"A lot of regions in the past have put plywood on the walls of the arena, but it's a little different to put them on the boards," he said. "I'm not aware of any other region doing this."

He said the novel idea came through discussions with Shawn Maley, MACA superintendent for the region.

"I guess ultimately I was challenged to generate revenue for the artificial ice project, and one thought I'd come up with with Shawn Maley was signage," he said.

The fundraising effort would be a start to the $1.3- million to $1.6-million project.

While Denison said that it was difficult to get the fundraiser off the ground, selling the signs is beginning to take off.

"We sent out 70-odd letters ... feeling they would want to become corporate sponsors," he said. "I was mildly disappointed -- we received responses for 15. Now we're getting more bang for our buck."

Denison outlines a three-tier system for sponsors -- Corporate Gold for five years, Corporate Silver for four years and Corporate Bronze for three years: All three have two sizes -- 20 centimetres by one metre and 10 centimetres by one metre.

To date, the hamlet has received orders for nine signs to be placed on the rink boards facing the ice, and it's in the process of accepting two more. They have raised in excess of $18,000 in funds for the project.

Denison admitted the fundraising has a long way to go, but maintained that the hamlet is working on other innovative ways of finding the cash necessary for the artificial ice.

He said it will all be worth it.

"We know it will allow the athletes to get an earlier start and stay later ... preparing them for competition in the West and in the South," he said.