a DJ and things of that nature to draw more activity around skating. I’m looking into talking with coaches about doing some private lessons, and with figure skating coaches to maybe bring it back to the rink. In the off-season, when the ice is not in, we’re looking to do a variety of events. Bringing back roller skating a couple nights a week, basketball camps, and we’ll see what else we are looking into. Whether we’re hosting a battle of the bands, or a convention or a meeting because the sound system can handle all those events.”
“I want to see the building operating at its max capacity and being something that everyone who lives in East Haven, one, knows that’s there, and two, is really proud that they have in town.”
Reflecting on his work on the renovations and the eventual re-opening of the facility, Chris finds not just the completion of the project a rewarding and humbling experience, but also the support from the town and other groups who contributed to the renovations and eventual re-opening.
“I’m very proud and honored that Mayor Cafora and his administration have been behind this project full-force. Between Cafora and Liz Franco, our Parks and Rec[reation] director, her support and her confidence in me. To the guys who poured cement, our Public Works department, the Finance department, to SLAM, it’s overwhelming.”
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