Discussions

So after paying almost 1000.00 for a 14 year old goalie in hockey Brandon, we have barely any practices. All my son wants to do is play and improve his skills. I've looked into sticks and pucks at the sportsplex but there's only ice available at 7 in the morning and maybe 4 times a month...looking for suggestions on how he can get more practice

The East End Community Centre is awesome. It does run on all volunteers, so it's usually the last rink to be ready in the city but my son spends ALL of his spare time there in the winter. According to him, it's a lucky day when they actually get a goalie and goalie gear! All ages play pick-up games by tossing their sticks in the middle. EECC has a nice big warm centre to get dressed and ready in, to warm up in and often have a canteen going. They also rent out skates!! My son is a big video gamer, but he loves nothing more than football in the fall and hockey in the winter. PS. He doesn't play on a team regularly. The cost is too high for us.

The East End Community Centre is awesome. It does run on all volunteers, so it's usually the last rink to be ready in the city but my son spends ALL of his spare time there in the winter. According to him, it's a lucky day when they actually get a goalie and goalie gear! All ages play pick-up games by tossing their sticks in the middle. EECC has a nice big warm centre to get dressed and ready in, to warm up in and often have a canteen going. They also rent out skates!! My son is a big video gamer, but he loves nothing more than football in the fall and hockey in the winter. PS. He doesn't play on a team regularly. The cost is too high for us.

I ran into the same type of issues trying to get my son extra ice time. Only solution I found was to travel. Some rinks charge a small fee in small towns some nothing at all. We live out in the country now and travel about half hour to glenboro to get extra ice time because our local rink only has open Ice right after school and that does not work well with two working parents ha

For the suggestions...I've never been to the east end so we'll have to check it out!

Shilo Gunner Arena offers FREE sticks and pucks usually on Sat and Sun afternoons and some evenings during the week. The schedule changes often so just check their Facebook page or call.  
https://www.facebook.com/Shilo-Gunner-Arena-1389531081280080/?fref=ts

Skills don't just improve by obtaining extra ice time. Unless you have knowledgeable coaching as well, correcting bad habits, re-inforcing and instructing good technique you are treading water so to speak. Unfortunately the coaching in Brandon is hard to come by as we lack the facilities. Probably the only real alternative outside of summer/fall goalie schools is driving in to Winnipeg to get lessons at a couple of the facilities in there. Ice Labs or GDI.

Your son will have unlimited opportunities to put the pads on once the outdoor ice is in. And your cost...time and gas money.  
There are a few that are busier then others and would provide more shots for your goalie.  
 
Outdoor ice is so forgotten about in this day and age. I played AAAin Wpg growing up and we had one outdoor practise a week. From minor peewee to bantam. Not to mention all outdoor games from 10 & under.  
 
You do the math. ........200.00/hr for ice  
rental , 4 per month equals 800.00 per month savings if some teams would practise outdoors regularly during the cold winter months.  
 
Sorry to hijack your thread.....

if a team would be allowed to take over an ice like that with a formal practice. If so I would gladly rent the ice on an outdoor rink for some practices for our team. A practice would really chew the ice up though for those wanting to use it afterwards. Not sure how often most outdoor rinks flood their ice.

Anyone come to shilo or only families that live on the base?

There's no doubt it would have to be co-ordinated with the community center. Only a few have double rinks which would limit your choices. I'm sure a monthly donation to the community center would offset the extra flooding or time missed for regulars. The monthly donation would be much lower than the cost of 2-3 indoor ice times.  
Most community clubs have a board of directors so you would have to come up with a real plan to present to the group. I think some clubs would go for it. Work with their members to accommodate a minor hockey team. The donation would be sizeable after 4-5 months of practise.

joesmoe said "Anyone come to shilo or only families that live on the base? "

Yes, anyone is allowed to use the rink, not just Shilo families!