Taber’s Large Ice arena reopens after December explosion

An explosion at the Taber Community Centre on December 17 caused substantial damage to the facility’s Large, Small and Curling rinks. It was caused by a failure of a component within the fuel system of the ice resurfacer, which created a gas cloud that spread across the small ice surface, and was ignited by an electric heater.

Nobody was injured or nearby the blast at the time. However, it left the town with no place to play hockey indefinitely.

After rallying support from the within the community and abroad, the town’s Large Ice arena has finally reopened just in time for the upcoming season.

Besides rebuilding critical elements such as the walls, lighting and electrical and asbestos abatement, it’s also provided the chance for the town to upgrade the rink with new netting, boards and eventually a new score clock. And it was many thanks to winning $250,000 from Kraft Hockeyville this year.

With an internal reopening target for August 1st, the town commemorated the occasion on Friday with a free skate on the new ice, and the revealing of the new town Wall of Fame, with two inaugural inductees being honoured; Gerald Beckie and Joe Orban.

The rink’s reopening comes right on time for their annual Verset Skills School which begins August 1st, and is expected to attract 260 young players.

The curling rink has a hopeful opening date in October, while the future of the small ice arena remains undetermined.