Hockey was temporarily prohibited at the outdoor skating rink in downtown Penticton.

(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)

The hockey ban has been lifted for two hours twice a week at Penticton's outdoor hockey rink. 

Skaters were recently advised by the Activate Penticton Society that hockey was banned on the outdoor rink with a posted sign that read "ABSOLUTELY NO HOCKEY." The sign went on to say hockey be permitted during allotted times at some point in 2023.

"Recent issues have arisen as a result of issues arising from hockey players impacting the public both on and off the ice," read an Activate Penticton media release issued yesterday, Jan 4. "The public not obeying the posted signs has been the biggest disappointment of the entire philanthropic undertaking."

Activate Penticton said, starting immediately, shinny will now be allowed from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

"In order to ensure safety, we have put in place tighter parameters for hockey on the rink," the organization said. "Sadly, if they are not followed, we will shut the rink down for one week to reassess. We sincerely hope we will not have to do this."

READ MORE: Kelowna company wants to turn your pool into an ice rink

The outdoor skating rink in Penticton.

(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)

Society president Drew Barnes said the organization is run by volunteers who are doing the best with what they have.

"While we appreciate the support and enthusiasm from the community, we have also been dismayed that many others continue to disregard the rules or engage in vandalism to the facility," Barnes said in the release. "The bottom line is that for this to be a successful community rink it requires buy-in from the entire community."

Penticton Minor Hockey Association administrator Darla Roy said being able to play hockey is part of the fun of having an outdoor rink, but she agrees hockey and public skating don't mix.

"Hockey players shouldn't be allowed to slap around pucks when people are trying to skate," Roy said. "But we’ve already played hockey on that rink and had no issues. Hockey-only organized games should be safe and allowed."

The Activate Penticton Society operates the new outdoor public skating rink year-round and has a board of directors made up of volunteers. It managed more than $1 million in construction and raised around $800,000 in donations.

Anyone who wants to volunteer or donate to help improve the public rink can do so here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Dan Walton or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2023