Arenas are booked solid, forcing people to travel far for ice time
Ice time is at a premium in Edmonton between hockey, figure skating, ringette and other ice sports and the shortage is causing problems.
Edmonton has 21 city-operated arenas and 31 rinks, but even with those numbers, there isn't enough space for all the groups that want to use them.
"We put in our request for the ice, just like every other user group, and we're even cautious on what we request, because we know we're not going to get that full request," said Jeremy Haluschak, the executive director of Hockey Edmonton.
The program currently has more than 8,000 participants and are competing with other hockey organizations, on top of other sports.
"How the city operates is they provide ice to a number of user groups," Haluschak said. "Hockey as a whole is going to get an allotment of ice, speed skating as a whole is going to get their allotment of ice … and then it gets divied up.'
There are privately-run arenas that are helping alleviate the pressure on the public ones, including the Silent Ice Centre in Nisku.
"It's been jam packed, and the best part about it is it's jam packed with users from all over the city and surrounding areas," said J.J. Hebert, with Silent Ice Sports Entertainment.
"(Hockey) is growing, and I think that's a great problem to have, but with that comes issues like ice availability, and is there enough ice for all the users?" Hebert said.
The problem with non-city run arenas is the added cost, according to Haluschak.
"You're paying now $100, $200 more an hour to utilize those private facilities," said Haluschak.
A similar problem can arise when travelling outside of the city to use rural arenas, which has been happening more. The increased costs of travelling, sometimes as far as Bon Accord, Thorsby or Gibbons, is put on the participants.
"By forcing us and our participants to go out to non-traditional areas, we're adding those barriers to that sport," Haluschak said.
Hockey Edmonton and Silent Ice Sports agree that more arenas are needed, especially as some existing facilities near or reach the end of their lifespan.
"The one at Coronation was taken offline and it's supposed to be replaced by the Lewis Farms one just up the road here, but that has still not happened," Haluschak said.
"The city has said some of these (other arenas) are already past their expiry date, and what happens when those go down?"
It's not just the youth leagues that are having trouble getting ice time, with adult user groups being "sometimes neglected," according to Haluschak.
"Edmonton had been a leader in sport and amateur sport for a long time and what we'd like to see is that commitment to investing in our facilities, to encourage people to be active, healthy people," Haluschak said.
Outside ice sports, pickleball and basketball facilities in the Nisku area are also having trouble facilitating space for all the groups that want to use them, added Hebert.
"I think it's outstanding that people are getting out and being active and continuing to participate in sport," Hebert said.
"We just need to find a way to continue to keep up with the facilities, whether it's new facilities or maintaining old facilities, hopefully we're able to do that as a community."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Evan Kenny
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bird flu, measles top 2025 concerns for Canada's chief public health officer
As we enter 2025, Dr. Theresa Tam has her eye on H5N1 bird flu, an emerging virus that had its first human case in Canada this year.
Ottawa police identify victim of Christmas Day homicide in Hintonburg, charge suspect
The Ottawa Police Service says the victim who has been killed on Christmas Day in Hintonburg has been identified.
Christmas shooting at Phoenix airport leaves 3 people wounded
Police are investigating a Christmas shooting at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix that left three people injured by gunfire.
Your kid is spending too much time on their phone. Here's what to do about it
Wondering what your teen is up to when you're not around? They are likely on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram or Snapchat, according to a new report.
Plush toys recalled due to choking hazard
Health Canada announced a recall on a series of plush toys due to a choking hazard. Anyone who has purchased an elephant, giraffe, lion, tiger and/or panda plush toy with an attached baby can return them to the place of purchase for a refund.
6,000 inmates stage Christmas Day escape from high-security Mozambique prison
At least 6,000 inmates escaped from a high-security prison in Mozambique's capital on Christmas Day after a rebellion, the country's police chief said, as widespread post-election riots and violence continue to engulf the country.
Azerbaijan observes day of mourning for air crash victims as speculation mount about its cause
Azerbaijan on Thursday observed a nationwide day of mourning for the victims of the plane crash that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured as speculation mounted about a possible cause of the disaster, with some experts saying that the airliner was damaged by Russian air defence fire.
Bird flu kills more than half the big cats at a Washington sanctuary
Bird flu has been on the rise in Washington state and one sanctuary was hit hard: 20 big cats – more than half of the facility’s population – died over the course of weeks.
Donald Trump says he urged Wayne Gretzky to run for prime minister in Christmas visit
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump says he told Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky he should run for prime minister during a Christmas visit but adds that the athlete declined interest in politics.