SUBSCRIBE & WIN! Sign up for the Daily CHAT News Today Newsletter for a chance to win a $75 South Country Co-op gift card!

Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin
Kinplex Opens

Kinplex opens again for sports, reopenings announced for other arenas

Sep 14, 2020 | 6:03 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – One of Medicine Hat’s largest sporting facilities reopened its doors to the public on Monday, as the Kinplex is back up and running again.

Kinplex 1, the larger of the two arenas on site, opened for practices and training on Monday for community user groups.

Natalie Sauer, manager of recreation with the City of Medicine Hat, said there will be a number of new protocols for both athletes and spectators entering the building.

“We will have a COVID monitor here so people will be greeted by someone,” said Sauer. “It’s in one door and out the other for spectators, we also have the same thing for all of our skaters. Their dressing rooms will look a bit different and how they’re going to get on the ice is a little bit different as well.”

The Kinplex becomes the third Medicine Hat area to reopen since the pandemic hit in March, joining both Cenovus Arena at the Family Leisure Centre and the Canalta Centre.

Kinplex 2 will come online on Oct. 13, spaced out to give some breathing room between its opening and Monday’s opening.

Two other local arenas are set to come online in the near future with the Hockey Hounds Recreation Centre in Crescent Heights opening on Sept. 28, while the Moose Recreation Centre will be up and running sometime in November.

However, it’s expected that most games will take place at some of the larger venues.

“You might see more practices in places like the Hockey Hounds where it’s smaller versus games,” said Sauer. “So, we’re trying to really work with the groups in order to allow what fits best to what facility.”

Games for both the junior and minor hockey levels aren’t expected to begin until late October or early November at the earliest.

When it comes to spectators, there will be a maximum of 100 spectators at one time at the Kinplex though the City is looking for that number to be even smaller if possible.

“We’re really recommending that we leave our spectators to a minimum,” said Sauer. “The Hockey Alberta rules do ask that as well, that maybe it’s one person per skater. That’s just to minimize the amount of people that are in the facilities or in the stands. We want to be extra careful and not forget that we do need to stay six feet apart and take care of one another when we are in these ice facilities.”