Do we really need more hockey rinks?

I’ve been following the story of the all-glass, four-level hockey rink being built out in the east-end. 

The one question that comes to my mind when I read this is: Do we really need more hockey rinks? 

I guess this is a very un-Canadian thing of me to say. I happen to think there’s more to being Canadian than worshipping hockey, lining up at Tim Horton’s for a double-double and every other stereotypical Canadian thing, but that’s a debate for another day. 

The City of Toronto boasts it has a multicultural mosaic and welcomes people from all corners of the world to live, work and play here. 

I’m willing to bet a large majority of newcomers and residents not born here have never grown up with snow, know what hockey is or care for it. 

They’ll most likely never use these facilities so why are we building them? I’m sure the proposed price tag of $88 million could go a long way to fixing and upgrading existing facilities.

If it has to be built why not add something to the design everyone can use? How about adding a recreation centre to the existing plan?

Cricket is exploding across the GTA, why not build more cricket fields? Baseball diamonds are starting to disappear, why not build one more? Or soccer pitches.

I’d like the City to take a step back and re-think this hockey rink complex. If they want more rinks maybe they should call MLSE and their corporate sponsors and get them to build rinks for people to use, if, as MLSE claims, it’s so important to reach out to newcomers and visible minorities and get them into hockey.

There’s a fantastic state-of-the-art practice facility near Lake Shore Blvd. and Kipling built by MLSE a few years ago. I’m sure they can spare a dollar or two to build a few facilities to meet the demand. 

For the longest time Maple Leaf Gardens sat empty on purpose because of MLSE’s stubbornness until Ryerson and Loblaws stepped in with a great design for the entire community. 

Put something in the neighbourhood that all residents can use. Don’t put something in that only a small percentage of people will use. 

The City’s focus should be on growing sports like soccer and basketball and others so Canada won’t be, for example, embarrassed internationally when the soccer team is ranked 101st in the world or when the basketball team can’t qualify for the Olympics even with the best point guard in the world in Steve Nash.

There’s more to life in Toronto and Canada than hockey. Hopefully the City will wake up to this realization and build other recreational facilities for residents before it’s too late.

About Robert Kirsic

Comments

[PB]

Robert,

Haven't you heard? the new mayor of Toronto doesn't give a damn about immigrants, and apparently neither does this plan.

[Patrick Rutledge]

90% of the kids in this city can't afford hockey or aren't interested in hockey. If I had 5% of the budget of this future "blu Elephant" I could help 20-40,000 at risk kids read and enjoys sports that they like and employ 800 at risk youth 16-19yrs of age for the next ...5 years!!!

Patrick Rutledge,
Director DeMar's Slam Dunk Book Club
Look for us on Facebook

[Charlie]

Sorry....Hockey rinks are needed for a variety of reasons, cultural significance of national sport aside. Three major ones are as follows.

1.) Explosion of girls hockey and need for more surfaces.

2.) More ice surfaces means increased competition for arenas and fairer more affordable ice-times across the board.

3.) I live near Regent Park and Jamestown, perhaps some new-Canadians would take up hockey if there were more surfaces there where currently pavement exists. Outdoor rinks are perfectly fine for introductory purposes (perhaps to your point). Nothing more Canadian than an outdoor rink, extremely cardio friendly. City should look to expand the skate rentals that exist at Nathan Phillip Square so that trying the sport of hockey or skating in general isn't such a cost just for trying.

Also please don't turn your nose up at typically Canadian experiences. Your point is noted, although we are more than just Hosers....we are also that as well.

[Angela Wright]

Oh yes, that makes perfect sense, have people emigrate to Canada, presumably because there's something positive about living in Canada, and then change Canada. The reason ice skating and hockey are popular in Canada is because it's cold in the winter. Let's all embrace the fun things about Canada that make it different from the rest of the world. Skating stays! Let's build lots of ice rinks, most of them offer free skating times, and make sure that every Canadian kid gets a chance to learn how to swim and how to skate.

[markus]

"I’ve been following the story of the all-glass, four-level hockey rink being built out in the east-end."
wow, the don river area is considered the "east end" for you? have you never been to east york or scarborough, robert? amazing.

[l. kwan]

Yes, we do need more ice rinks. I say that on a number of points.

Popularity. Stories abound about the wait times to get on to the ice. Playing in the early morning ? Common, I hear.

Immigrants. Yes, we are a country that welcomes immigrants from all over the world and many may not know about winter, skating and hockey. But that's okay. By all means, enjoy the sports you grew up with, but realize that there is more.

Did Italian, English or other European immigrants in the early 20th Century know a lot about hockey or skating. Doubtful. But some of the most passionate fans were those who came from countries where hockey was not played at all.
But they embraced their new home (and its sports).

Don't forget that the children of immigrants will be first generational Canadians and they will embrace skating and hockey, as much as any other sport.

Finally, the article's author argues that we should spend money to boost our standing in football (soccer) and baseball and other sports, because we are 'too embarrassed'. Well, then in a few years, we may be embarrassed that we are no longer skilled in 'our' own game, because our youth have moved to other sports and not hockey.

Oh, by the way, I speak as one of those 'first generation' Canadians. My family did not know hockey or winter, but we embraced it and we love it !

[Justin]

There are tons of programs for those "at risk" kids. And hockey does happen to be our national game/pride. Even if it does cost a little more. I know tons of people new to our country that grew up not knowing hockey, can't skate. But when you ask them what they want their kids in, its Hockey, so they can grow up to be Canadians.

[Joe Canada]

The fact that many of us adult males cannot find ice time in the city highlights the need to have more arenas.

[Fernando]

Could not agree more, lets focus on soccer fields and developing and promoting soccer in Canada. Our current level of play at the national level is horrible, but we have the potential for a bright future as our children, from many diverse backgrounds, represent our country. Lets give them the tools they need.

[Christo]

Why must everything be done for new immigrants? What about those of us that have lived here for years paying taxes? Do we not deserve the benefit of our tax dollars or are our taxes only to help newcomers that haven't paid their fair share yet?

[Serge]

The author of this blog entry simply doesn't know the facts. As to demand for ice time, it massively exceeds supply in Toronto -- so much so that intense controversies have broken out as to how these are to be parcelled out. As to immigrants and hockey, Mr. Kirsic's stereotypes serve noone -- some immigrant groups have taken to hockey, some haven't, and there is much room for growth. Like many Torontonians I grew up playing hockey on a team where noone's parents' first language was English. I expect this will continue to be the case, except if stereotyped pooh-poohing seeking to turn us all off of hockey, of the style displayed in this blog entry, catches on.

[Jose]

This idea, plan and concept is WRONG.

[Tim Cares]

Here's a fresh idea: instead of continuing to pander to newcomers and residents not born here, how about supporting those who have lived here (and supported the city economically) for their whole lives? Or do you feel that it's more important for new Torontonians to have access to their preferred hobbies than for those who are already established here?
The comment "put something in the neighboroud that all residents can use. Don't put something that only a small percentage of people will use" is moronic. What, you think having a community cricket pitch is going to result in Canadians rushing out to play cricket?
And if you think there is anything but a tiny, tiny minority of Canadians who are embarassed by the national soccer team...you are truly delusional.

[MS]

I can't believe the above post, I find the above article very Anti-Canadian and completely offensive - given Hockey is our National Sport you would think the article would focus on how to make hockey more accessible to all especially new citizens and promote open access to Sporting for children

[stephan w]

There is a massive shortage of hockey rinks in this town. Maybe this facility is over kill but I am sure it will be used. I enjoy playing hockey and tired of having to play at 11 pm at night because girls/womans hockey is growing in popularity and taking ice time away from the folks that want to play shinny in the evenings.

[Marc]

You're all mis-informed. Do some research. That.Is.All.

[MSmith]

"The City of Toronto boasts it has a multicultural mosaic and welcomes people from all corners of the world."
Except for, apparently...any hockey-loving Canadians. I'm willing to bet the author has never tried/played/watched hockey. Which is fine. But many of us enjoy this. It is nearly impossible to find ice time in this city, and when found can cost literally thousands of dollars to use. There seems to be some demand. Heaven forbid we get four more rinks in lue of some beautiful cricket fields (would I have to fund those???). I really fail to see how building a hockey arena should be seen as some slap in the face to any recent immigrants. Lots of people here like hockey, get over it. Was the author proud when Canada won the gold medal, or only embarrassed over the low ranking of the soccer team?

[Timothy O'Brien]

too bad sooo sad, I like the arena and i like the design and more to the point it signals to the rest of the water front development that we will only except world class. Im sick of looking arround this city and seeing cookie cutter buildings being erected one after another in the name of the all mighty doller. The last significant design we have produced was the CN tower, that was 30 years ago already...ITs more then just building a new hockey rink that is apparenty needed its telling the world that we believe that Hockey is at the heart of being a Canadian, regardless of how many different immmigrants that come hear from hot cliemets, soon they will realize that winter sports rule the land in Canada, like it or not..!

[beaker]

Ok one when was the last time a new rink was made in Toronto? The current rinks are in poor quility and falling apart and i dont think any of them will get a face lift any time soon. Two the GTHL is the largest youth hockey organization in Canada. Its getting harder and harder to find ice time. Three just because its a hockey rink doesn't mean hockey players have exclusive access to the rink. Free skating, curling, ringet etc... can be done on any rink. There are alot of summer programs that utalize ice time aswell. I have a feeling the nay sayers are in an up roar because they don't know how to skate... dont worry theres lessons for that... As for me i'll be wheelin down the ice in this new barn makin hits and scorein goals.

[PeaJay]

It's very clear that the author does not play hockey nor has he ever tried to rent ice in the city of Toronto. I would ask him to try renting ice for a group of friends to play hockey during this upcoming winter. If he can find an ice-slot before 11:00pm, he has found the equivalent of a hockey lottery ticket.

As someone who would like to play hockey just once before most people go to bed, I guarantee that there is a need for more ice rinks in the city.

[Simon]

Your points are mostly valid, but the problem is that, in Canada, people still love hockey, and immigrants feel they should learn about it for their integration into our society. As examples, the viewer-ship of the gold medal game was astounding, and HNIC has started to broadcast in a variety of languages in TO. Couple that with the about 100 people I know that have either had their ice-time vanish, or have to drive for an hour outside the city just to play an hour.

Yes, this money could go to things such as a cricket league, but the fact is, hockey facilities take a lot more effort to build, and a lot more money, and this city needs them.

[snowy]

Great stuff; I'm an immigrant as are the majority of my friends and colleagues. Not a single one of us plays ice hockey at any level, and none of us are much interested in being or are "hockey parents." We will watch a match on TV if there's nothing else on I suppose ;)

Also - if that design costs $88mm I'd be amazed, it will be significantly more expensive than the published information.

[beaker]

Correction, the new lakeshore areana is recent but that was mainly made for leafs practice time. Also its quite a long drive to get there.

[RB]

Hey Robert,

Steve Nash won't play for Canada anymore... Do some research.

[Donger]

Toronto is the centre of the hockey universe and there's barely any decent indoor rinks in the downtown area, so I think this facility is a great idea