Issues with ice time allocation continue to prove problematic at the Graeme Murray Arena.
During the most recent Gravenhurst council meeting members of the the Gravenhurst Thursday Night Oldtimers Hockey League made a presentation to council to shift the timing of their league.
Duncan Sanderson said the league has only been allotted half of the ice time requested. He said last year the league was given a slot that ended at midnight, and the league dropped a team because many didn’t want to play at that time.
He said he made a similar deputation to the council last year but was told it was too late for that season.
Sanderson said the league has played in Gravenhurst for the past 35 years and has roughly 100 players.
He said the space they have been allotted is not what is required or what the league requested.
Mayor Lorenz thanked the league for its presentation and noted one of the challenges is successful youth programming that requires ice time. She added the ice allocation policy makes youth programming a priority.
Sanderson said the problem isn’t youth programming, but out-of-town and new users.
CAO Scott Lucas said ice allocation continues to be challenging year over year.
He said staff will provide the council with updated ice time statistics and a breakdown of user groups.
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Gravenhurst should be prioritizing its local organizations as number one! It is a shame that the old timers league and the young adult league have had to drop teams and or buy ice in Bala especially considering that these teams have had the same ice time/slots for years after years! Let’s remember that these older snd past members of Gravenhurst minor hockey or area have family’s and jobs that they too have to juggle to allow them to still be able to participate in the sport they grew up playing and the only opportunity for them to lace up 1 night a week in the winter months !I know as a hockey mom and parent that ice time canbe challenging and every organization is trying to up their hours and time slots but I also know that those other towns and organizations ensure the older leagues both female and male over the age of midget or junior A or C are getting reasonable ice time as well! As a town we as tax payers and the Town of Ghravenhurst responsible for booking our arena’s ice slots need to be accountable for ensuring our town clubs and teams are catered to first most and then the other outside teams snd clubs can pick up those leftover slots. AFTERALL the spots they are looking for are for extra ice time over and above their own rinks ice time slots as they have already maxed out their allotted prime times… these are also slots that at the end of the season or if game schedules come out or tournaments get scheduled the ice just sits empty as teams are required to book well in advance before game schedules or tournament dates are set!
Priority for ice in our town should always go to local clubs and teams regardless of age and the remaining slots should be filled by out of town teams & clubs😊🏒 ⛸️