Mustangs head coach and general manager Trevor Blevins spoke before council in Melfort on Monday asking for the city to wait on removing the ice at the Northern Lights Palace. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Ice in Melfort

Mustangs asking City of Melfort to delay removing ice at Northern Lights Palace

Feb 2, 2021 | 10:14 AM

The City of Melfort is going to take a few days to determine what is going to happen with the ice at the Northern Lights Palace.

Originally, the city had said they wanted to shut the rink down for the season as of Feb. 15, and an official decision would be voted on at the regular council meeting on Monday, Feb. 1.

However, the Melfort Mustangs made a delegation on Monday, asking council to reconsider that decision and keep the ice in the palace for at least a few more weeks and wait on more information from the provincial government. As it stands, Mustangs head coach and general manager Trevor Blevins said he is planning on bringing back some of his 18 and under players to begin practicing again and are hoping in the future to bring the rest of his team back all under the rules provided by Sask. Health Authority and the government. He said the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League remains committed on finishing their season. Blevins added they’re hoping to hear another update from the government on Feb. 19 or earlier.

“March 1, I think by then would be a realistic date where we would know where we stand as a league,” Blevins told northeastNOW. “Whether we’re starting, or whether we’re not.”

The SJHL has set up a group to liaise with the provincial government to come up with a return to play plan. Blevins mentioned a few options the league has proposed, included a number of different scenarios that could include bubbles, or only playing a limited number of teams.

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Blevins said the team does understand the fiscal side of things and that there needs to be revenue for the City of Melfort to keep things like the arena running. He said they are willing to work with other user groups, including Melfort Minor Hockey, to make sure the Northern Lights Palace is being used.

“We’re not saying the ice has to stay in,” he said. “We’re just offering solutions to try and keep it in, because we understand there needs to be revenue for the City of Melfort. So, we’ll do what we have to do to be part of the solution.”

Blevins said an idea would be to team up with Melfort Minor Hockey and bring in young players in the area for drills and skills at the palace.

Melfort Mayor Glenn George said he understands the concerns and the view of the users groups, including the Mustangs. However, he added there are questions about if the league will actually go ahead.

“At what point will somebody say the season is not going to go on,” George said.

He went on to say that during the pandemic, they have had to adjust to limit losses to the City of Melfort, which includes reducing services, and ideally not raising taxes.

“From a fiscal responsibility point of view, we have to do what is prudent,” George said. “And we will.”

He added there has to be money coming in to the city to make running the palace feasible, although that number was not provided.

The city will meet in the coming days to make an official decision on whether to keep the ice in at the Northern Lights Palace. George added that after that, it would come down to the user groups to make a plan to keep things running in the rink.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6

by Mat Barrett

Mustangs asking City of Melfort to delay removing ice at Northern Lights Palace

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