KAMSACK, Sask. — While repairs to the Broda Sportsplex have left Kamsack without its main ice surface to start the hockey season, Kamsack Minor Hockey has found a way to keep players on the ice.
According to Kamsack Minor Hockey president Zach Nahnybida, the closure has not delayed the season. If anything, he said, the organization was able to secure ice time elsewhere sooner than it would have received local ice.
"It hasn't delayed the season at all," said Nahnybida. "If anything, it actually sped it up because we were able to book ice in other places that had ice before we would have had ice in town."
The biggest impact has been the inconvenience of operating outside the community. Practices are currently split between the Cote First Nation arena, located about 10 minutes north of Kamsack, and the arena in Canora, approximately 30 minutes away.
Teams may have to travel to a third location later in the season, depending on ice availability.
"We're right now booking ice for practices between two different locations," said Nahnybida. "It's a very large inconvenience to not have it in town."
The additional travel has created challenges for families accustomed to having the arena only minutes away.
"People are used to having a five-minute drive after work or between supper and going to the rink," he said. "Now you have close to half an hour or 40 minutes that you've got to be gone before you can get there."
Despite the disruption, Nahnybida credited parents, volunteers and board members for helping make the situation manageable.
"We've got a very good group of parents and board members," he said. "The community's been helping us where and when they can, and parents have been really good about it as well."
Beyond travel, securing ice time has become the organization's biggest challenge.
Practice schedules have become less predictable, while booking game slots has proven difficult as neighbouring arenas must also accommodate their own teams and league schedules.
"I would say booking ice for games and practices is the biggest challenge right now," Nahnybida said.
Financially, the impact has been less severe than initially feared.
While some ice rentals are more expensive than what minor hockey would normally pay in Kamsack, Nahnybida said the association chose not to increase registration fees.
"We didn't opt to increase the cost of registration," he said. "We just felt it wasn't the parents' fault that they should have to pay, especially with it being on such short notice."
Successful fundraising efforts, including the association's annual bottle drive, have helped offset the added expenses. Nahnybida also said several community members have made private donations to help cover additional ice costs.
"Our fundraising has gone really well so far this year," he said. "That definitely helps make up for the pricier ice to begin the season."
The organization remains optimistic that the Broda Sportsplex will reopen in early December.
Nahnybida, who has had some insight into the repair work through his plumbing business, said significant work still needs to be completed but hopes the timeline remains on track.
"As long as we can get in there and use the facility, that's the main thing," he said.
He added that players and families are eager to return to their home rink, which he described as a central gathering place in the community.
"Home games just don't feel like home games when they're not at home," said Nahnybida. "You definitely feel at home when you're there."
