Choices, choices...What will it be?

As some of you know, Goalie Boy is an avid hockey player. He lives it, he breathes it. No lie. He could do without almost anything but having the ability to play hockey.  He is an exceptional goalie.  His hearing impairment and poor eyesight don't stand in his way.  It is the one place he focuses 100%.  It's amazing.  It's like he's a different child when he's on the ice. Do you have a child like this?
Early last month we received news that the doors to our local rink were closing. We put off tellling my son for almost a week. We had to work out the right way to tell him. We knew the news would be devastating. We didn't want him to internalize his feelings and become upset and withdrawn.  I fear that with him.
There is only one rink in our county. The closest ones are an hour away. We wanted to do a bit of research to ease his mind. We are financially strapped but this is the one thing we agreed we wouldn't give up.  If you were in this position, is there something you would find away to pay no matter what?  This is our one thing. 
When we told him we were point blank about it. Honey, the rink's closing next month. The great news is you can still play hockey we're just going to have to drive further. How would you like to check out these rinks? I can not express how lucky we are that as much as it hurt for him to hear the rink was closing, the part he heard most is, "you can still play".
We researched rinks and decided to try one that was almost a straight shot down the highway. We did the drive in about 55 minutes. Figured it was the rink of choice because it would be easiest to drive in wintertime.
Overall we liked the rink. Our main problem was lack of communication. The hockey director wasn't there and no one had a clue on when he'd be in or any details about their in-house league. They weren't helpful. We found out the rink is a hub for travel teams and we're holding off another year on that. Getting info was like pulling teeth.  We also did open skating there and I have to say I was disappointed that the skate guard spent more time chatting up the girls at the snack bar than on the actual ice.
Goalie Boy liked it so we decided that we were good to go. Overall, the pros outweighed the con.  However, yesterday we took a drive a little over an hour in the opposite direction to check out another rink. Part of it was highway but most of it was main, windy back roads. Does that even make sense?
We decided to check it out for a few reasons:

1. One of Goalie Boy's teammates was signed up to play travel there for next season.
2. Some of my daughter's friends are skating there.
3. We heard 3 of the skating coaches went there.

We weren't even halfway there when hubby was going to turn around,  I said, let's go.  It's a nice day for a drive.
Let me just say the drive was worth it!  The rink it bright and spacious.  They just invested in a remodel so it won't be closing anytime soon.  We ran into my daughter's old skating coaches and one of her friends.  It was like fate.  The upstairs has huge floor to ceiling windows on both sides so you can see each rink.  They have a play area up there for the kids.  There's a snack bar with good food upstairs and down.  It's clean and has a HUGE bathroom.  I thought I was in rink heaven, if there's such a place.
My daughter, after seeing it, wants to skate there.  We figured, she'll skate just about anywhere, but she didn't say a word about it when we went to the first rink.  My son is still set on the other rink, even though this one is way nicer and the staff is so friendly and helpful. 
See, once he makes up his mind about something, he's stubborn.  He has heard the first rink has openings for goalies so that's where he is determined to go.  We told him that no matter what he will be have a spot and he will be playing goalie.  No worries.  We are emailing the director of the second rink because he was at a tournament yesterday, so we couldn't speak to him.  My son is upset we're now considering the second rink.
I don't know what we're going to do.  I really don't like the drive to the second rink but it feels brighter and more like family.  That's what kind of rink we lost and that's what kind of rink we want.  I guess, once we hear back on in-house and travel details we'll compare the two rinks and decide.  We need to figure out the cost, how many practices a week and the days and times.
I really wish there was one closer but it is what it is.  If we do go with the second rink I hope my son can embrace it.  He's stubborn, that one. 

He gets it from his dad (ummm, and his mom).

Pros:  Bright, cheerful, helpful, great staff, skating coaches we know, rinks are warmed (no frozen tushes & toes), friends we know
Cons: Long drive, back roads.
Unknown: Cost, days