Minor Hockey Gets Subsidy

The Westside Minor Hockey Association has scored a hat-trick with the Central Okanagan Regional District.

Construction delays at Royal LePage on the Westside forced the association to scramble for ice at other arenas during the 2006-07 season.

The association says this resulted in higher than anticipated costs.

In a report to the Regional Board, WMHA projected an operating loss of more than $20,000 over the course of the season.

In anticipation of the opening of the new facility, the association registered more players and chose not to operate the concession at the Jim Lind Arena.

When the facility did not open, the WMHA says it was forced to cancel the girls hockey program, plus three tournaments due to a lack of ice time.

They say they also had to secure ice at other facilities at an increased cost.

The Regional Board offered the WMHA three concessions.

1. Ice rental for the 2007-08 season will remain the same as the previous year, $65/hour plus GST.

2. The WMHA will receive a credit to be applied to rental fees at the Mount Boucherie Complex if invoices show an increase in ice rental costs over the previous season.

3. The WMHA will receive a credit for unused ice time during the 2006-07 season.