INNISFAIL – Minor hockey is not quite over yet.
Following the cancellation of the Innisfail Minor Hockey Association (IMHA) season on Feb. 4, the Town of Innisfail looked for a way to continue some form of hockey action that would conform to the current provincial COVID-19 restrictions.
Meghan Jenkins, the town’s director of community services, said conversations soon began with IMHA officials to see how the town and the association could potentially get local kids on the ice, despite the recent cancellation of the season, and within the parameters of current COVID-19 restrictions.
“We’ve been communicating with Innisfail minor hockey as much as we can, about this being an opportunity,” said Jenkins. “They (IMHA) have the certified coaches and the equipment. We have the ice and the ability to do a more of an open registration than their situation."
She said the town basically opened up the idea for existing IMHA coaches to see if any were interested in offering their expertise to a skills development program.
“They are not allowed to actually play. We are calling it skill development,” said Jenkins, noting that as of last week provincial COVID restrictions only allow a maximum of 10 participants, nine players and a coach. The skills development program would not have any type of shinny-type games; focusing only on individual skills, like skating, shooting, puck control, and puck movement.
Bruce Rafuse, president of the IMHA, said the association agreed to help the town by spreading the word out to certified coaches to see if there was interest in volunteering with the Town of Innisfail to run the proposed program, and if there was, to give Jenkins a call.
“The town is looking after registration, administration, insurance, and collecting money. They are doing everything,” said Rafuse. “But we are benefitting because our kids are staying active in hockey.
“I think it is great what the town is doing,” he added. “As far as being a parent in the community it is great that we have something to offer kids during this time.”
Jenkins said player registration will work the same way as its swimming lesson program or yoga class. She added the town is now looking at setting up one-hour sessions for U7, U9 and U15 players. The cost for each participant will be $10 an hour. Jenkins said the plan is to have sessions in the evenings, Monday to Friday, beginning at 6 p.m.
Jenkins said on Feb. 23 it was hoped the sessions could start later in the week, or this week by the latest.
“It is like a drop-in. They will be able to register for as many as they want. It is not like you have to sign up for six weeks of a program,” she said.
With the ice now removed from the arena’s red rink, the skill development sessions will take place on the blue rink ice surface, which will remain in place until at least the end of March.
Meanwhile, the blue ice surface is also being used by figure skaters from the Innisfail Skating Club on Mondays through to Thursdays, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Jenkins said it’s hoped the ice will also soon be used by private out-of-town hockey clinic groups.
“We don’t have this firm. They haven’t used the ice yet but they are looking at bookings,” said Jenkins.
As for the now hard surface at the red rink, local lacrosse players with the Innisfail Minor Lacrosse Association are scheduled to start pre-season training at the facility on March 8.
“They will be limited to skill development as well at this point based on the COVID restrictions,” said Jenkins.
For more information on the new hockey skills development program, call Jenkins at the Town of Innisfail office at 403-227-3376.
