Some of Vancouver‘s minor hockey associations are expressing their concern over the Vancouver Canucks‘ potential practice facility project.
In a joint statement released on Friday, the Vancouver Angels, Vancouver Thunderbirds, and Vancouver Minor Hockey Association said the following regarding the Canucks’ recent practice facility update of signing an MOU to build at Britannia Ice Rink.
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“…We are disappointed by the report that the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Canucks are exploring building a practice facility that could leverage an existing community rink at Britannia without creating desperately needed new ice capacity.
“The City of Vancouver has not added a net new municipal ice sheet since the 1970s, yet demand for ice time remains exceptionally strong and continues to grow. Minor hockey associations throughout the city are operating at capacity and, in some cases, turning away prospective players because sufficient ice time is not available. The shortage impacts not only minor hockey but also a wide range of community ice users, including figure skating, adult recreation leagues, and other ice sport organizations.”
In the project proposal released on Thursday, the Canucks and City of Vancouver’s plan indicates that, rather than building a brand-new facility itself, the construction process will focus on creating a separate section attached to the pre-existing rink, referred to as the “training venue.”
With this in mind, the statement made by the Vancouver Angels, Vancouver Thunderbirds, and Vancouver Minor Hockey outlines how the idea of a new practice facility complex, one they compare to the Seattle Kraken’s Community Iceplex, could be “a conversation worth having” regarding its benefit to both the team, the city, and the communities being impacted by potential work done at Britannia.
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“A partnership involving the Vancouver Canucks, the City of Vancouver, and a private-sector development or operating partner could help expand ice access, manage capital costs, and create a lasting legacy for future generations of Vancouver families,” they state.
The full statement can be found via @vanminorhockey on Instagram.
Dec 21, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of the NHL puck and Stars logo and hockey stick and the face-off circle during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Vancouver Canucks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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