Saskatoon Blades pitch outdoor rink to city for Canada's 150th birthday

Noting Canada's 150th birthday next year, Saskatoon Blades president Steve Hogle is pitching a new, regulation sized outdoor hockey rink for Saskatoon, to be opened on Jan. 1, 2017.

Some details of the proposal were provided in materials presented to a committee of city council.

In the materials, Hogle said the hockey club has been working with members of the Saskatoon Public School Board and city administration to identify three potential sites that could be home to such a project. 

So many of us grew up at the community rink and learned to love it and love winter and embrace all things about it.- Steve Hogle,  president of the Saskatoon Blades

Although he doesn't mention where the sites are, he describes the areas as "vibrant communities with thousands of First Nations families and newcomers to Canada, two growing segments of our society."  

"We thought building a rink in one of the areas that has the greatest need could be a really cool way of engaging, embracing [and] celebrating all things that make Canada the great nation it is," Hogle said. "[It would] also help a lot of people that may not otherwise have this type of opportunity."

"We think this is just a wonderful way to embrace these people and really have something where they feel part of the community and come together and enjoy their piece of Canadiana," he added. 

Hogle has suggested the rink be built on an asphalt pad so that it can be used year-round for other activities like street hockey, soccer and basketball.

"So many of us grew up at the community rink and learned to love it and love winter and embrace all things about it," he explained. "It was a real gathering spot and a real area that brought people together and built a community." 

The Blades are currently awaiting a letter of support from the city, so they can move the idea forward.