Ottawa Ice Rinks Sit Empty Despite High Demand for Ice Time

The demand for ice time in Ottawa is rising, yet many arenas remain underutilized during peak hours. Local minor hockey and ringette associations face significant challenges in securing time slots, particularly as interest in girls’ ice sports continues to grow. Longtime coach Dave McWaters expressed his frustration upon noticing empty rinks during busy periods. “For several years I’ve noticed that there’s ice empty at prime time, during the day on a Saturday and Sunday,” McWaters said. He emphasized that the demand has outpaced availability, particularly for girls’ hockey and ringette.

Each spring, sports associations must submit their ice time requests to the City of Ottawa. The costs for renting rinks range from $205 to $342 per hour before tax. After negotiations, the city finalizes the schedule, imposing cancellation fees for any changes. Associations invest heavily in ice time; for instance, the City of Ottawa Ringette Association (CORA) reported spending $330,000 last year to rent ice for its 30 teams and 450 players.

Innovative Solutions to Ice Time Challenges

In response to the issue of unused ice time, McWaters launched a Facebook group called Ottawa Area Ice Exchange about a year and a half ago. This group allows teams to resell any pre-paid ice they can no longer use, either at full price or at a discount. “The city does allow them to transfer their contract over for that hour so the city knows who’s on the ice and that the proper insurance is in place,” he noted.

The city acknowledges the Facebook page, stating that any ice exchanges must be coordinated through its central allocation system. Teams may give up ice time for various reasons, such as participating in out-of-town tournaments. As the season progresses, the issue of “burnt ice” becomes more pronounced. “Teams are out of the playoffs, but they’ve already bought ice,” McWaters explained. “They have extra ice that is not going to be used because their season is just over.”

According to the city, staff at each arena monitor ice usage. “When a pattern of underused ice is identified, staff follow up directly with the group to address the issue and encourage efficient use of allocated time,” said Dan Chenier, the city’s general manager of recreation, cultural and facility services. This approach aims to maintain fairness and optimal use of public facilities. In addition, the city offers a limited amount of “last-minute ice” at discounted rates to help alleviate some of the pressure.

Challenges of Ice Time Allocation

Determining how much ice time to purchase at the start of the season is complex, particularly before player registrations are finalized. “It’s a bit of educated guesswork,” said Mike Tjetkema, scheduler for CORA and a parent of a ringette player. He strives to provide teams with one or two practices each week while ensuring adequate spacing between sessions.

The growing interest in girls’ hockey and ringette complicates the scheduling further. According to Hockey Canada, the 2024-2025 season set a record for participation in women’s and girls’ hockey, with over 115,000 registered players—marking the highest figure in Canadian history. “We’ve never been able to really keep up with the demand as sports grow, especially girls’ hockey and ringette,” McWaters stated.

Moreover, the aging infrastructure of some ice rinks poses additional challenges. “We have a lot of single, older rinks,” McWaters noted. “And they tend to have mechanical issues and issues where the ice may go down.” These factors hinder the ability to book ice time effectively, highlighting the need for improved facilities to meet the increasing demand.

The struggle for adequate ice time reflects broader trends in sports participation and community resource management. As interest in ice sports continues to expand, local organizations will need to innovate and adapt to ensure that all athletes have the opportunity to compete and enjoy their sport.