Saugeen Shores Minor Hockey Association was the latest organization to present to local council asking for a third ice pad to be added in the town soon.
Becky Smith from SSMHA provided council with a delegation, outlining the struggles teams were having getting ice time and requesting that arena needs be reassessed.
Councillor Dave Myette said it was going to be on their radar.
"I'm sure that every council member around this table, if we would wave a wand right now and put a third ice pad in this community we would," he said. "It's just the fact that the paint is barely dry on the new Aquatic and Wellness Centre and we're looking at the next project... But I would urge staff to come back with a comprehensive estimate of what it would take, whether we have the borrowing capacity, whether we could raise community funds to back something like this."
The Town's arena and sports fields needs assessment suggested that a new ice pad could wait about a decade.
Councillor John Divinski told the minor hockey representatives that their planning for a new ice was set for 2034, but significant fundraising could help bump up the timeline.
Smith told council members they were up to the challenge.
"The user groups have come together already. It's a passionate group of people and we are dedicated to making this happen," she said. "We have more youth and young coaches that want to see this happen. We have parents that are driving to Ayton two to three times a week for practice... so to have another ice pad here would be incredible."
SSMHA also requested being involved in the development of the Town’s future ice allocation policy.
Mayor Luke Charbonneau said staff would be happy to work with them on that and said they would continue to work and see how they could get ice sooner.
