Use of Arena Room Debated
Youth Hockey Team Seeking More Space
By Ryan Schlehuber

Disagreement between fitness center users and members of the St. Ignace Hockey Association is brewing over the issue of converting the Little Bear East fitness center's cardiovascular room in St. Ignace into a temporary locker room for visiting hockey teams for the remainder of the season.

The St. Ignace Recreation Advisory Committee, which oversees the St. Ignace City Recreation Department programs and operation of Little Bear East, agreed during its meeting Wednesday, December 12, that it wants to see plans before it allows a visiting team to use the room for locker space during tournaments with the St. Ignace Firehawks Midget AA team.

Adding a temporary locker room for visiting players would allow Firehawks players to keep their equipment in one of four permanent locker rooms, instead of having to pack it up during tournament play, which the team has been doing since it was formed last year.

There are five remaining Saturdays that the room would be used as a temporary locker room if the plan is approved, said Erica Mattson of the St. Ignace Recreation Department. The hockey season goes through February.

The request by the hockey association was brought to the committee at its last meeting November 28, at which time it formed a subcommittee to study the idea of moving heavy cardiovascular equipment, like treadmills, up against a wall and installing a mobile curtain or wall for protection. Wooden benches would then be put in when a visiting team occupies the room.

This would allow the Firehawks team to have a permanent locker room, said Paula Goudreau, manager of the team.

The subcommittee brought no recommendation to the December meeting, other than to suggest the city building inspector approve any construction plans, which have yet to be created.

Both Mrs. Goudreau and Firehawks Head Coach Joe Esson have said they would be responsible for upkeep and any expenses incurred to create the temporary locker room. The team would be respon- sible for moving equipment back and cleaning the room afterward.

The hockey association ultimately would like to have the room permanently, and have space added to the fitness center to house the cardiovascular equipment. The alternative is creating a temporary locker area in one of the corners of the rink, however, that would be more expensive, said Mrs. Goudreau.

Jamie and Clayton Graham of St. Ignace, who are fitness center members, said they are concerned with the supervision of young teenagers while they are in the fitness center. The Grahams said the responsibility will ultimately fall on the team's supervisors and coaches.

"There were a number of times that there's a group of 16- to 18- year-old boys in there and they're going to act their age if not supervised," said Mr. Graham, who is the Mackinac County probate judge.

"If you are working out and they are not behaving, it's a little intimidating," said Mrs. Graham.

Committee member and fitness center member Marianne Huskey said the committee should not have to disrupt the fitness center operation because the hockey team wants its own locker room.

"Why should fitness center users have to sacrifice that room for the hockey team?" she argued.

Mrs. Huskey also said she would like a long-term commitment from the team that it will stay in St. Ignace if a fifth permanent locker room was added to the facility.

At last month's meeting, Mr. Esson, who did not attend Wednesday's meeting, said he is committed to staying in St. Ignace. Mrs. Goudreau reassured the committee Wednesday that the commitment is still there.

"We might get stuck with this temporary locker room if we can't add on," warned committee member Jerry Fenlon, also a locker room subcommittee member.

At last month's meeting, Fred Paquin said tribal funding may be available to construct an addition to the fitness center, but cautioned that the city may not see any commitment until after the tribal election in June. Mr. Paquin is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians board and of the city's recreation committee.

The city's building inspector and the committee must review plans for the temporary locker room before anything is approved, said Don Gustafson, chairman of the Recreation Advisory Committee. In the meantime, Mrs. Mattson will review upcoming tournament schedules and try to arrange game times so there is not a waiting line for a locker room.

The committee agreed to allow Mr. Esson to operate the arena skate sharpening machine before and after Firehawks practices and games. The players will not be charged the $4 fee, but non-players will continue to be charged, Mrs. Mattson said, and must first purchase a ticket from the Recreation Department office.

Committee members said they would like to see a more structured, dependable schedule for skate sharpening, but said they appreciate the volunteer service Mr. Esson has offered.

The committee declined the hockey association's request for a discount on ice rental for its mite level team for this year, however, it will continue discussion about that at its meeting in January.

The regular fee for renting the ice is $185 per hour. The hockey association pays $120 per hour. The mini-mites team pays $60 per hour.

Doug Goudreau, the hockey association's treasurer, said the association is trying to build its youth programs and is trying to find ways to make the sport as affordable as possible for all families.

"Anything you can give us will help," he said to the board.