By Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
BEDFORD - Municipal officials overseeing the four-pad arena currently under construction in Hammonds Plains are hoping the new facility will help under served groups who perhaps suffer most from HRM's ice crunch.
Bedford Coun. Tim Outhit said last week that HRM has discovered there are more than 600 women on a list just waiting for an opportunity to play ice sports.
"This comes at a time when we have some of the worst obesity levels in the country and are encouraging people to become more active," he said. "The second issue to keep in mind is adults like the gentlemen's hockey guys are always getting bumped around in favour of the younger folks. We could use three four-pads to help deal with the capacity issues."
Outhit points to ringette players he knows from his own neighbourhood who have to travel to Oxford for practice ice. He said in addition to the waiting lists for female ice sports, the travelling they're forced to do when they make a team is difficult.
"What we're doing is making a conscious effort to help women who can't play, and those who must travel far distances to play," Outhit said. "It gives more time for everybody and levels the playing field a bit."
He said adults are also an overlooked group. Those seeking ice time are often forced to play at very odd hours, if at all.
"We're basically trying to make time available for the guys who typically have a hard time finding ice time to play and for the women who simply can't play," he said. "We're not saying we're giving them all the time, but we want them to have an opportunity here."
The ice crunch facing HRM is well documented and has long been recognized by local sports teams and enthusiasts seeking precious ice time that's spread far too thin.
A domed ice surface that opened in Rocky Lake earlier this year has been operating continuously since it's kickoff and is being used by a number of local sports organizations.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca
