The Chestermere Pond Hockey League (CPHL) has garnered national attention this week, as major media outlets reported on the league’s difficulty finding an area to host pond hockey games.
As reported in the Rocky View Weekly on Nov. 18, James Schaffer a Chestermere hockey enthusiast and co-founder of the league, was preparing to kick off the CPHL in the beginning of December, but just a few weeks after the story was reported, the Town put the brakes on the project, stating safety issues.
“There was a request to allow for a permanent structure on a municipal storm pond for a hockey rink,” Patricia Matthews, mayor of the Town of Chestermere, explained. “That request was denied by administration based on the instability of the ice.”
An issue contended by Schaffer, who said he was granted a Park Use permit by the Town.
“They gave it to me, but because it (the CPHL) gained a lot of support, the town reviewed it (on Dec. 2),” he said.
Town staff decided the area that CPHL first identified as a possible location - near Rainbow Falls – was unsafe for recreational use because of the shifting temperatures, constant movement and the thickness of the ice.
Matthews explained the Town “is in no way banning hockey,” and pointed out that there are many other places the league could operate out of within the town limits.
Schaffer explained he has moved on, adding he is in talks with another location, but added that “he can’t talk about it yet.”
“Of course I’m frustrated; we had plans and it feels like they are making it more difficult than it needs to be,” he said.
“We’re doing our best to work with the Town and the mayor.”
According to a release issued by the Town on Dec. 6, “instead of using storm ponds, interested groups are welcome to work with the Town’s Community Recreation Coordinator to identify safe locations for their proposed activities.”
“As the Town that hosts the World’s Longest Hockey Game and supports many minor hockey initiatives, I think it’s clear that hockey of all kinds is embraced in Chestermere,” Matthews said.
While the league reorganizes it location, Schaffer is one step ahead of the game and has submitted an application to CBC’s Kraft Hockeyville 2014, with the hopes that the national media attention the league has received recently will help build a case for pond hockey in Chestermere.
“I’m happy that (the CPHL) has received national attention, I would love it if Prime Minister Stephen Harper would come for a skate here,” he said.
Nominations for submission to Kraft Hockeyville open Jan. 1 2014, and the two finalist communities will win a $100,000 prize.
“If we were to win the grand prize of $100,000 my plan is to donate it to the recreation facility they are building in Chestermere,” Schaffer said.
