Hockey is Canada's game and everyone should be allowed to play it, but sometimes getting onto an ice surface for players to hone their skills is a bigger challenge then a Stanley Cup Final.

The Okotoks Minor Hockey Association is in that boat right now trying to get sufficient ice times for all levels.

OHMA Operations Coordinator Jamie Steer says it's overwhelming sometimes how many schedules have to made per team.

"We have 80 plus teams," he says. "We've got a Jr A team, Jr. B team and a big figure skating club, and it's hard to imagine the creativity that goes into making an ice schedule here and how far our kids have to travel and practicing till 11:30 at night."

He says players frequently have to practice or play out of Okotoks on a regular basis.

"Having 60 kids on an ice surface at once, going before school, starting at four o'clock after school, going to Stavely, going outside of Black Diamond," Steer said. "We're doing everything we possibly can to keep kids playing hockey, we want kids in our community of Okotoks to keep playing hockey."

With the proposed twinning of Pason Centennial Arena, Steer says the more rinks the better.

"I'll say it right now we need two ice surfaces to support our minor hockey association," he says. "One is going to relieve it, but two would fix it. We're willing as our membership willing to do fundraising or whatever it takes to push that, we are in more ice crisis than Calgary, Edmonton or any of the big centres."

Steer recently visited Okotoks Town Council and voiced the need for the twinning of the arena in hopes council will find a way to maximize the ice potential within Pason Centennial arena.

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