Rising temperatures on the weekend in the Kamloops area forced the postponement of the third annual Hockey Night in Heffley event, which was scheduled for Saturday.
The Kamloops Outdoor Skating Association, which has been advocating for construction of a refrigerated outdoor rink in the city for more than four years, issued a media release on Sunday.
“Due to climate change and the irregular weather events it causes, it has been challenging to consistently maintain naturally frozen rinks for over a decade,” the release from the association’s James Gordon said. “And now those involved in the third annual Hockey Night in Heffley know first-hand how challenging it can be.”
Hockey Night organizer Miles Carriere said the tournament may proceed in a few weeks, with the long-term forecast predicting cooler temperatures.
“Some people can’t just reschedule things to make a new date to come play,” Carriere said. “We’ll have to see how things work out.
He said the rink, when operational, has become a hot spot for activity in Heffley.
“We all want kids to get off their screens and play outside more, so this rink is perfect for that,” Carriere said. “The city has been great with fixing parts of the rink. It’s getting lots of use lately, with family and adults, too. We want to see more of this type of thing. It’s great for our community.”
Carriere said the tournament was planned for the last weekend in January, typically one of the colder weekends of the year.
“The volunteers really work hard to make good ice,” he said. “They’re proud of their work, so when it starts melting, it’s discouraging.”
The Kamloops Outdoor Skating Association is waiting to hear about an application that was sent to the province’s community, culture and recreation grant program
“Fingers are crossed that a very special new community facility will be built,” the release said.