I Worked the Night Shift at the Rink. I Wasn’t Alone

Start writing...Working the night shift isn’t for everyone. It’s quiet, isolating, and at times, unsettling. But as a broke college student trying to juggle classes and bills, it was the only job that fit my schedule. So, I became the overnight custodian at a local hockey rink. I was prepared for long hours, cold temperatures, and maybe even a few puck dents. I wasn’t prepared for what came next.

The Perfect Job—or So I Thought

The rink was an old, mid-sized arena built in the 1970s. It had seen better days—flickering lights, rusty pipes, and a slightly sour smell from decades of sweat and skate spray. Still, it was steady work. My duties were simple: sweep the locker rooms, resurface the ice with the Zamboni, restock vending machines, and make sure everything was ready for the early morning practices.

Most nights were uneventful. I'd pop in earbuds, blast a podcast, and clean on autopilot. But around week three, things started getting weird.

Something Felt Off

It started small. One night, I was refilling the vending machine when I heard what sounded like someone skating on the ice. I had already locked the main doors. I walked toward the rink to check.

The arena was dark except for the dim emergency lights casting long shadows across the glass. I peered through the boards. The ice was empty, silent. I laughed it off—maybe the compressor made a weird noise or the wind hit the side of the building.

But the sound kept happening—more than once.

A Hockey Bag That Moved Itself

A few nights later, I was sweeping out the locker rooms when I noticed one of the player benches had a large black hockey bag resting on it. That wasn’t unusual—sometimes coaches forgot things. But when I came back five minutes later, the bag was on the floor. Zipped shut.

I hadn’t heard anyone. The doors were still locked. I reviewed the security footage—just static. That camera hadn’t worked in months, apparently.

Keyword: working night shift alone, night shift ghost story

Unexplained Footsteps in the Halls

One of the eeriest experiences happened around 3 a.m. I was in the office drinking coffee when I heard footsteps echoing down the hallway. Not just random creaks—deliberate, heavy footsteps like someone in skates walking across the concrete.

I called out, “Hello? Anyone there?”

No answer.

I walked out and looked down the corridor. Empty.

I wasn’t someone who believed in ghosts, but the logical part of my brain had run out of explanations. There were no scheduled maintenance crews, no deliveries, and no sign of forced entry. Still, I wasn’t alone.

The Freezer Door Incident

The rink had a small walk-in freezer for sports drinks and team snacks. One night, I was organizing inventory when the heavy door slammed shut behind me. It locked automatically from the outside.

Panic set in. My phone was in my jacket outside the door. I started pounding and yelling. It felt like forever—but after maybe three minutes, the door creaked open slowly on its own.

No one was there.

Keyword: night shift horror, creepy things that happen at night

I Wasn’t the Only One Who Noticed

I finally mentioned these experiences to Jeff, the day manager. He gave me a strange look and said, “You’ve seen it too, huh?”

He went on to tell me that several employees over the years had experienced strange things—moving objects, whispers, even a full figure in the stands that vanished when approached. Some claimed it was the spirit of a high school player who died during a game in the 1980s.

At first, I thought he was messing with me. But he was serious. “Don’t worrya added. “Whatever’s here... it’s just stuck. Doesn’t seem angry.

Why I Stayed

I kept working the job for another few months. The incidents continued—lights flickering, voices whispering my name, lockers slamming shut. But I started to talk to it.

“I’m just here to clean. You do your thing, I’ll do mine.”

That seemed to work. Things quieted down.

Looking back, I can’t say for sure what was happening in that rink. Maybe it was my tired mind playing tricks on me. Or maybe there are things we still can’t explain.

All I know is this: I worked the night shift at the rink. I wasn’t alone.



Whether you believe in ghosts or not, working alone at night in a quiet, cold building messes with your mind. My story isn’t the only one like this—night shift workers around the world report strange, unexplained experiences. Maybe it’s our brains trying to fill the silence. Or maybe the night reveals things we don’t see during the day.