SENLAC — The heart of Senlac is beginning to come to life and soon it will be beating steadily.
Before long the rink will be filled with families coming to skate, watch their children play hockey or watch a family member on the recreational team.
Organizers have had interest in the U7 team again this year, with some kids moving up in the ranks and having to play in Unity as well as some new players who have grown enough to join the young team.
The Senlac Jr. Sabres has roughly 12 players all determined to keep the small-town team going. The Sabres’ season will include games in Unity, Macklin and Neilburg along with a few tournaments in other communities.
The adult recreational team is also still going strong. It too also has a dozen players with a goal of getting out and having fun.
Even with all the hustle and bustle of hockey equipment, the true heroes of this rink are the volunteers.
Every aspect of the arena is organized and run by those who believe the rink needs to be kept going. The booth inside is operated by families with kids playing the game, which in turn allows the rink to profit from the sales. Between the booth sales and the low cost of ice installation, organizers and volunteers can continue having a local place to skate and enjoy the games.
The original arena was torn down with a new one taking its place in the 1970s. At that time, the facility was a busy place. The rink did see a decline in use however over the past five years, it has been used more and more every season.
During the warmer months, the dirt bottom facility is used for other functions, including the Senlac Multiple 4-H Achievement Day, the annual bunnock tournament and a July 1 ball tournament.
