The editor:
I am reaching out on behalf of the Estevan Minor Hockey Association (EMHA) and our entire hockey community, including local families, players, and supporters, to advocate for the construction of an additional hockey arena in Estevan.
As Estevan grows, so does the demand for a facility that can meet the needs of our hockey programs and other ice sports, support local economic growth, and foster a thriving sports culture.
Currently, Estevan’s limited ice resources impact not only our athletes but our local economy as well. Visiting teams, their families and fans bring substantial revenue to our city, contributing between $500 and $1,500 per player in spending during tournament weekends. With an estimated 1,000 players attending EMHA tournaments last season alone, the economic benefit to Estevan was estimated to be well over $1 million – a conservative estimate.
EMHA desires to increase the quantity and the size of minor hockey tournaments but is unable to do so without additional available ice.
In the 2022-23 season, EMHA teams logged nearly 490 hours of out-of-town ice time, escalating to over 627 hours in the 2023-24 season. This places a financial and logistical strain on our families. By investing in an additional arena, we can continue to use the facilities of neighbouring communities while increasing the amount of usable ice in Estevan and allowing more development for our young athletes.
Due to the lack of regularly-scheduled weekday ice within a 50-kilometre radius of Estevan, there’s no opportunity to increase practice time.
Currently, Affinity Place serves as the only regulation-sized ice arena in Estevan. It may also be the only local, fully accessible arena for all users. Affinity Place is not exclusively dedicated to minor sports; it is also a community events centre, which limits access for our teams. Without a second full-sized ice surface, it is often difficult for the EMHA and other groups to secure consistent, reliable ice time.
Affinity Place’s availability for hockey is limited by other scheduled events, leaving youths without access for up to 14 days during peak season. This limitation restricts EMHA’s ability to host home games and tournaments that bring both visibility and revenue to Estevan.
The demand for ice time in Estevan shows no signs of slowing down. EMHA currently has 530 registered players playing on 50 teams, as well shared regional teams. Add to that the U18 AAA Great North Bears and the Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins, and that number reaches over 570 young athletes. In our U11 and U13 divisions, teams are forced to share practice ice due to lack of availability, limiting player development and training quality.
Additionally, the popularity of spring hockey has surged. For these programs to grow, we need the capacity to host spring tournaments and practice sessions locally, especially during warmer months when local rinks, like the Power Dodge Arena, may struggle to accommodate demand.
If we want Estevan to be a leading hockey destination in Saskatchewan, adding a third arena is a vital step. Affinity Place is already recognized as a crown jewel within junior and minor hockey circles in Western Canada. With another modern facility, Estevan would become a premier destination for regional and provincial events. The Estevan Skating Club could also host larger events, and the Estevan Curling Club could increase its event offerings without impacting minor sports.
An additional arena would allow all of our ice-based sports to flourish while putting Estevan on the map for significant tournaments and events.
This additional arena would not just serve the hockey community but benefit all Estevan families by reducing travel time, costs, and the time investment required to access ice time elsewhere. It is not uncommon for EMHA families to drive over 30,000 kilometers a week and up to 420,000 kilometers combined in a season to attend home practices and home games, a heavy burden on time, resources, and the environment.
This is a staggering stat considering that our youths are travelling these distances for minor sports on winter road conditions in the coldest months of the year.
We invite all Estevan residents and stakeholders to join us in supporting this initiative. Together, we can build a sustainable solution that will enrich our community for generations to come. By investing in a new arena, Estevan can support its youth, attract regional events, boost our economy, and enhance the quality of life for everyone in the community. Please take the time to vote in the upcoming plebiscite on Nov. 13 and have your say in growing our community.
Thank you for considering this important step for the future of Estevan. We look forward to working together to make this vision a reality.
Stephen Truman
Estevan
EMHA president
