logo
  • News
    • Community
    • Local Government
    • Sports
    • Alberta Politics
    • Opinion
    • Deke
  • Events
  • Jasper Builds
  • Peaks & Valleys
    • Wildlife
    • Hiking and Climbing
    • Biking
    • Fishing
    • Snow Sports
  • Culture
    • Jasper Arts & Culture
    • Local Dining
    • Local Literature
  • Jasper History
  • Support
    • News
      • Community
      • Local Government
      • Sports
      • Alberta Politics
      • Opinion
      • Deke
    • Events
    • Jasper Builds
    • Peaks & Valleys
      • Wildlife
      • Hiking and Climbing
      • Biking
      • Fishing
      • Snow Sports
    • Culture
      • Jasper Arts & Culture
      • Local Dining
      • Local Literature
    • Jasper History
    • Support
Wacky, but worth it: Puck drops on 2023 hockey season
Some parts of the 2023 hockey season will be topsy turvy, but local ice user groups are confident the renovations are going to be worth the trouble. // Bob Covey
Community, News, Sports
By Bob Covey
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Wacky, but worth it: Puck drops on 2023 hockey season

Major renovations at the Jasper Arena are starting to take shape and the same can be said for the hockey season in Jasper.

On October 3, ice users representing Jasper’s various hockey teams in the community were given an update on how the Municipality of Jasper’s $20 million upgrades to the Jasper Activity Centre and Arena will affect their winter on skates.

Arena Manager Peter Bridge briefed the group which included board members of Jasper Minor Sports and delegates from various other recreational hockey groups.

Arena Manager Peter Bridge’s juggling skills will continue to be put to the test this winter in the midst of renovation disruptions at the Jasper Arena. // Matt Quiring

Because the arena dressing rooms are under construction, for the remainder of October, only Dressing Room 5, plus a small adjacent space, will be available for ice users, Bridge said.

For now, for practices and league games, some teams will have to arrive dressed. However players will be able to put their skates on in the rink. For tournaments, however (assuming the dressing rooms are installed), players will have to wear skate guards to get from the trailers on the Pyramid Lake Road side of the arena to the rink. That 50 metre walk might be the most challenging part of teams’ ice times, Bridge said.

“This year is going to be a wacky year,” Bridge said. 

Bridge predicts he and his team will be spending a wacky amount of time cleaning the rubber mats that will be laid on the north sidewalk to facilitate getting players to the ice from their vehicles. In the snow, sleet and ice, that’s going to be tricky, he admits.

But it will be less tricky if the drivers of those vehicles respect the 15-minute parking zone that the town will install to make the walk to the rink a little shorter than from the main parking lot.

Moreover, as the rink’s capacity will be reduced to a paltry 256 people, friends and family members of players may also face times when they’re not able to watch their teams’ games—particularly if out-of-town tournaments, with a convoy of travelling fans, are able to be booked.

“Everybody’s going to need patience, flexibility and be able to roll with things,” Kelly Bossio, who was representing the Jasper Blues, reminded the group.

Jasper Arena users will have to practice patience this season to make it through a season of disruptions. // Matt Quiring – Jasper Local file

Something that will help the hockey community roll with things is if Tourism Jasper’s plan to bring in trailers to serve as temporary hockey dressing rooms comes to fruition. On September 12, TJ’s president and CEO, James Jackson, presented to Jasper Municipal Council an idea to help salvage the 2023 hockey season by bringing in two 60-foot portable trailers. Those trailers will each be divided in two, to create a total of four 12 foot x 30 foot dressing rooms. The trailer rental is being donated, and Tourism Jasper is working with local businesses to come up with the remainder of the nearly $60,000 cost to set them up. The plan is still in motion, Jackson confirmed on October 11.

When they do get there, the trailers will be without plumbing, so teams will be responsible for bringing in their own water, and small-bladdered players will also need to keep the lack of facilities in mind, Bridge said.

While the renovations will be disruptive this winter, Bridge is taking the long-view. The company leading the project, Carlson Construction, is on schedule and on budget. In his 30-plus years of experience at the Jasper Arena, Carlson is “the best company I’ve ever worked with,” Bridge said.

“I think the dressing rooms are going to be awesome when they’re done,” he told the group.

For their part, the ice user groups were also looking at the bright side. Rosanna Zaniol, whose minor hockey team should get to plan at least one tournament this winter, summed it up:

“It’s going to be worth it, we just have to get through this year.”


Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

Articles You May LIke ›
Most Read ›
Measles case in Jasper prompts health alert
Health
Measles case in Jasper prompts health alert
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Public health officials have confirmed a person with measles has been in a public setting in Jasper while infectious. Yesterday (July 14, 2025), Alber...
this is a test
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
News
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
Lucas Habib 
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Jasper soccer players have once again brought home a provincial soccer championship. Jaifred Mota was the first one to rush keeper Kieran Rudge after ...
this is a test
Mount Alberta centennial: standing on the shoulders of giants
Community
Mount Alberta centennial: standing on the shoulders of giants
John Wilmshurst, guest contributor 
Monday, July 14, 2025
Jasper roping up for celebrations of Mount Alberta's 1925 inaugural ascent If you are going to steal a mountain in Jasper, I’d recommend Mount Alberta...
this is a test
Letter: Jasper remains a wonderful place to visit
Community
Letter: Jasper remains a wonderful place to visit
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
It was with a feeling of trepidation that we approached Jasper this year. We have been regular visitors since 2001 and it’s become a kind of home away...
this is a test
Latest ›
Trail tech: The next generation
Biking
Trail tech: The next generation
Georgia Ristivojevic 
Monday, June 30, 2025
Rugged roads and twisting trails await those who seek. Thanks to its history of trail use by outfitters and recreationalists, Jasper has established i...
this is a test
Introducing Linwood Homes
Featured Builders
Introducing Linwood Homes
Saturday, June 28, 2025
How long have you been in business? Linwood Homes was founded i n 1968 in Alberta. Our business is over 55 years old. How many homes have you built? W...
this is a test
Finding their bearings: How bears use habitat
Environment
Finding their bearings: How bears use habitat
Mark Bradley 
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Dry grass crunched underfoot as the old grizzly searched for food. Her nostrils flared and her nose twitched as she tested her surroundings for anythi...
this is a test
Golf’s golden years at Jasper Park
Jasper History
Golf’s golden years at Jasper Park
John Wilmshurst, freelance contributor 
Monday, June 23, 2025
100 years ago, the Jasper Park Golf Club teed up its first round of the Royal and Ancient Game In 1457, King James II of England banned golf in Scotla...
this is a test

NEXT ARTICLE

50-year-old charged after stabbing incident

News

Most Read ›
Measles case in Jasper prompts health alert
Health
Measles case in Jasper prompts health alert
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Public health officials have confirmed a person with measles has been in a public setting in Jasper while infectious. Yesterday (July 14, 2025), Alber...
this is a test
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
News
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
Lucas Habib 
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Jasper soccer players have once again brought home a provincial soccer championship. Jaifred Mota was the first one to rush keeper Kieran Rudge after ...
this is a test
Mount Alberta centennial: standing on the shoulders of giants
Community
Mount Alberta centennial: standing on the shoulders of giants
John Wilmshurst, guest contributor 
Monday, July 14, 2025
Jasper roping up for celebrations of Mount Alberta's 1925 inaugural ascent If you are going to steal a mountain in Jasper, I’d recommend Mount Alberta...
this is a test
Letter: Jasper remains a wonderful place to visit
Community
Letter: Jasper remains a wonderful place to visit
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
It was with a feeling of trepidation that we approached Jasper this year. We have been regular visitors since 2001 and it’s become a kind of home away...
this is a test
Latest ›
Measles case in Jasper prompts health alert
Health
Measles case in Jasper prompts health alert
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Public health officials have confirmed a person with measles has been in a public setting in Jasper while infectious. Yesterday (July 14, 2025), Alber...
this is a test
Letter: Jasper remains a wonderful place to visit
Community
Letter: Jasper remains a wonderful place to visit
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
It was with a feeling of trepidation that we approached Jasper this year. We have been regular visitors since 2001 and it’s become a kind of home away...
this is a test
Mount Alberta centennial: standing on the shoulders of giants
Community
Mount Alberta centennial: standing on the shoulders of giants
John Wilmshurst, guest contributor 
Monday, July 14, 2025
Jasper roping up for celebrations of Mount Alberta's 1925 inaugural ascent If you are going to steal a mountain in Jasper, I’d recommend Mount Alberta...
this is a test
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
News
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
Lucas Habib 
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Jasper soccer players have once again brought home a provincial soccer championship. Jaifred Mota was the first one to rush keeper Kieran Rudge after ...
this is a test
This site complies with Jasper requirements
Contact us
Privacy Policy
Advertise With Us
About The Jasper Local
Accessibility Policy
Support

Follow Us

Advertise with us

Measurable, targeted, local. Email example@thejasperlocal.com

ePaper
coogle_play
app_store

© Copyright The Jasper Local