The re-opening of the Kinsmen Arenas will take a little longer than expected.
Last week, the City of Red Deer announced the twin rinks will reopen on Dec. 18. But in a media release on Monday, Dec. 9, the city stated the opening has been delayed due to a pressure test issue with the new chiller.
This pressure test is considered to be an essential step to ensure the system is properly sealed, safeguarding public health and the environment.
"Unfortunately, with the pressure test not meeting expectations, there will be at least a two-week delay, pushing the earliest opening to late December," the media release stated.
The city's target date for opening is now Dec. 27.
The rinks have been closed all season after a chiller used to create and maintain the ice in both rinks failed. In August, city council stepped up and approved $350,000 to buy a new one.
Losing two of the city's rinks took some schedule wrangling for hockey and ringette teams, figure skaters and other users.
Enmax Centrium and Red Deer Polytechnic were used along with rinks in surrounding communities.
"It worked pretty well. There were some fewer practices and longer drives. For the most part, people have adjusted," said Curtis Martinek, city facilities and asset management superintendent on Thursday.
The new chiller is expected to last 15 to 20 years. The one it replaced was 14 years old and was due to be replaced in the next few years anyway.
