Rinks, Respect and The Magic of the Automobile.

Over the season, we will be using a variety of rinks, mostly city owned and run but there is one private and several board run in the mix. The contracts are therefore not always consistent rink-to-rink, and that can impact floods, user restrictions, and the facilities themselves. Over-all the arenas are reasonably well maintained affording consistently good ice and safe conditions.  There are some that are better, or closer to home or more desirable for a variety of reasons. But, for many years, there has been tremendous competition for ice everywhere in the GTA and that will not likely change anytime soon. The NYHL contracts ice where it is available and affordable and as the League grows we will undoubtedly be looking for more ice while trying to keep usage of the ice we have as efficient as possible. Th length of periods, timing of the floods and the start of game procedures are all part of managing a very scarce and expensive commodity – ice!

Don’t tug on Superman’s cape. The arena staff are bound by the guidelines and policies set down by their management and are deserving of our respect and cooperation. Parents and team staff are responsible for the behaviour of players in the arenas and when the rooms and equipment are trashed, damaged or abused, the Clubs are liable for the necessary cleanup and/or repair. Most of the arenas have a policy against food in the dressing rooms. Staff may sometimes choose to be tolerant of the post-game pizza but when the food is thrown around and the room left in a mess the NYHL pays the clean up and bills it back to the team plus the appropriate fine. You can understand the arena staff’ frustration when they are being good guys by letting the food in but then are saddled with a disgusting mess to clean up. Fortunately, most players, parents and team staff have more class than the inconsiderate few. But the restrictive policies that result, though intended to deal with that minority, end up curtailing the fun for everybody. It all comes back to treating people the way we ourelves like to be treated.

How far is too far? We are fortunate to play all of our league games within the GTA. Of the arenas we use, East York is the furthest east and Lakeshore is the furthest west. Maple is the northern most with Geo Bell at the southern limit. Compared to the distances teams in other jurisdictions routinely travel, all of the NYHL arenas are within a reasonable drive for a hockey game, and the vast majority of people do travel to the games in the comfort of the automobile. The computer schedules on a random basis according to ice contracts and team availabilities. If you are getting a lot of games in particular arenas now that will probably change when you play the other teams in your group and the matrix of availabilities alters. There are concessions that we all make to traffic, and weather, early game times, and distance to travel, but leaving a bit earlier when faced with those conditions usually takes care of the problem.