(file photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Ice in Melfort

City of Melfort sets Feb. 14 as tentative date for last day of ice at Palace

Jan 22, 2021 | 1:36 PM

The City of Melfort now has a tentative date to remove the ice from the Northern Lights Palace.

Facilities Manager Leonard Whitney told northeastNOW that they will wait and see if the Saskatchewan Health Authority makes any adjustments to current public health measures relating to COVID-19.

“City Council will review it again on Feb. 1,” Whitney said. “And then if we haven’t seen any changes by then, we will get to closing the palace on [Feb.] 14.”

Feb. 1 is Melfort’s next scheduled council meeting.

Changes that would need to occur according to Whitney would be some relieving of restrictions or at least some sort of a positive movement toward a general return to play for hockey.

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Whitney said there have been lots of tough decisions to make and having the rink open does put a cost on the city. He said the cost comparison wasn’t the main reason for the possible early shutdown, but with current restrictions that don’t allow games and revenue coming in, as well as current usage, it has an effect.

Minor hockey in the area has already cancelled the remainder of its season, but teams are still practicing. However, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League remains optimistic for a return to play at some point. Whitney said if the ice does come out and the SJHL does return later, the door is still open for ice to go back into the Northern Lights Palace.

“That would have to be reviewed by council,” he said. “But I think the city is always open to supporting the community in any way we can.”

Whitney urged it is a tentative date right now and they have to adjust as things change.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett