The coolest back yard rink you’ll see this year

Iowa can have its cornfields. We've discovered the true Canadian field of dreams, and it's in a back yard in Oakville, ON.

Forget Wayne Gretzky's childhood skating pad. Imagine if Eugene Melnyk had a back yard rink where Sidney Crosby and Steven Stamkos dropped by to play shinny - against their siblings and Melnyk's kids. That's kinda what's going on here on the most amazing playground we've seen lately.

Jamie Dawick, owner of the National Lacrosse League's Toronto Rock, built this homage to all of Canadiana last year. It's a lacrosse box, with his team's logo at mid-floor. The rink comes with with regulation boards and sport court (also suitable for ball hockey) and a basketball court, complete with three-point lines. In the winter, Dawick puts in ice to make it a top-notch hockey rink.

The backyard marvel's a lacrosse pad first and foremost (as the logo would indicate). Dawick's hosted other NLL standouts like Dan Dawson, the 2009 NLL MVP, and his brother Paul, as well as Rock stars Colin Doyle, Bob Watson and Garrett Billings, taking on Dawick's three sons in pickup lacrosse games.

The rink's getting more attention from the NLL's stars. Washington's Lewis Ratcliff said he's jealous of the setup, and Zack Greer, the NCAA lacrosse all-time leading goalscorer, is jonesing for a 3-point shooting contest.

With the Canadian lacrosse season winding down next week and the NLL off until January, Dawick might expect a few more stars to stop by his house in the coming months.

follow Andrew McKay on Twitter @apmckay