Priority ice time for Grizzlies’ won’t impact other arena users

An amendment to an existing ice allocation policy that will see ice time at the Revelstoke Arena prioritized for the Revelstoke Grizzlies junior hockey team won’t impact other arena users, according to the city’s director of Parks and Recreation Laurie Donato. 

In July 2023, the Kootenay International Hockey League announced the 20 clubs in its league had been reclassified from Junior B to Junior A, Tier 2 for the 2023/2024 Season. 

In April this year, the Grizzlies won the KIJHL Teck Cup against the Fernie Ghostriders before going on to take the BC Junior A Championship Mowat Cup in an overtime victory against the Ridge Meadows Flames.

Speaking to council during its regular meeting on June 25, Donato said the reclassification by BC Hockey means the Grizzlies’ need to meet requirements set for Junior A leagues. Among these requirements is having priority in terms of ice allocation at the arena.

Revelstoke city councillor Aaron Orlando asked about the potential impact on other users, and whether those users had been consulted on the policy amendment. 

Donato said while other groups were not consulted due to a tight timeline, the Grizzlies’ practice time is during the day in order to minimize impact to evening users, and that junior level playoff games are already prioritized. She further said there is already a system in place that is consistent with the way the amended ice allocation policy is written.

Council approved the motion to amend the ice allocation policy, with councillor Orlando opposed.