On a normal week, the Estevan Civic Auditorium would be full of different user groups like Estevan Minor Hockey, the Estevan Skating Club and the Estevan Broomball Association using the surface and dressing rooms.
Last week was decidedly not normal, however.
The building was shut down after a safety inspection, leaving organizations looking elsewhere for much needed ice.
“We don't really know what's going to happen yet,” said Janice Grocholski, coach with the Estevan Skating Club. “Obviously we can't go with less ice because our program has to continue to keep growing and we're already maxed out and overlapping. I'm not sure. We're working with other user groups in the city kind of winging it for this week still.”
The club is starting to double down on the practice ice they get at Affinity Place. With the sectionals competition last weekend — and those kids had worked since the summer in order to practice and train for it — the morning and early afternoon had to do.
“The kids had to skate so they missed school,” Grocholski said. “Obviously that's not a long term option. We cancelled most of our programs last week. We just ended up short. There's nothing we can do about it.”
They lose the Tuesday and Wednesday ice time at the Civic. Their classes are now with two groups at once whenever they can. It's clear there are few long term options available for local teams.
