The buzzer is going off on ice time capacity in Collingwood, and councillors will consider coming up with a new game plan next week.
At their regular meeting on Jan. 27, councillors will consider a motion originally put forward by Coun. Kathy Jeffery to have town staff create a plan to maximize ice facility availability, which would include a capital plan to completely enclose the Central Park outdoor rink, adding dressing rooms and minimal viewing seating.
Council will also consider directing staff to come up with a plan for alternative outdoor skating in Collingwood.
The motion came on the heels of Collingwood Minor Hockey Association (CMHA) president Dave Epp deputing to council at their Jan. 13 meeting, pleading for help in trying to adapt to a recently announced policy change through the Ontario Hockey Federation, which will mean any player can play in any league unencumbered by border restrictions starting next season.
The new province-wide policy, unveiled on Dec. 17, removes residency restrictions for players in U10 and above, across all levels of minor hockey from AAA to house league.
“Collingwood is a high-demand location. Everybody wants to be in Collingwood,” Epp told councillors at that meeting. “I’ve got a pile of emails from people asking what Collingwood hockey is going to look like next year because they want to come here.”
“We’re going to be turning away players. We will have to cap it. We’ve never experienced that before, but we’ll be experiencing it now,” he said.
Ice time in Collingwood has been a hot topic for years, and the town has long-term plans to eventually build a multi-use recreation facility in order to ease the strain. However, the plans are still being looked at through a joint feasibility study being undertaken in collaboration with the Town of the Blue Mountains, and the results have yet to make it to either council table.
The motion to be considered on Monday notes that the development of any future multi-use recreation facility is still in the early stages, the completion of which will not be timely to meet the urgent demand now.
Council’s regular meeting will take place on Monday, Jan. 27 starting at 2 p.m. Any members of the public may attend in person in the council chambers at Collingwood town hall, or virtually by Zoom webinar. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the town’s YouTube channel here.