Are you or your kids playing hockey too late? Times suck? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Jayems · 09-30-2007, 11:54 PM

I'm looking for some people to talk to about the crappy ice times, more so of the higher levels (bantam, midget etc) who have to play late at night on school nights... or work nights.

Doesn't matter if you are a player or a parent, coach, whatever.

I'm looking for reactions to the announcement by the mayor of $300 million for recreation in the city, and what this will mean for people who are affected by crappy ice times. This CAN include rec. players, because they get the worst times.

If you want to chat, PM me.

Thanks in advance.

James.

Dan02 · 10-01-2007, 01:02 AM

We'll see how much of that money actually makes it to new rinks, but for the next few years there is definately going to be a shortage.

MelBridgeman · 10-01-2007, 01:11 AM

I was a player in the early to mid 90's playing in the AA system.
I was also a coach in the AA system until recently.

We only played one a week on school nights with the latest game starting at 9:30 - the other game was either Fri/Sat/Sun depending on the level.
practices are always between 4:00 - 5:30 rarely are they late...in fact they are too earlier

it hasnt change one bit since i played...thats a 10 year span.

Jayems · 10-01-2007, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan02

We'll see how much of that money actually makes it to new rinks, but for the next few years there is definately going to be a shortage.

Almost all of it is for rinks.

$40 mil to upgrade existing facilities
$14 mil for 2 new sheets of ice at south fish creek
$20 mil for 4 new rinks at COP (2 hockey, 2 training)

Few more, don't have my info in front right now.

Jayems · 10-01-2007, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

I was a player in the early to mid 90's playing in the AA system.
I was also a coach in the AA system until recently.

We only played one a week on school nights with the latest game starting at 9:30 - the other game was either Fri/Sat/Sun depending on the level.
practices are always between 4:00 - 5:30 rarely are they late...in fact they are too earlier

it hasnt change one bit since i played...thats a 10 year span.

I went out to several rinks today and found that parent weren't complaining. They found ice times to be adequate, the facilities to be in functioning condition, and they don't have issues with ice time. That was novice hockey moms though, I want to see what Midget or Junior players/parents have to say.

MelBridgeman · 10-01-2007, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayems

I went out to several rinks today and found that parent weren't complaining. They found ice times to be adequate, the facilities to be in functioning condition, and they don't have issues with ice time. That was novice hockey moms though, I want to see what Midget or Junior players/parents have to say.

A/AA/AAA (Midget) Level - one game during the week usually - rest on weekends
Practices almost always starts between 4pm-5pm 3-4 times a week - possible late friday or Saturday practice

AAA midget different ball game may not follow the scedule above, but these guys get priority, these kids are serious about their hockey - at that level most kids and parents are glad to be there.

Midget B - i think these guys get screwed with late practices, but they may practices once or twice a week if that.

Junior C - not sure, i think these guys go late, but i dont think they have many practices, most games on weekend...they may have one game per week on weekdays, but you are usually out of High School by this point

Dirty Mr. Clean · 10-01-2007, 06:44 AM

I love that Dave announced the new ice rink plan after Alnoor has been saying it a week prior.

mykalberta · 10-01-2007, 09:47 AM

Alnoor is also planning on building rinks once per year with money that he can get from cutting wasteful city spending. Bronco's plan is all privincial money.

MYK

Byrns · 10-01-2007, 09:54 AM

I'd rather have better roads than a new rink IMHO.

HOOT · 10-01-2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byrns

I'd rather have better roads than a new rink IMHO.

Calgary will never have good roads no matter how much money they spend.

Bill Bumface · 10-01-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byrns

I'd rather have better roads than a new rink IMHO.

Better roads combined with our city planning philosiphy suck. People just move further away because of better roads and the better roads are quickly jammed again.

If we stopped the sprawling of our cities borders, it'd be a different story, but there is way too much land available to do that.

In the interests of everyone mass transit (new LRT lines) and recreational facilities are realistically a much better place to be dumping our money... as much as I'm loving what Crowchild is becoming and what is about to hapepn to Stoney.

Flashpoint · 10-01-2007, 11:11 AM

I want a new wave pool.

Can I get a "Hell Yeah!"?

Dan02 · 10-01-2007, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOOT

Calgary will never have good roads no matter how much money they spend.

seconded, theres no such thing as good roads in a big city.

Nabber · 10-01-2007, 12:19 PM

Yeah AA and AAA players usually get priority when it comes to ice times, well I'm sure younger players don't play that late either. It's the rec guys and Junior C players who get screwed. I don't even play hockey during the winter fulltime as the 11 o'clock times just aren't worth it. I organize a team in the alberta summmer hockey league and the times are great, if I was able to get those times in the winter I'm sure I'd make more of an effort to organize a winter team.

FlamesKickAss · 10-01-2007, 01:29 PM

I play in HNA in the winter. We have late times yes but most of the really late ones are saturday nights. Like last saturday we started at 11:15. Plus if it is during the week its not like you play every night. I don't mind it, its the way it is and should be. We should have the people that have to go to school earlier, the kids we can't switch them to later times.

Where are they planning on finding people to work at these new arena's? It's not like it is a lucrative position money wise, so I just don't know.

GrrlGoalie33 · 10-01-2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayems

Almost all of it is for rinks.

$40 mil to upgrade existing facilities
$14 mil for 2 new sheets of ice at south fish creek
$20 mil for 4 new rinks at COP (2 hockey, 2 training)

Few more, don't have my info in front right now.

There's a new facility going in in Saddleridge. IIRC, it's going to be more like Cardel Place.

There's no doubt that we need new facilities in this city. In the past couple of years, we have lost two rinks (Fairview and Bowness). That affects everyone...Hockey, Ringette and Figure Skating. We felt a big difference last year.

I play Ringette and in the last two years we have had three teams lose their ice completely due to a trickle down from minor hockey. Two of those teams had their ice time for 15+ years.

Every year, we have 2-3 teams that keep getting their ice time bumped back. One team was at 8:30 two years ago and now they're at 11:00, again a trickle down from minor hockey.

At this point, most of us count ourselves lucky to still be able to get ice to play.

showtime · 10-01-2007, 03:13 PM

Junior C practice times vary, I know some teams you had like 5 all year. Our team did about 6 a month some which included 1030 start times which sucked huge. Most games started around 7-8 but you'd get a couple a month that started around 945 which means your leaving the rink around midnight.

V · 10-02-2007, 01:07 PM

The NCHL is building their own rink to try to get some better start times for their league. I don't know if that just means that prices for the league are too high, but it seems like a good idea to me. If I can get a couple games in at 8:00 instead of 11:30 I'll be thrilled.

Jayems · 10-02-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V

The NCHL is building their own rink to try to get some better start times for their league. I don't know if that just means that prices for the league are too high, but it seems like a good idea to me. If I can get a couple games in at 8:00 instead of 11:30 I'll be thrilled.

Yeah, I play in the NCHL too (Div. C North)... Its all good... but the way they are going about it is odd. They want captains to pay some money up-front... and the land is out by Shepard. So for people (like me) in the NW that would suck, but if the times were at least 7:00 or something, then its ok.

Tron_fdc · 10-02-2007, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayems

Yeah, I play in the NCHL too (Div. C North)... Its all good... but the way they are going about it is odd. They want captains to pay some money up-front... and the land is out by Shepard. So for people (like me) in the NW that would suck, but if the times were at least 7:00 or something, then its ok.

What's your team name? I'm in Div C south, and I think we play a few north teams