FRANKLIN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- For the past 7 years, a family in Franklin has had a different winter tradition. 

Instead of building snowmen, the Howell family builds a hockey rink in their backyard. 

Jacob Howell built the hockey rink in his backyard for his kids and their teammates. 

The rink is 40 feet by 80 feet, bumping right up to his property lines. 

He told CBS 58 that he works in construction by trade and builds the framing and netting himself before putting in a liner and flooding it when the weather gets cold enough. 

But it's not just for the family, local kids also benefit from extra time on the ice.