Steinbach minor hockey adapting to life in 1 rink

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This article was published 26/09/2023 (581 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It will be a somewhat stressful year for Steinbach Minor Hockey this season.

The group is down to a single rink, as the demolition of the Centennial Arena to make room for the Southeast Event Centre means only the T.G. Smith Arena is active for the 2023/2014 season.

The rink is already a bustling hive of activity, as groups look to book premium ice time without any other options. One of the groups which use the local rink the most is Steinbach Minor Hockey.

“I sort of equate it to home renovation,” Steinbach Minor Hockey president Joel Braun said.

“Sometimes it’s a little inconvenient, but the end result is worthwhile.”

Registration in Steinbach for minor hockey has been consistent according to Braun, and has completely shaken off any residual effects from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Somebody made the comment the other day about COVID saying, ‘oh that was a long time ago,’” Braun said, laughing.

“As drastic and benchmarking as that was, we soon forget how it was. I don’t get any talk about COVID related things anymore.”

The program even held their first pre-season parent meeting since 2019.

While the organization is always looking for more volunteers, Braun said the search and drive this year is comparable to previous ones. As of Sept. 15, Braun said most teams have a coach.

“Once you have your teams formed, the managers and assistant coaches come out of the woodwork,” he said.

“Looking at history, we’re not behind. We don’t feel like we’re behind, like we have been in the past.”

Finding volunteers for minor hockey can be easier compared to other sports.

“Hockey is kind of iconic in Canada,” Braun said.

“You’re drawing from a fairly deep pool of talent. Comparing to something like soccer. Soccer is a great sport, but I sometimes say, ‘if I coached soccer, I would run hockey drills with a soccer ball.’”

While playing only out of the T.G. Smith Arena comes with a set of challenges, the excitement is already building for the opening of the new arena in Steinbach, including at the minor hockey level.

“To step into a facility like this, it’s going to be amazing,” Braun said.

“It opens so many doors for the community, and for everybody. It certainly is not just about hockey, I think it will put Steinbach on the map.”