Heather Wright/The Independent

Petrolia has a new ice rental policy but some arena users say adult recreation leagues are likely to still get the short end of the stick.

Earlier this year, Petrolia Minor Hockey approached the town asking arena staff to create larger blocks of prime ice time to “provide flexibility” for the growing program. But when the schedule was released, senior hockey leagues found they’d been relegated to ice either first thing in the morning or late in the evening. 

One family, the Sinclairs, had been renting ice at Greenwood for over 55 years every Sunday morning. It had been shifted to around 6:30 am. Another, the No-Stars, found their time had been moved from 11:30 am to 10:10 pm Sunday.

Courtney Sinclair, who spoke for the group, said even some of the ice time allocated for the Lambton Attack was impractical since it was late Sunday and the clubs rules restrict night-time play before a school day.

When the policy first came out, Sinclair said it “effectively placed barriers that prevent these (senior) athletes from enjoying the ice and participating in the sport at all.”

Council asked staff to take a second look at the ice-times and create an ice allocation policy, as many other arenas have.

That policy came to council Monday, and the rec leagues were still concerned about their opportunities to play.

The policy says Prime Time ice will be from 4 pm to midnight, Monday to Friday and all hours on weekends as well as PD days and statutory holidays.

The town will place first priority on municipal programs and maintenance, special events and tournaments, then minor youth organizations, like the PMHA and the local figure skating club. Adult leagues come next with the Petrolia Squires having priority to claim ice time.

After all those needs have been met, the new policy says what is left over can be picked up by local groups, such as school boards or service clubs and private citizens running programs such as hockey clinics.

The new policy also says the age of participants and game time versus practice time will be used to determine when minor sports groups play.

Sinclair, spoke to council about the new policy saying council originally asked staff to consult with the local leagues about the schedule. That didn’t happen she said.

And Sinclair says the new ice-time policy freezes out even hockey groups like the Squires if minor sports groups say they need all the prime time ice available. 

And she says, if the prime ice is available, the Squires will get priority which could again, she says, squeeze out the adult leagues. 

“I’m not sure why adult leagues need to be pigeon holed to either first thing in the morning or late at night. If there are other ice times available, they should be able to take them.”

She is also concerned the policy suggests groups which have a high percentage of Petrolia residents will get better access to prime time ice. Sinclair wanted to know what a high percentage would be. 

Sinclair added she is glad Deputy Mayor Joel Field suggested the regulation could be revised before it comes into effect next hockey season. 

She hopes all user groups will be consulted “to come up with an equitable solution. 

“We are more than willing to do that. We just want to make sure it is fair.” 

Don Mitchell, who is on the executive board of the PMHA, was also on hand Monday. He defended the organization’s request saying they constantly hear from parents about early morning and late night ice-times.

“We’re not looking to steal or take away any other user group’s allocation,” he said.

“I think we would be remiss if we didn’t lobby for our membership.”

Mitchell added other communities have a set schedule which provide the same ice time for each age group all year, making it easier for parents to plan their schedules.

As for this year, town officials didn’t say if any of the ice allocations will be changed. Mitchell said minor hockey’s schedule was not set in stone yet and could be changed.

Sinclair was expecting to receive an email this week saying the schedule would remain the same as presented for this hockey season.