Ice Use by Non-hockey Events Questioned
By Ryan Schlehuber
Questions were raised at a St. Ignace Recreation Advisory Committee meeting Wednesday, January 9, over booking non-rental events at Little Bear East Ice Arena during open weekends. Scott Winkelman, president of the St. Ignace Hockey Association, questioned why an event like the broomball tournament, a fundraiser for the city's Recreation Department that was scheduled for January 5, was to be played on the ice rink when it could be played outside, allowing the city to rent the ice that day.

The city waived the rental fee, since the event was designed to raise money to help keep the facility solvent.

The tournament was canceled, but has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 8, at the ice rink. Last year, the tournament was played on the parking lot of the Driftwood Sports Bar.

At its meeting, the committee considered keeping the ice rink open for possible hockey game bookings or inviting other events to book the facility during open weekends. Committee members agreed that the goal is to avoid having the ice rink empty on weekends, but no action was taken on a suggestion that the booking system needs to be revised.

Hockey teams use the ice from October until mid-March and Mr. Winkelman said the hockey association schedules 75% of its games in advance. The rest of the schedule is adopted as the season progresses, and he argued that if the Recreation Department holds an event for which rental fees are waived, the city loses the chance to make revenue that day, especially if the hockey association decided it wanted to book a game that weekend.

The St. Ignace Hockey Association is the largest user of the arena, organizing up to six youth hockey teams each year, and pays $120 per hour, a discounted rate because it rents more than 200 hours a year. The regular rental fee is $140 per hour.

The committee and the city make every effort to use and promote the ice rink, committee member Marianne Huskey said, and noted the broomball tournament does, in fact, generate revenue for the city.

"We're actually generating more [from the tournament] than if we would have charged at the premium rate," she said.

Erica Mattson, Recreation Department coordinator, said the broomball tournament's $15-perplayer registration, alone, would have generated more revenue for the city than had the hockey association rented the ice for the same eight-hour slot. The department would have received $960 from the hockey association at its discounted rate. Last year, seven teams with up to 10 players participated in the broomball tournament, which included a raffle of several prizes, generating $1,516.

This year, eight teams of up to 11 players had signed up for the tournament at the same registration fee, before the event was canceled, and a raffle and T-shirt sale were planned, as well, said Mrs. Mattson.

The tournament was canceled January 4 owing to a death in the family of volunteer organizer Ryan Schlehuber, who is also the writer of this article.

Mr. Winkelman argued that if the broomball tournament could be held outdoors like it was last year, it would allow the opportunity to book another event at the ice rink that same day.

"I could've scheduled some games on that Saturday, but when I looked, it wasn't available," said Mr. Winkelman. "You could have the best of both worlds if you held the broomball tournament outside and be able to rent out the ice rink. It doesn't need to be held indoors. You can generate money having it outdoors, too."

Mrs. Mattson said she waited until the hockey association turned in its schedule for the season before booking the broomball tournament. She also pointed out two reasons why the tournament was moved indoors.

"Had we held the tournament outdoors January 5, it would've been rained out," she said. "Moving it indoors allowed us to not have to worry about whether we'll have snow or not. Last year, we barely had snow for the tournament. We had to plow more snow on the field just to be able to play."

She also pointed out that the city would incur expenses in preparing an outdoor field, as workers would be needed to haul in snow.

Having the games at the ice rink and not at any particular business location is more inviting for other local businesses to participate as sponsors, Mrs. Mattson added.

Committee chairman Don Gustafson and committee member Fred Paquin both said they would like to find a way to make events willing to rent the ice a priority, while also allowing non-hockey events that promote use of the facility by community residents.

Additional use of the ice rink by non-hockey events is something the committee hopes to expand on, said City Manager Eric Dodson.

"Promoting things like this and expanding out and getting people excited to use their community center is a positive thing," said Mr. Dodson.

Mr. Gustafson said the rescheduled date in March may be a better fit for the broomball tournament because it will not conflict with the hockey program, which will be finishing its season by then, and outdoor conditions of winter thaw leave few activities for community residents.

Youth Hockey Team Receives

Discount on Ice Rental

The committee voted 6-1 to give the hockey association's Mite level hockey team a discount rate for renting ice time at Little Bear East Ice Arena.

Instead of being charged $120 per hour for ice time for its Mite level, it will only pay 50% of that, $60 per hour, for the remainder of the season, which ends in March.

Discounts are only allowed for groups or renters logging more than 200 hours of ice time.

The association requested a break in the rate owing to low participation numbers. The team was dissolved at one time, but has been restarted with six players. The hockey association, according to its treasurer, Doug Goudreau, is trying to entice younger children to pick up the game and make it affordable for parents.

The Mite team shares ice with the association's initiation, or introductory, level team during practices. The initiation level also receives a discount rate, of $30 for use of half the ice rink.

Emily Fullerton of the recreation committee, who voted against giving the hockey association another discount, suggested membership fees to the hockey association should be lowered, rather than lowering ice rental rates.

The committee briefly discussed the operation of the skate sharpening machine, for which the Recreation Department has struggled to collect revenue and reliably keep open. Joe Esson, St. Ignace Firehawks Midget AA head coach, has volunteered to operate the machine for his players and for anyone wishing to sharpen skates.

Mr. Paquin said he and Mr. Dodson will meet with Mr. Goudreau to find a way to collect revenue and to come up with a better schedule. Cost to sharpen skates is $4 per person. The Recreation Department usually collects a $80 a year from skate sharpening.