There were smiling faces all around as the arena was back up and operating at 100 per cent in Whale Cove in March.

The arena had been closed for the past three three years due mainly to heating difficulties.

Whale Cove Mayor Oliver Shipton said some unforeseen difficulties prevented workers from Eskimo Point Lumber Supply (EPLS) from getting into the community as quickly as hoped.

Flight cancellations and delays in sourcing some of the materials pushed the big day back a little later than he was hoping for, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a two-inch heating system, copper pipe, so they were having trouble sourcing some of the fittings,SA国际影视传媒� said Shipton.

SA国际影视传媒淭he boilers were actually here this past October, then we were able to finalize the heating system and EPLS took it all from there.

SA国际影视传媒淭he arena was really missed a lot by the community. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a huge mental-health support for the youth of the community, as well as the adults who enjoy skating and playing old-timerSA国际影视传媒檚 hockey.

SA国际影视传媒淭he kids really missed public skating too. It was not just all about hockey.SA国际影视传媒�

With the arena closed for three years, Shipton said youth in the community were skating on the road, as well as Nattar Lake.

He said they went to the arena as soon as it reopened and they were all so happy to be back skating on arena ice.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was just awesome to see all the smiles on their faces and how happy they all were.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 happy we now have one more mental support and functioning facility in the community for the people to enjoy.SA国际影视传媒�

Whale Cove has always had its share of good hockey players and the skills of the current and upcoming generations didnSA国际影视传媒檛 totally erode during the arena closure, according to the mayor.

However, he is quick to add that the situation definitely had a negative impact on younger players due to the lack of proper ice to practice on.

SA国际影视传媒淭he ice on the lake is kind of edgy and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 big cracks in a lot of places. It wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 a controlled setting, so they couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 play to their full potential. TheySA国际影视传媒檒l have that again with the arena reopening.

SA国际影视传媒淲hale Cove didnSA国际影视传媒檛 even make it to a lot of the tournaments during the past three years because there just wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 enough practice and everyone was a little too rusty to bring their best game.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur team did really good at the Terence Tootoo Memorial this year, even though that was a day before the arena reopened here in Whale.

SA国际影视传媒淚 can foresee a lot of our kids, and adults too for that matter, doing well in all the tournaments again because now theySA国际影视传媒檒l be able to practice more.SA国际影视传媒�

Shipton was proud and happy to see the local youth keep their spirits up and not give up on hockey while their arena was closed.

He said the impact on the youth is a prime example of why itSA国际影视传媒檚 so important to have arenas in Northern communities.

SA国际影视传媒淓very community should have a functioning arena. In fact, not only an arena but also a baseball diamond and other facilities where kids can release their stress and enjoy what they love to do.

SA国际影视传媒淪eeing them play on the roads and lake as much as they did while the arena was closed SA国际影视传媒� you know thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a huge love for the sport and it was awesome to see them keeping at it as best they could. And itSA国际影视传媒檚 even better to see them back on the arena ice again.

SA国际影视传媒淲ith the arena open; itSA国际影视传媒檚 another way they can exercise, fill their time with positive activities, have fun and enjoy themselves together. Those are all positives for the community.

SA国际影视传媒淚 really want us to be able to host our own big hockey tournament again next year. There was an old hockey event SA国际影视传媒� the Johnny Kook Memorial (JKM) SA国际影视传媒� that used to be held in Whale Cove.

SA国际影视传媒淚 believe the whole community would love to see the JKM come back again.SA国际影视传媒�