Hockey fans debate Calgary's ice shortage

Hockey parents, coaches and players discussed Calgary'sshortage of ice rinks Wednesday night at the Max Bell Arena,where suggestions includedexpanding outdoor rinks and creating two or three hockey "seasons."

Calgary has 48 sheets of ice available for public use, most owned by the city or community groups. A report commissioned by the city concludedCalgary will need at least 10 more sheets by 2010.

Right winger Cameron Anklewich, 10, took the first shotWednesday night, directing it at the widely held belief thatthere should be equal ice time for players of all levels.

Anklewich is an elite player and said higher skilled players like himdeserve more ice time.

"Perhaps we should look at giving different divisions different amounts of ice."

Bryan Van Vlit, a hockey dad with a son and daughter playing for Bow Valley in the southeast, doesn't agree with the idea of more ice for the higher levels.

"If you start when you are10 or 11years old, you're going to be down in the lower levels to begin with and then if you're penalized by getting only one game and one practice on top of it, you have no opportunity to move up. So you're basically relegated to the lower level for good."

Bob Nicholson, president of Hockey Canada, suggested having two or three distinct hockey seasons, a move thatwould utilize the indoor rinks year round. He also suggestedmaking moreoutdoor rinks.

"I think we should be flooding the soccer fields," he said.

Van Vlitsaid hestill has to warm up to the idea of more outdoor rinks.

"They're not going until late November or early December, but the hockey season kicks off in early September, soyou're going to go two or three months without any outdoor ice."

Hockey Calgary, the city's minor hockey organization, says there were about 13,000 players enrolled in minor hockey last season, making up about 750 teams.

To ensure players got ice time, team rosterswere increased and the length of some gameswas shaved by 15 minutes. Because some of the prime ice time is booked by adult recreational leagues, who don't want to give it up, many minor hockey players left school early to practise in the afternoon, said the organization.