I don’t think anyone in Vernon would like to see better arena facilities than I would, but I don’t see the progress in replacing a sheet of ice for a sheet of ice.
If this vote were for a non-fancy, stand-alone twin rink facility, I would be 100 per cent for it. Replacing a sheet of ice for a sheet of ice isn’t going to allow us to increase the amount of teams invited for tournaments. It isn’t going to allow rec leagues to expand and have decent starting times.
Years ago, the city tried to organize a novice hockey league for adults. They could only get 10:30 p.m. start times. Trying to get players, refs and scorekeepers out for single games at that hour proved impossible, so the league folded. I envision a twin facility, something like the one in Chilliwack, on the northwest corner of Kin Park, with sport fields between it and Kal Tire Place.
Now that would be progress.
Hubie Petersen
Vernon
