Ice rink back on the cards - Jamaica Ice Hockey Federation a step closer to partnership with synthetic producers

Jamaica’s progress and success in winter sports, particularly ice hockey, could get a major boost if president of the Jamaica Ice Hockey Federation (JIHF) Don Anderson can seal a partnership with synthetic ice rink maker Ultimate Hockey.

For years, late president of the Jamaica Ski Federation Richard Salm advocated and tried to get an ice rink established in the country without much success.

However, Anderson said the latest developments have now taken that dream into the realm of reality, and the JIHF is looking to host members of Ultimate Hockey in Jamaica, have them meet with stakeholders, and have discussions on how to proceed.

Anderson explained that the arrangement came about during his travels to the IHF congresses, especially the last one in Zurich recently, where Ultimate Hockey had a booth, and they engaged the representatives there on the possibilities.

He noted also that the IHF is now recognising the value of synthetic ice rinks to countries without the resources or conditions to build and maintain an ice rink and have approved synthetic surfaces for competitive use.

“I had discussions with Ultimate and we have been exchanging correspondence and they are very keen to work with Jamaica on it.

“I can’t give the details as yet, but they are quite keen, and my job right now is to send a letter saying, ‘Can you come to Jamaica and have a meeting with all relevant parties, Olympic Association, minister of sports, and let us know what can be done and at what cost?’”

“There is a document that will be sent to me that will tell me more about it, but where we are now, we are in discussion with them about the establishment of a synthetic surface in Jamaica. They are very keen to work with us on this, but no definite arrangement has been made yet,” he declared.

He pointed out that having a synthetic rink will give them 12-month access to such a facility and at a much lower cost than a real ice rink.

Having an ice rink would also allow the association to have a year-round development programmes, which will help grow and establish the sport locally.

“The gap between synthetic ice and real ice is now so narrow that they (IHF) are approving playing on that surface. A synthetic rink that can be layed out for 12 months for the year, and compared to the establishment of a regulation rink, the cost is minimal compared to that.

“Ultimate will send us the details to look at it, and we are supposed to bring them to Jamaica for discussion. Also, we have been approved for a youth-development programme called ‘Grow The Game Fund’.

“We are now putting on a camp in the summer for about 60 kids. So the Ice rink is now going to be useful for local programmes to develop the local talent, which is important.

“So once we get the rink, we can have somewhere for these kids to have training to learn to play hockey. The two go hand in hand. The local courses that we are having between now and the end of August, and the discussion on the ice rink, because once we get the ice rink up, that is where the young people are going to play,” he said.

Anderson is confident that if all goes well, they can have a rink in place by the middle of 2027.

“If we get an old building and retrofit it, we can put it in quickly, but we don’t know what it is going to cost. This is just my estimate of the time, but once we have more discussions with Ultimate we will know exactly how long it will take,” he added.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com