4 year olds playing hockey at 10pm? Komoka’s girls hockey program wants ice times that work for kids

A non-profit recreational girls hockey program in Komoka, Ontario, west of London, is fighting to get fair ice in their local arena this winter.

For the past two summers, the Ice Puffins have secured a weekly Friday ice cream spot at the Komoka Wellness Center. But the Middlesex Center council has been unable to arrange a reasonable offer during the autumn and winter season.

The council offered the team a weekly slot at 6am or 10pm, which according to their chairman Kevin McClelland, is simply not feasible, with players ranging from four to twelve years old.

“I think it’s a fairly fair ask to ask for just two hours a week to serve over forty girls, many of whom [are] families within Middlesex Centre,” he said.

“If it’s a taxpayer-supported facility, I don’t think what we’re asking for is unrealistic.”

In addition to public skating times, much of the ice time at the Komoka Wellness Center’s two rinks is taken up by a local AAA program and other teams such as the Mount Brydges Cougers from outside the municipality, he said.

“It seems like we’ve been brushed off a little bit,” he said. “I think it’s a bit unfair as these are young girls who just want to try the sport.”

The time slots offered by Middlesex Center are “disappointing,” said Andrew Ryan, whose six-year-old daughter plays on the Ice Puffins.

“Motivating my kid at 5 a.m. to get up and go to hockey…she wouldn’t want to do hockey at all,” he said.

“And then of course at 10 p.m., they’ll be in bed by 8:30 p.m. at the latest.”

CBC News reached out to Middlesex Centre’s recreation coordinator but did not receive a response before publication.

Last winter the City of London offered the Ice Puffins a time slot at the Farquharson Arena in Wortley Village, but the location and facilities were less than ideal.

“We are absolutely grateful that the City of London has provided us with an ice slot,” McClelland said. “But when it comes to traveling from the Komoka-Kilworth area to London, it can be a little tricky for some families.”

The Farquharson Arena is also quite old, lacks a warm area for older family members and the changing rooms are too small for the 18 to 24 girls who have to get ready at once.

Encouraging young girls to take to the ice

The Ice Puffins program started last summer as a way for young girls to try hockey without the major time and financial commitments associated with traditional competitions, and also to give them the opportunity to play against other girls.

“There are some great recreational hockey programs that require a little bit lower commitment than your normal minor hockey, but they are all co-ed, which is largely dominated by boys and that can be a little tough for girls,” McClelland said.

“Many girls feel uncomfortable playing with the boys and it can be intimidating, especially if they are new to hockey and giving hockey a try.”

The Ice Puffins also fill a void in the community by giving children an opportunity to play at an affordable price, he added.

While some programs for little girls can cost more than $1,000 per season, the Ice Puffins have had seasons as short as four weeks for $80, and as long as 14 weeks for around $280.

“The feedback we’ve had so far has been great,” McClelland said. “We have helped more than 70 girls in the area.”

The program is also run entirely by volunteers, with the sole exception of a few paid female coaches and referees from the community.

“Just from looking at other organizations and just looking at girls hockey in general, we feel like there aren’t enough female leadership roles, so we want to get young women from the community involved.”

For Ryan and his daughter – who were reluctant to play for another local organization – it became more appealing when they learned that the Ice Puffins was a more “fun” program.

“She absolutely loved it,” he said. “She got off the ice and wanted to go again, while we didn’t have that at the other association.”