Minor Hockey Gets Free Pass to County Arenas

Santa has come early for Cumberland Minor Hockey as County Council agreed last night to provide free ice time for the coming season.

The move follows an impassioned plea from a physical education teacher who extolled the benefits of such physical activity and how costs had become an impediment.

Mike LeBlanc met with council earlier this month and asked why hockey was the only physical activity that had to pay in county facilities? He noted that family skating, pickle ball, basketball, and most indoor programs for youth and adults were free while “minor hockey pays through the nose.”

LeBlanc painted a picture of declining enrolment in hockey and suggested the sport was in trouble in Canada.

Council responded last night with a unanimous show of support, passing a motion for staff to ensure youth ice sports would be free beginning this fall.

The policy means free ice time in Springhill and possibly Parrsboro. The Town of Amherst already provides free ice time at the Stadium.

LeBlanc was well aware that the Oxford Arena is largely dependent on ice rentals and the facility director was hoping minor hockey would make a greater commitment. LeBlanc says a plan for increasing weekend hockey tournaments should help support the Oxford Arena.

The plan calls for smaller, more regular weekend tournaments to maximize local facilities and drive business to restaurants, motels and speed the wealth throughout the community. LeBlanc says Oxford would likely gain extra rentals to accommodate activities during tournament weekends.

At present, minor hockey hosts four major tournaments a year that draw so many participants and followers that they fill hotels and motels all the way to Moncton. LeBlanc says smaller, weekly tournaments would be a great economic boon to local businesses throughout the whole season, keeping visitors in local accommodations.

The county’s Director of Finance estimates ice rentals currently total about $50 thousand per year. Andrew MacDonald says assuming that cost in the county budget would not be a burden. He says one third of one cent on the tax rate would cover the minor hockey cost.

During the debate on the motion, councillors lined up to add their positive comments on the move. When all was said and done, Warden Al Gillis said, “I think you have done a great thing here tonight.”

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