Arena Ice Waiting On Go Ahead From Saskatchewan Health

Barring major changes from Saskatchewan Health the City plans to re-open arenas on the regular staggered schedule commencing mid-September.

During questions to Administration surrounding the quarterly reports Councillor Heather Eby asked about the status of arena ice and when the plan was to make it available.

In response Parks and Recreation Director Derek Blais said the entire schedule rested upon Saskatchewan Health approval and forthcoming details of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan when it came to ice arenas. But at this time the regular schedule for ice was what the Department was planning on.

The Moose Jaw Midget A Mavericks shake hands on March 12th with the visiting East Central Fillies as Hockey Canada's nationwide suspension of play took effect - MJ Independent file photo

“We had a good conversation today with minor hockey. But again a lot of it has ro do with what the Saskatchewan Hockey Association (SHA) is going to come out with,” Blais said. “They (the SHA) are yet to announce any type of start-up plan for their Association to do with sanctioned activities.”

The SHA has control over teams and players who want to be part of their sanctioned play. The SHA in turn must follow the directives of Hockey Canada.

When Hockey Canada announced the suspension of play on March 12th all SHA teams had to follow suit. All teams participating in sanctioned play were forced to wrap up their seasons immediately.

The suspension in Moose Jaw impacted the playoff hopes of numerous teams (see photo above).

“They (the SHA) are in turn waiting on Sask Health or public health. They (Saskatchewan Health) have indicated they will have something back in the next couple of weeks…once we get the final information for ice arenas we can confirm our dates,” Blais said.

At present though the tentative schedule is to follow the normal ice schedule.

Unless there are changes ice would be available at the Kinsmen Sportsplex in mod-September with the Bert Hunt Arena on October 1st and the Walls Boschuk Arena on October 15th.