Preparations for the upcoming 2016/17 season are well underway at the T.G. Smith Centre in Steinbach, Manitoba, with city staff busy working on the ice.
New on the ice this year is the 2017 TELUS Cup logo, representing the West Regional tournament being hosted by the Eastman Selects in the spring. Last season the T.G. Smith Centre was the venue for the Allan Cup.
City staff recognize the importance of these events and the role the arena plays in the community. Mike Pries, member of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, and veteran ice maker, obviously takes a lot of pride in his work and enjoys spending winters at the arena. This is Pries’ 8th season putting in the ice and in speaking with him you quickly learn that ice making requires experience, a bit of creativity, and some trial and error.
The building up of the ice surface will continue this week and the Centennial Arena ice will be ready for use for the Piston’s hockey camp next week. The T.G. Smith Arena ice is expected to be ready in a couple of weeks.
