(Submitted Photo/City of Prince Albert)

By Rob Mahon

Minor Hockey's New Digs

Minor Hockey eagerly watching rec centre construction

Jun 13, 2022 | 5:00 PM

“Anything new and shiny is great,” Dallman said. “We have a lot of history in those older buildings, like the Kinsman and the aks ground on their Aquatic and Arena Recreation Centre.

Many groups have already been watching the process with great interest, among them the local minor hockey teams and coaches.

They are looking forward to a modern rink that will be their new home soon.

“There has been a long lead up to that with planning going back a number of years, even pre-COVID with talks of new facilities being built,” said Tyson Dallman, director of Hockey Operations for Prince Albert Minor Hockey, “and a potential new arena for the Raiders and all that stuff. It’s exciting that they’re breaking ground and we’re going to see some stuff going up.”

Dallman said the plan for the city is to keep one of their existing rinks open for minor hockey, specifically the Kinsmen Arena. Because there are two ice surfaces coming into the new recreation centre, that will mean more available ice in the city.

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“First, we’re going to gain a surface, which helps with designated ice time at city facilities, which are kind of our prime spots for that,” said Dallman. “But not only that, getting kids more ice time, with brand new facilities we’re going to be, hopefully, a destination again that teams from out of town want to come to tournaments here.”

In addition to the new recreation centre, a new district is expected to grow around it, including hotels and restaurants. This is another thing Dallman hopes will spur the growth of tournaments in Prince Albert.

“Anything new and shiny is great,” Dallman said. “We have a lot of history in those older buildings, like the Kinsman and the Steuart. Having new facilities and having stuff state of the art and modern is good.”

According to Dallman, PA Minor Hockey did get some input on the design of the facility, including dressing room space and storage areas. It will be exciting to see that design come to fruition in what could be the first season in the last three unaffected by the pandemic.

“I think we’ve done a pretty good job, especially last year, with dealing with it but staying open and continuing play,” said Dallman. “The season previous to that, obviously, we didn’t have much to go on, but I think moving forward we’re kind of in the clear, hopefully, this coming year.”

Dallman added registration for the season ahead is already open.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP