Port Charlotte Could Soon Have an Ice Rink Almost in Its Backyard

For Port Charlotte families, this one may be happening just across the county line. And it could be pretty cool. Literally.

A proposed year-round ice rink and hockey academy is being discussed for the corner of Price Boulevard and Orlando Boulevard in North Port — a location that could make the facility an attractive recreational destination for families throughout Port Charlotte and Charlotte County.

Former professional hockey player Igor Gratchev is behind the proposal, and while the rink would technically have a North Port address, its potential audience wouldn't stop at the city limits.

Not even close.

For Port Charlotte parents with children interested in hockey, figure skating or simply learning how to skate, having a year-round ice facility nearby could create recreational opportunities that aren't exactly plentiful in this part of Southwest Florida.

Hockey in Southwest Florida? Yep.

A dedicated rink could potentially introduce an entirely new group of Charlotte County kids to hockey and skating while giving existing players a much closer place to practice. And this isn't being envisioned simply as somewhere to rent a pair of skates.

The proposal includes a hockey academy, potentially creating a dedicated training environment for young athletes interested in developing their skills. That could matter to Port Charlotte families.

Anyone who's had a child involved ice skating or hockey in the area knows that practice isn't just an hour on the field — or in this case, on the ice. There's the drive toEllenton or Fort Myers. The drive home. School. Dinner. Homework. And then you do it all over again.

Put the facility close enough to Port Charlotte, and suddenly a sport that may have seemed impractical for some families becomes considerably more accessible. 

But Don't Buy the Skates Just Yet. There's an important distinction here. This is still a proposal. It isn't a finished rink, construction hasn't begun, and plenty of questions still need answers. But the project could potentially become reality within the next year or two.

That's really the part Port Charlotte residents should keep an eye on.

A facility like this doesn't necessarily serve only the city printed on its mailing address. Youth sports draw regionally. Tournaments draw regionally. Training programs draw regionally. And recreational attractions draw families who don't particularly care whether they've crossed from Charlotte County into Sarasota County to get there.

If the proposed facility eventually includes public skating, youth programs, hockey leagues, lessons, camps or tournaments, Port Charlotte could become a significant part of its customer base.

For now, the property at Price Boulevard and Orlando Boulevard remains an empty lot. But for Port Charlotte parents looking for something different for their kids — or anyone who's ever wished Southwest Florida had another place to lace up a pair of skates — it's suddenly an empty lot worth watching.

Because if this project actually happens,

North Port may get the address.

But Port Charlotte could get plenty of the ice time.