Pucks will drop at Port Coquitlam’s new recreation complex as scheduled.
The city announced today (Friday) that one of eight dressing rooms already constructed in the first phase of the $132-million community centre will be dedicated for the use of on-ice officials to comply with a Hockey Canada rule requiring separate secure dressing room space for officials.
If teams require all changing facilities, one will be accommodated in “an alternative dry space,” according to a press release from the city.
“Sometimes issues come up during construction,” said Port Coquitlam mayor Brad West of the lack of dressing rooms for officials in the building’s first phase that includes two arenas. Four dressing rooms for referees are in the plans for the second phase, which includes an additional arena as well as a leisure pool, but it isn’t scheduled to be ready until 2021.
Dhortly after the facility’s opening on Aug. 27, the president of the Port Coquitilam Minor Hockey Association was informed the city’s plan to temporarily accommodate officials in a spare dressing room or in cubicles in the complex’s main changing room didn’t satisfy Hockey Canada’s rule.
She said several officials, some of whom travel from as far away as Mission, also indicated they wouldn’t work games if they didn’t have their own dressing room, jeopardizing the launch of the hockey season.
Egli said the new solution is satisfactory and ensures games will go on when hockey season officially begins next week.
“We are very grateful to the city of Port Coquitlam for its quick response to our concerns,” she said, adding her association recognizes the challenges of building such a facility without disrupting ice time.
