The Good Old Hockey Game.....

If you've joined the WEHL (http://www.wehl.on.ca/) then hockey clinics are probably starting for you this week and in fact the league posted a notice yesterday that it is full, though it does have a waiting list if you're still interested.

If you haven't registered your child for hockey yet (who's thinking of hockey this early in the year right?) then consider another great neighbourhood option:

Fisher Park Skating and Hockey

If you're testing the waters or just want slightly less of a time commitment, then Fisher Park Communtiy Centre offers some great options - learn to skate, power skate and indoor hockey (as well as outdoor hockey in the winter session).  Details of the specific programs are below (though always double check with them - I'd hate to steer you wrong).  Registration for fall programming starts on Tuesday, September 13th and registration for winter programming starts on November 14th.  Programs themselves start the week of October 10th. 

For more detail, stop by the Community Centre at 250 Holland Avenue (in the school) where you can pick up a pamphlet or call them at 798-8945. They do not have a web site.  Some of their programs fill up quickly so you should be there when registration opens to ensure a spot.


Learn to Skate for 3-12 year olds on Saturdays from 12-12:50 and 1-1:50 at Tom Brown Arena starting October 15th;

Power Skate for 8-14 year olds on Saturdays from 1:00-1:50 at Tom Brown Arena starting October 15th;


Indoor Hockey for 5-8 year olds from 6:6:50 and for 8-11 year olds from 7-7:50 on Tuesdays starting October 11th at McNab Arena, 180 Percy at Gladstone;

Outdoor Hockey will be offered in the winter session (when there's ice!)

Winter, Hockey, Skating....Indoors

Note: for information on outdoor rinks see this earlier post: http://kitchissippikids.blogspot.com/2010/11/winter-hockey-skating-outdoors.html

When I go to J.A. Dulude Arena, just on the other side of Carling, I go back in time to what seems to have been pretty much the same arena experience when I was 10 or so.  The same look, the same feel, the same smell!   I remember running around the bleachers, chanting cheers at the players, skating to '70's music and the smell of french fries drowned in vinegar.  I grew up in a really small town and frankly there wasn't that much to do so we made the most of what we had....often....and it was good.

So take your kids out for a skate,  lace up your own , circle around the oval and see what you and the ice still have in common.  I'm still working on my stops...

The neighbourhood's two main ice rinks are J.A. Dulude Arena and Tom Brown Arena.  Take advantage of the public skates, sign your kids up for skating lessons (through the City) or the West End Hockey League (WEHL) or rent the ice to host a birthday party or just to become the neighbourhoods favorite parent!  Registration for next year's hockey season starts in the spring.

The City does have 1, 3, 6 month and 1 year skating passes (child, adult or family) available at reduced rates for those who are frequent skaters.

JA Dulude Arena

J.A. Dulude, technically outside Kitchissippi, is located at 941 Clyde Avenue.  Basically just turn south off Carling right beside the big Canadian Tire Store (Cole Avenue), continue for a couple of minutes and you'll see Dulude on the left.  It's open year round and does have a canteen and skate sharpening.

There is also a big sledding hill - Carlington Hill - which is officially sanctioned by the City and which (if you want some trivia) was a downhill ski operation with tow lift for many years.  It's also a great hill if you want a climb (any season!).

Tom Brown Arena

My experience with Tom Brown is limited to the line-ups of the H1N1 clinics so I won't comment much, though like Dulude it had that same old-style arena feel...a good thing.  It's located at 141 Bayview Road, just off Scott Street and is open year round.  It offers skating lessons, public skates and hockey, hockey clinics and pick-up hockey.

Winter! Hockey! Skating! ...outdoors

OUTDOOR RINKS IN KITCHISSIPPI

This is what the Westboro/Dovercourt rink looks like now (or a week ago, =  )).  But in a month or two it will indeed be a rink with a "puddle", the name affectionately given to the ice surfaces without boards or defined edges.  And I'm winterizing my blog with wintery details for k'kids, with more to come....

Dovercourt has some great outdoor skating lessons that don't fill up nearly as early as the City indoor rink sessions (which I always miss).  Fisher Park has what I'm told is an awesome hockey development program if you're not quite prepared for the full commitment of the West End Hockey League, the other popular option.  It does however fill up extremely quickly.  Fisher Park also has its own skating and power skating sessions.  Registration for the winter session starts on Monday November 15th is in person only at the Community Centre office (613) 798-8945 located in the Fisher Park School, 250 Holland Ave. Payment by cash or cheque. For the hockey you have to be there bright and early. 

Information on the outdoor rinks below is taken from the City of Ottawa site at http://ottawa.ca/residents/parks_recreation/seasonal/fw/outdoor_rinks/locations_en.html.  Information below is current as of November 6th, 2010.

Champlain Park, 140 Carleton,, rink with puddle, field house w/ washrooms, lights, boards, supervised Mon to Fri: 5 to 9 pm, Sat, Sun: 10 am to 5 pm

Dovercourt (see Westboro, below)

Fairmont, 265 Fairmont, double surface with trailer and lights, Supervised Mon to Fri: 4:30 to 8:30 pm, Sat, Sun: 1 to 9 pm

Fisher Park, 250 Holland, Ottawa, Rink with puddle, Trailer, lights and boards (not sure whether it has supervision)

Iona, 223 Iona, Double surface, Field house, washrooms, lights, no boards, Supervised Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri: 6 to 11 pm, Wed: 4 to 9 pm, Sat, Sun: 11 to 5 pm

Laroche, 52 Bayview, Rink with puddle, Field house, washrooms, lights and boards, supervised Mon to Fri: 6 to 10 pm, Sat: noon to 9 pm, Sun: 1 to 5 pm

McKellar Park, 539 Wavell Ave., double surface, lights, no boards, field house w/ washrooms (though not sure of fieldhouse hours), supervised Mon to Fri: 4:30 to 8:30 pm, Sat, Sun: noon to 6 pm

Westboro (aka Dovercourt), 411 Dovercourt Ave. , rink with puddle, trailer, washrooms etc. in recreation centre, lights, boards, supervised Mon to Fri: 4:30 to 8:30 pm, Sat, Sun: 10 am to 3 pm.  Great family sledding hill at same location.  Picture at right is of Dovercourt's outdoor lessons.

Woodroffe, 180 Lockhart Ave., rink with puddle, field house, washrooms, lights, boards, supervised Mon to Fri: 5 to 9 pm, Sat: 11 am to 7 pm, Sun: noon to 6 pm