Ice rink a stink for former Oiler

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Edmonton Oilers' Shawn Horcoff, left, congratulates teammate Fernando Pisani on his goal against the Ottawa Senators during second period NHL hockey action in Edmonton on Tuesday, March 9, 2010. Pisani's plan to build a permanent hockey rink isn't going over well with some of his neighbours in a subdivision northwest of Edmonton.THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Ulan

A former Edmonton Oiler's plan to build a permanent hockey rink isn't going over well with some of his neighbours in a subdivision northwest of Edmonton.

Some residents of Riverstone Pointe, north of St. Albert, have taken their concerns about Fernando Pisani's rink to the Sturgeon County subdivision and development appeal board.

Don McGeachy, a county councillor who sits on the appeal board, says he's never seen a complaint like this before.

McGeachy says several of the neighbours have had backyard rinks before with no complaints, but adds those have been temporary.

Some neighbours say the 15 metre by 27 metre rinkabout half the size of an NHL one,”- will create a noise problem and lighting will interfere with privacy late at night.

The rink will have permanent boards, Plexiglas ends and six three-metre tall light standards.

The St. Albert Gazette reported that Pisani also told the appeal board this week that those concerns were "ridiculous" as the rink will be used by his pre-teen kids and will be shielded by trees.

Pisani said he provided the county with full details of his project before he started construction and was told he did not need a permit, the Gazette reported.

The board is to rule within 15 days on whether Pisani needs a permit.

Pisani's last season with the Oilers was 2009-2010, then for the Chicago Blackhawks the next season.