North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater celebrated the Battlefords North Stars success in claiming the Canalta Cup during Monday’s council meeting. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Rodeo queens and ice machines

Civic Centre to undergo rapid transformation to ready for Anavet Cup after rodeo

Apr 23, 2019 | 1:56 PM

North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater recognized the Battlefords North Stars success in winning the Canalta Cup during Monday’s council meeting and promised the Civic Centre will be ready for the local heroes to lasso the Anavet Cup right when the rodeo wraps up.

The city will ensure the North Battleford Civic Centre arena can continue to accommodate the games as the North Stars go on to compete with the Manitoba winners for the Anavet Cup, while still being ready for the North Battleford Kinsmen Indoor Rodeo that runs April 26 to 28.

During council, Bater mentioned the city has been fielding questions from residents wanting to know whether the Civic Centre will still be ready for the Anavet Cup playoff games.

“In order to host those games here they need to be able to use the Civic Centre,” Bater told reporters following council.

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After the Civic Centre is used by the North Battleford Kinsmen Indoor Rodeo, it will be quickly transformed back into an ice surface for the playoffs games to proceed.

The process

Bater said the ice surface has been thickened by about an inch. Wood chips and about 18 inches of dirt are going on top of the ice to seal it. Once the rodeo concludes, the chips and dirt will be removed and the extra ice will be shaved off, Bater said.

The process will involve a lot of work but Bater said there are no concerns about having the ice ready for the North Stars to play on April 30.

“I don’t know if it’s quick for the people doing (the work), but it’s quick to describe,” the mayor said with a laugh.

The first game of the Anavet Cup will be Friday, April 26 at the home of the MJHL Champion in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, this year since it couldn’t be held in the N.B. Civic Centre.

The Saskatchewan Jr. Hockey League said “this was a difficult decision for all groups involved, but in the best interest of all concerned this was the solution that made the most sense for the three groups” – the Saskatchewan Jr. Hockey League, the Battlefords North Stars and the North Battleford Kinsmen Rodeo.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow