Ice Shortages Hit West Coast of Canada

No, this has nothing to do with global warming. It’s about not enough ice rinks for all the ice sports. This article deals with hockey, but as you read keep in mind; speed skating, ringette, figure skating, sledge hockey, and public skating all competing for the same slab of ice.

With the 2010 Olympics coming, Vancouver and the Lower Mainland are facing a shortage of ice rinks as existing venues are being renovated. One of the more prominent closures was the UBC Thunderbird Arena closing down. Phase 1 is now nearing completion with the opening of the newest rink, Rink C. Father Bauer Arena is slated for re-opening September 4th. Phase 2 won’t be completed until the summer of 2008 with the opening of the Olympic & Paralympic Ice/Sledge Hockey Venue (I hope they come up with a new name before then).

Back in March of 2007, Port Moody officially opened up the new Petro-Canada Ice Centre in Port Moody. The new centre includes a fully accessible international-size arena with two rinks, renovated curling rinks, a new gymnasium and fitness centre, a viewing lounge as well as outdoor seating and a field house for the sports field. Perto-Canada contributed $800,000 - hence their name on the store-front. This project was actually a renovation to a rink that originally opened in 1972. The upgraded arena became operational last December. Since then, ice time at the rinks has been absolutely fully booked.

But a more ice eventually becomes available in the Lower mainland, Calgary starts complaining about their shortage.

Calgary has 48 sheets of ice available for public use, most owned by the city or community groups. A report commissioned by the city concluded Calgary will need at least 10 more sheets by 2010.

Hockey Calgary, the city’s minor hockey organization, says there were about 13,000 players enrolled in minor hockey last season, making up about 750 teams.

This of course doesn’t include any of the Adult Recreational teams o casual hockey players that are competing for the prime ice-time.

To ensure players got ice time, team rosters were increased and the length of some games was shaved by 15 minutes. Because some of the prime ice time is booked by adult recreational leagues, who don’t want to give it up, many minor hockey players are leaving school early to practice in the afternoon.

Beer-Leaguers responsible for decline in youth education? Thats a bit harsh. The interesting note about that last paragraph is that parents are willingly pulling kids from school early, or in cases of tournaments, pulling kids for days ( I speak from experience); because they have to.