January 23, 2001

RinkChat, NH - Mountain Stream, one of the two rooms that comprise RinkChat, has been designated as the venue for the 2001 RinkAwards ceremony, an official announcement said Monday.

"It was a tough decision between several different potential places," said Samuel Stoddard, founder of the RinkAwards. "Mountain Stream seemed like the best choice."

In expectation of an unusually large crowd, this week Stoddard will begin renovation work that will expand the room's capacity.

"Mountain Stream can seat up to 15 comfortably, and we've squeezed in as many as 22 or so," Stoddard said. "But we're expecting a much larger crowd for [the RinkAwards ceremony], and we need to be able to accommodate everyone."

In spite of the effort it will take to prepare Mountain Stream for the ceremony, Stoddard insisted that it is the best of the available venues. He said the inconvenience of not leasing a larger room is outweighed by the significance Mountain Stream has to RinkChat fans.

"After all," Stoddard said. "Mountain Stream is where a great many RinkChat Archives originally took place."