Yellowknife (Oct 24/03) - Scarcity of ice is leaving some Yellowknife athletes out in the cold.

"I know of three adult groups that are turning people away because they don't have enough ice time," said Kevin Stapleton.

Stapleton is with minor hockey and is one of four co-ordinators heading up a Multiplex fundraising committee.

He said the demand for ice in Yellowknife is expected to increase next year which could put pressure on youth programs as well.

"Minor hockey is coming to the point where we're going to have to start turning kids away to the streets," he said.

Val Pond, of the Yellowknife Broomball Association, said her league has similar problems.

They have nine hours of ice time a week and have had to steal time for a new co-ed league.

"We're going to need more ice time, especially if the co-ed league is successful," she said.

That lends urgency to opening the second pad in the Multiplex, which the city estimates will cost $4 million.

Arena made cheaper?

Stapleton disagrees with the price and argues that the second ice surface will cost "inside $2.4 million."

"There are some things the city is throwing in for additional numbers," he said.

Those extras include relocation of a sewer line and widening of the road. The city also includes a $350,000 contingency plan in the project that Stapleton said is excessive.

The city plans to have the funds available by 2006, which means the ice won't be ready for use until 2007.

Stapleton said that's not soon enough, and fears the date is not firm.

"The city has no specific funds set aside for completion of the Multiplex," he said.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem maintains that completion of the arena is city council's top priority.

"That's why we put that shell up; that's the number one recreational priority at this point," he said.

Van Tighem said the funding will be available in 2006. For it to happen sooner, organizations that use the ice will have to get involved, he said.

"We're looking for somebody to establish a fund and get money into it," Van Tighem said.

The mayor cited the Gymnastics Club as an example. The club is raising $1 million for the $1.2 million gym at the Multiplex.

Donations for the second ice sheet so far amount to less than $100,000 Van Tighem said.

The question is whether Yellowknife ratepayers will tire of shelling out extra money for public facilities.

"It hasn't happened yet," Van Tighem said.

But, even if they do, there are other options.

The NHL Player's Association gave $1.2 million to a project in Manitoba and other organizations assist with projects of this kind, he said.

The city is waiting for a proposal on how to finish the arena and Van Tighem said council is keeping an open mind.

"The sky is the limit as far as options. We have the ability to create an elite program in the whole territory, not just in Yellowknife," he said.

Stapleton said a fundraising plan is being worked on, but nothing has been finalized yet.

"We do understand we need to put money into this to get it done sooner," he said.