Sechelt ice users are relieved there is ice at the Sunshine Coast Arena and their schedule is getting back on track. The Sechelt rink opened on Saturday, Oct. 28.
“It’s awesome – it finally feels like we can get the season started,” said Brenda Rowe, president of Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey and coordinator for the men’s league.
“We’ve got a few games left to reschedule. With minor hockey we can use practice time to reschedule games, but with the men’s league the only option we have is just to play longer into the year. There’s no ability to make up games because we don’t have practice times,” Rowe said.
This weekend the Winter Classic Atom tournament will bring 10 teams from the Lower Mainland to Sechelt. Rowe said two teams cancelled a few weeks ago, and although there was a waiting list for the tournament, organizers were loath to fill the tournament spots without knowing whether the ice would be ready.
Normally, the ice is installed the third week of September; however, this year the Sunshine Coast Regional District delayed ice installation at the Sechelt rink due to Stage 4 water restrictions and the need for conservation measures during the drought on the Coast. The only available ice for the latter part of September and most of October was at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre.
Now, Rowe said, “everything is back to a two-rink schedule, so things are back to normal.”
She said all ice user groups had a celebration last Saturday when the arena opened, with approximately 70 skaters, minor hockey players and adult hockey players joining in the celebration.
Rowe said the minor hockey and figure skating representatives will continue to advocate for “long-term solutions, a back-up plan, so this doesn’t happen again. Whether that means recommissioning that well [on the arena site] or storage, we will be advocating for that,” she said.
The lack of officials is another issue for hockey, in both the minor hockey and men’s leagues. Rowe said there will be a course for officiating, in November, and that it’s a good opportunity for teens to make some extra cash. Anyone interested should email: [email protected]
