Adie Knox Arena & Pool entrance off McEwan Ave. in Windsor.Adie Knox Arena & Pool entrance off McEwan Ave. in Windsor.
Windsor

Hockey Association Wants Twin Pad

If the president of the Windsor Minor Hockey Association had his way, the City of Windsor would twin the ice pad at Adie Knox Arena. Instead, city council is thinking about removing the ice completely.

When city council sits down to discuss its 2015 budget later today, councillors can expect an earful from Dean Lapierre. His league pays $175,000 to use the ice pad 40 hours a week, 26 weeks a year, and says he'd take more ice time at Adie Knox if it were available.

"They (city staff) keep saying single ice pads don't make the money, well twin it," says Lapierre. "You need the ice in the city so the faster they twin it, the better it'll be for everybody."

Close to 1,000 kids are signed up for hockey through Windsor minor hockey, some as young as four.

Lapierre says if the city removes the pad, the league will have to go back to holding 6:30am practices and 7am games. Playing games outside the city may be too big a hardship for some families to overcome, and out-of-town leagues also play games at Adie Knox; suggesting a shortage of ice time at arenas in LaSalle and Tecumseh.

Windsor minor hockey has sent council a letter asking it to reconsider its plan. The association has also launched a petition.

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