The Haines Hockey Board is proposing to construct a permanent, covered ice rink at the Southeast Alaska State Fairgrounds, with the first phase of the project involving replacement of the existing corral at Raven Arena.
The hockey board brought its proposal to the Fair Board last month.
The proposal outlines a plan to deconstruct the existing 235-foot long, 95-foot wide corral, grade and compact the existing arena, reuse as many of the posts and boards as possible, and construct a new 200-foot long, 85-foot wide, natural, wood-toned corral for the rink.
The new corral would be a regulation-size hockey rink, but would shrink the corral considerably.
At its June 10 meeting, the hockey board discussed whether the group really needed a full 200-foot rink. They also debated whether to leave the north side of the rink open-ended, like a horseshoe.
Leaving the rink open would allow for easier snow plowing and the ability to eventually expand the rink to 200 feet if that length isn’t currently necessary or feasible.
Board member Brad Ryan said he would prefer to just construct the closed 200-foot corral outright. “Just build the 200 and be done with it,” Ryan said.
Other board members pointed out a bigger rink means more snow to shovel and more ice to maintain. Board member Paul Wheeler said unless at least 10 people show up to make two, five-person teams, 200 feet is too much ice to skate.
The proposal also includes plans for the addition of a second light pole at the south end of the rink, next to the existing light pole. “A new Raven Arena sign would be painted and would span the two light poles at the south entrance, declaring it the Home of Haines Hockey,” the draft proposal said.
Fair director Jessica Edwards said while the fair board is very keen on working with the hockey board, the organization has concerns about the corral dimensions.
“In general, making the size of the enclosure smaller isn’t probably our preference. We’re leaning against changing the shape to being narrower and shorter,” Edwards said.
In the past, the fair used the corral for horse shows, a possibility the board doesn’t want to rule out by shrinking the enclosure, she said.
While the fair board didn’t make any decisions regarding the corral at its recent meeting, Edwards said it was a good first step toward upgrading the structure.
Edwards said the board is in the process of developing a kind of “master plan” for the entire west side of the fair’s property, including the corral, former gravel pit, disc golf course and other unused space.
“The conversation with (the) hockey (board) is happening because we have one user group that wants to do something over there right now,” Edwards said. “We’re also engaged in this larger look at the long-term needs and development over there and trying to make sure that we keep our options open.”
The hockey boards would be removable and would be taken down after the skating season and put back up in the fall after the fair.
The proposal, which is only a draft and makes clear the project would be phased and subject to funding opportunities, also plans for a “moveable windbreak-type warming hut” to be placed along the boards on the east side.
“I think we had a great first meeting about it,” Edwards said. “Everybody wants it to happen. It’s just how and who is going to pay.”