Climate change could kill ice hockey in Canada

[troutman]

Have at it.

http://grist.org/list/climate-change...key-in-canada/

But a new study published in the Institute of Physics’ journal, Environmental Research Letters, shows that milder winters and earlier springs have caused Canada’s ice season to noticeably shorten over the past 50 years.

By mid-century, it may no longer be possible to play ice hockey or skate on outdoor rinks without artificial intervention. “If you draw a straight line into the future you get zero rink-flooding days by mid-century which implies that at some point in that period you can’t build a rink because it is not getting cold enough,” said Damon Matthews, a geographer at Concordia University and author of the study.

[WilderPegasus]

But all the money we save on snow removal can be put towards artificial rinks.

[Coach]

I think the rising cost of equipment/registration is a much higher threat to hockey than anything. Although I agree, the ODR season is significantly shorter and more sporadic with warm weeks ruining rinks and it not being cold long enough to get them back into shape.

That said, I don't think anything will take hockey away from this great country.

[Resolute 14]

lol

[Tinordi]

Climate change is hilarious right Resolute?

[bc-chris]

this is crazy talk!! cRaZy!!!

[Hemi-Cuda]

because it's impossible to play hockey where it never freezes...

[puckluck2]

Climate change is bologna. Millions and millions of years and we somehow have a real grasp on how the climate should act?

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Iginla

Climate change is bologna. Millions and millions of years and we somehow have a real grasp on how the climate should act?

so the fact that so much glacial ice is melting at an unheard of rate is just a myth?

[pseudoreality]

Its stayed below zero since Oct 22 in Yellowknife. We've also already have 45 days of colder than -30 this year. Pretty stupid to lump all of Canada in one category. We're not all Vancouver.

[Azure]

Last year was a pretty mild winter in Manitoba. This year we haven't been able to play hockey because the temperature is gone below -30 numerous times.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

so the fact that so much glacial ice is melting at an unheard of rate is just a myth?

No that it just might not be as uncommon as we think. Who knows what the norm is. Maybe this is a 10 million year cycle we are in. Heck we thought the earth was flat not that long ago, wouldn't be amazed that there are other things we don't know.

Edit: I guess I should clarify that man changing the climate is what I think is bologna.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Iginla

Climate change is bologna. Millions and millions of years and we somehow have a real grasp on how the climate should act?

Huh? I can somewhat get on board with arguments about the true extent to which humans have impacted climate change, but you're denying that it exists? That's a new one.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Iginla

No that it just might not be as uncommon as we think. Who knows what the norm is. Maybe this is a 10 million year cycle we are in. Heck we thought the earth was flat not that long ago, wouldn't be amazed that there are other things we don't know.

Still don't know how you can claim climate change isn't real.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by valo403

Huh? I can somewhat get on board with arguments about the true extent to which humans have impacted climate change, but you're denying that it exists? That's a new one.

No, I should have been more clear. When I think climate change I always assume its talking about man changing the climate which is what I think is a myth. Climate change is real but I don't think it's anything we understand yet.

[Puppet Guy]

I've always thought that street hockey is really the definitive Canadian sport anyways - not everyone knows how to skate, and everybody's played street hockey at least once.

[Cowperson]

The costs associated with playing hockey relative to other sporting pursuits will do more to lower participation rates than anything climate change can come up with.

Parents more aware of concussion issues could also play a role.

I stopped in at the IceDen in Scottsdale, Arizona on a sunny, hot day in November and the place was absolutely packed with minor hockey kids. And you're starting to see first round draft picks showing up out of California and Texas.

Not saying climate change can't make a difference in where you play hockey, but if you want to, you'll probably play hockey.

Cowperson

[troutman]

The article should have been called Climate change could kill outdoor hockey in Canada.

[jammies]

I'm personally buying up beachfront property in Inuvik. Come 2050, you'll all be paying me megacash to stay at my chain of ritzy hotels on the balmy Arctic Ocean.

My slogan's going to be "Chez Jammies - home of the midnight tan."

[AR_Six]

On the list of things I am worried about climate change impacting, the ability to play outdoor ice hockey is not high.