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The rink in Allan is the first in Saskatchewan to install REALice. (Submitted photo/Lindsay Nordmarken)
Ice, Ice baby

Central Sask. rink taking the lead on installing REALice in an effort to cut operation costs

Jan 8, 2021 | 1:04 PM

A rink in a central Saskatchewan community is welcoming a new type of ice surface after feeling the financial pinches from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The communiplex committee that oversees the operations of the Logan Schatz Memorial Arena in Allan decided to try out REALice as an energy and cost saving option after equipment breakdowns.

Director of Recreation Lindsay Nordmarken said Allan is the first arena in the province to give REALice a try.

“The system removes the need to heat the water and treats the cold water to remove the air bubbles thus creating a strong, dense ice surface,” Nordmarken said.

At the end of last season, a water heater broke down which led Nordmarken to look at alternative options while working at home knowing it would most likely be a year of uncertainty and less income.

The community is renting the system for this season in order to give it a good trial. It was installed at the end of November and so far, so good.

“Power and utilities is one of our biggest expenses aside from staffing so anyway we can lower those costs and put savings back into the facility was important to us,” Nordmarken said.

With the artificial ice plant not being started this year, Nordmarken referred to it as scaling back their operations to ‘bare-bones.’ The community of Allan has not had natural ice for over 20 years making this quite the change.

The paint that can be seen on the current ice is the leftover paint on the sand base of the ice from last season, making it appear as if it has been painted with how clear the water is from the system.

The paint that can be seen on the ice is what was leftover on the sand base of the ice from last season. (Submitted photo/Linsday Nordmarken)

When looking at utilities, costs are at about half of what they were at this time last year.

“It is mainly a community facility this year with a lack of minor hockey and tournaments which is generally what our facility is used for,” Nordmarken said. “It was just a no-brainer to say this was good enough, save those costs and expensive and enjoy it the way it is.”

On a typical year, minor hockey teams from nearby Saskatoon use the rink in Allan for practice and for weekend tournaments. The biggest revenue for the facility is the volunteer-run kitchen when there are those area rentals for the tournaments and events, which Nordmarken called the ‘biggest hit’ the rink has taken.

As for how REALice would hold up or compare to a busier season, Nordmarken doesn’t have that information just yet but the committee saw a lot of pros with the system.

“What I do know is a lot of energy goes into heating water for those hot floods,” Nordmarken said. “This also doesn’t require maintenance unlike water heaters, and a lot of small towns are volunteer ran and not everyone has that expertise either so you are paying for that as well.”

Having recreation opportunities available is essential in times when residents feel isolated.

“With restrictions the usage isn’t allowed in the capacity that we are used to but people are looking for opportunities to get out and be active and ultimately we wanted to prove that recreational outlet for them,” Nordmarken said.

The community also did not put in their curling ice this year but instead have repurposed the curling arena to provide a walking track. The track is available three days a week and has already been well utilized by snowbirds as a safe place to get in an outing.

“Like many small towns, the rink is where the community gathers and I think everyone is missing that opportunity to feel that sense of community,” Nordmarken said. “I know we are definitely not alone in feeling like this.”

She added that she would definitely recommend getting REALice discussions underway to other communities.

angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser

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