The Delta Ice Hawks are hoping to host a major tournament in Ladner but the city’s parks and recreation department warns that could impact the facility's other local sport user groups.
The Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission received a staff report on the Ice Hawks hockey team’s request for the city to consider the club's request to host the 2021 Cyclone Taylor Cup at the Ladner Leisure Centre from April 15 to 18, 2021.
The championship features league winners of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League and the Pacific Junior Hockey League, consisting of two games per day over the course of the four days.
The report notes that hosting an ice hockey championship at the centre in mid-April can have implications on the various community user groups who require dry floor space, including lacrosse, ball hockey and roller hockey.
The normal scheduled end of ice season at the centre is March 31, but Delta has an agreement with the Vancouver Giants that requires the city to provide practice ice at the centre "to the end of the Western Hockey League playoff schedule".
This spring, the Giants had a deeper playoff run and required Delta's practice ice.
Dry floor users voiced uproar to the agreement. The Giants eventually agreed to practice elsewhere but the city had to pay for those other facilities.
“Without consideration of the Giants, hosting the Cyclone Taylor Cup will displace approximately 118 hours of dry floor use. In an effort to mitigate the displacement impact upon the dry floor users neighboring community arenas may be able to accommodate some of the displacement if the users are willing to travel to these venues,” the report explains.
Delta officials are to meet with the other user groups to discuss the proposal prior to making a decision on the Ice Hawks request.
