Edam was voted the #SKColdestBarn in February poll conducted on Twitter and battlefordsNOW (Brady Lang/battlefordsNOW staff) : Brady Lang

By Brady Lang

#SKCOLDESTBARN

Edam voted Saskatchewan’s coldest rink

Mar 1, 2019 | 3:55 PM

The people have spoken and Edam has been crowned the Coldest Barn in Saskatchewan.

For twenty days, people were tweeting, voting and sharing their stories of cold rinks around the province.

A Twitter poll ended with 245 votes for Edam, while Annaheim garnered just 193. Online at battlefordsNOW, Edam received 642 clicks, while Annaheim received 485 votes. Together, 1,565 votes were cast, with Edam getting the nod with 887 overall.

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Edam’s rink, which was built in 1967, houses teams in minor and senior hockey and has long held a reputation for being one of the coldest in Saskatchewan. Community members have always said the rink is cold, and have even said neighbouring communities have tried to cancel games – or outright not come to the community.

Mike Weber, who is on the rink board, said the conversation was always around, but the #SKColdestBarn polls and talk on Twitter has ignited a conversation as to why Edam’s rink is so cold.

He cites the way it is built, the age, and the natural ice. Most years, he said, the ice isn’t able to be put in and be usable until December.

Regardless, Edam’s hockey program still prospers. Their minor side continues to raise eyebrows, which Weber says is thanks in large part to the dedication and love for the game everyone in the community of 480. From coaches to parents and fans, to every single skater that hits the ice, the love of the game outweighs the temperature on the ice surface in Edam, he said.

“It’s never going to stop hockey in Edam, we’re used to dealing with the weather,” he said.

The rink continues to be a gathering spot for the community. Whether it’s on the hockey or curling side, or the large foyer that was built in 2010 during their Twinning project, regardless of the cold, people continue to show up.

Within the arena, two heaters work tirelessly for the fans. Weber said one is in need of repairs or replacing. They have attempted to improve warmth on the bench by installing baseboard heaters underneath to help players.

Weber said a number of things would need to be done to make the rink warmer; getting the heaters working, installing more insulation, fixing the doors so there isn’t a draft on the ice surface and getting an artificial ice plant set up.

Natural ice was a theme throughout the rinks nominated in the process, simply due to the fact the ice needs to be quite cold to be useable throughout winter. Weber said the town has looked into the idea of artificial ice, but it is quite a costly task.

“I was hoping before my kids were done minor hockey in Edam (we would be able to install artificial ice). I am learning quickly, I don’t think it will ever happen.

“We have got quotes done,” he said. “We’re anywhere between $2.1 million and $2.8 million.”

Weber said the quotes for installing the plant and upkeep were around a year and a half old.

The aforementioned Twinning project did set the town back quite. The project came with a price tag of around $1.6 million, and the town received a grant for the project of roughly 30 per cent, with the remaining balance fundraised from community members.

The project gave the opportunity for fans to sit inside and watch the game from a comfortable position, rather than freezing in the stands. Weber said it gave an opportunity for the elderly to continue to come to the arena and enjoy watching the younger generation play hockey.

There is still a lot of work left for the the now 52 year old rink on its path to warmth. But Weber said the one constant it does provide a place for young hockey players to play, be active, create new memories, share stories, and fall in love with the game of hockey.

_{The unscientific poll was run on Twitter and battlefordsNOW from February 11, 2019 to February 27, 2019. Users nominated their coldest rinks in the province from February 9, 2019 to February 11, 2019. Over 2,700 votes were cast throughout that time period. This was a people’s choice poll, no scientific data was submitted, presented, calculated, or represented.}

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brady.lang@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @BradyLangBFN