Ice users concerned over two arena closures within a week

Matt Duquette was optimistic about the direction the city is going when it comes to finding a new location for a new ice arena in the city of North Bay.

Duquette is the Secretary & Treasurer with West Ferris Minor hockey which has 715 users this year - the highest membership since 2012.  

“The biggest thing we are thinking is, we were pleasantly surprised at how good the user meeting was with the city a few weeks back,” he said.   

“It included all the user groups, hosted by Johanne Brousseau along with the consultants. Great ideas were shared and I think we have made all our positions extremely clear.”  

However, since that meeting, West Ferris arena was forced to close last Friday night as the chill unit in the facility needed to be replaced.  That has been completed and today the arena is back open for business. However, on Thursday night another surprise arena issue came to light as cracks in the walls of Memorial Gardens forced the North Bay Battalion to postpone a crucial contest against the Barrie Colts.  The arena has been closed until further notice by the city.  

See related:  Thursday night Battalion game cancelled

For Duquette, these are clear indications a new arena project needs to get rolling.  

“I think where our stance is, I think these two issues further support - when Johanne makes that presentation - that council needs to act quickly on these recommendations from her,” noted Duquette.  

“I think that is the biggest thing. There is a little more urgency to it now. I think it has been highlighted especially that West Ferris is aging, not really gracefully, but I think the report they are going to get is going to be very, very good and we hope that council acts on it quickly.”  

Duquette credits the city for doing a fantastic job last weekend helping to move ice bookings around to accommodate the NOHA Peewee AA championships which took place at Pete Palangio and West Ferris last weekend.     

See related: West Ferris arena shut down

While West Ferris arena is open, the question of when Memorial Gardens will reopen is still unknown. The building is shut down to the public today as the city and engineers assess the situation.   

One source told BayToday.ca that the city could re-open Memorial Gardens as soon as Saturday.  An update from the city is expected by this afternoon.

The North Bay Midget AAA Trappers host the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves in game three of the Great North Midget League finals at the Gardens on Saturday night and on Sunday, the North Bay Battalion is scheduled to host the Peterborough Petes at 2 p.m.