Curling season could be in the tank

Published on January 22, 2009

Published on July 9, 2010

Randy Edison

Unlike the famous children's storybook locomotive in the "Little Engine That Could", it seems that the ice making plant that has kept the Springdale Curling Club ice surface intact since 1972 no longer can.

While the decision whether or not to try any further repairs will rest with town council, Recreation Director Todd Mercer said the latest issues with the plant might spell the end to the curling season.

SPRINGDALE - Unlike the famous children's storybook locomotive in the "Little Engine That Could", it seems that the ice making plant that has kept the Springdale Curling Club ice surface intact since 1972 no longer can.

While the decision whether or not to try any further repairs will rest with town council, Recreation Director Todd Mercer said the latest issues with the plant might spell the end to the curling season.

"It might be possible to fix it, but we don't even know if we can get the parts," he said Monday. "In order to fix it we would have to shut down the plant for the stadium as well and we have to ask if it is worth possibly jeopardizing the stadium ice, too, especially with two provincial championship tournaments coming up."

Mayor Harvey Tizzard told the nor'wester Tuesday that the recreation director and town mechanic will likely present information to council's finance committee this week so members can make their decision on whether or not to continue to invest in the older plans on the best information available.

Mr. Mercer noted that improved ice making capabilities for the curling club would be part and parcel of the renovations to take place at the stadium this year under a 90-10 provincial-municipal government cost shared project.

The province is footing $900,000 of the projected $1 million project to erect new boards and glass as well as replace the two ice making plants.

The recreation director expects the boards and glass to be in by the end of January but switching the plants won't occur until this hockey season is completed.

This will be state of the art equipment with infrared sensors to check ice temperatures constantly and automatically fire up the plants when needed," he noted. "The plants will also be much more energy efficient."