Bob Schank, 52, fell in love with hockey when he was growing up on Long Island in New York. He landed a job at a shop near Madison Square Garden, where he got to know hockey greats like Wayne Gretzky.
Schank uses a machine to sharpen skates in his BIA shop. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
After moving to Maine, Schank opened Hockey Bob’s Pro Shop at the Biddeford Ice Arena, where he’s been for the last 10 years. Known around the rink as “Hockey Bob,” he sharpens skates and repairs and customizes equipment. He also makes custom bags for professional and college hockey teams. “I love the sport of hockey, everything about it,” said Schank, whose two children play and whose wife teaches skating.
Schank works to fine tune the blade of a hockey skate by hand. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
The only thing that wears him down are the long hours that go hand-in-hand with the sport – especially on the weekends, when the shop opens in the morning and doesn’t close until 9 p.m.
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