More ice, more money

With the new ice surface at the Memorial Sports Centre to be ready for the start of next season, the Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association will have more ice time on a weekly basis.
But there’s a catch.
Added ice time requires more money to pay for costs. And that means the FFMHA will be forced to raise registration fees for all players next season.
Minor hockey has asked for 12 additional hours of ice time per week–which would give teams ice time “at least twice a week”–but whether they get that amount will be determined at a meeting with Community Services manager George Bell sometime in June.
“The additional cost will be based on additional ice,” FFMHA president Lynn Kellar said last week. “We’re just not sure of the ice time, it depends on what we get.
“We could be picking up as much as 50 percent of ice.”
Kellar’s initial estimate of the increase would be “approximately $70” per player, adding that figure most likely would prepare parents “for the worst” in terms of costs.
Still, he stressed that number is just a ballpark figure, and predicted the local minor hockey board would have a decision on costs by the end of June.
Dave Egan, an “Ice for Kids” member who played an integral role in getting the second ice surface built, felt Kellar’s figure was too high, especially since the board has yet to sit down and discuss costs.
He said they’ll have to see how much ice time they are going to get, then figure out exactly how much they’ll have to hike registration fees.
Kellar alluded to fundraising to help defray costs but ruled that out for this coming season, adding the board will have to sit down and discuss that option for subsequent ones.
“Fundraising is an option to offset costs but how do we do it?” Kellar asked. “We really can’t do it this year, and it’s difficult because we don’t know our costs.”
Dryden’s minor hockey board has used concession sales as a means to help raise money to reduce registration fees.
Still, the new ice surface here is a much needed one. Many local teams and organizations have lost ice time in past years during January and February to tournaments and figure skating test days.
Kellar is optimistic that won’t happen again–or at least not as often–with the new ice surface.
In past seasons, teams have been forced to travel to Emo, International Falls, and even Rainy River to fulfill their ice time needs. That’s not expected to be the case with the two ice surfaces in town.
“People were losing ice at least once a week,” said Kellar. “The additional ice time is sorely needed here in Fort Frances.
“It’s going to help players develop tremendously with more practices,” he argued. “You’ll see a huge difference because players’ development tapers off in January and hits a plateau.
“Now, we’re really going to see the development.”