The Athabasca & District Minor Hockey Association (ADMHA) will be increasing its registration fees by five per cent for the 2014/2015 season due to a nine-per-cent increase in the cost of ice time at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex.
Novice, atom, peewee, bantam and midget players will all see an increase of $30 in their registration fees. Initiation fees will only increase by $10. Fees will now range from $210 for initiation players to $680 for midgets.
ADMHA president Darcy Tangedal recognized that the increase in fees could impact registration.
“I think every time you increase fees, it’s a big risk,” Tangedal said.
ADMHA fees are now in line with other surrounding communities and cities, explained Tangedal.
Registration fees only account for half of the association’s revenue, said Tangedal: the rest comes from fundraising initiatives such as casinos, hockey pools and the annual Hawkey Night event.
Dustin Pysyk, assistant manager for the Athabasca Regional Multiplex, explained that fees for ice time at the multiplex haven’t increased in the last four years.
“It was time to see where we are compared to everybody else, and we found we were on the lower side, and therefore felt it was the year to do it,” Pysyk said. An hour of ice time will increase from $115 to $125.
Pysyk explained that the increase is not directly linked to the fact that the multiplex is running a forecasted deficit of $1,133,952.
“I would not say it has a direct bearing; it is one of the many factors,” Pysyk said.
Tangedal said nine people stepped up to help run the AA North Central Bulls program next season at a meeting on April 10. He hopes there will be AA teams at all three levels again next year.
“There’s always a risk that we don’t get the players, so we still need players to step forward and want to move up,” Tangedal said.
ADHMA will be hosting its annual general meeting April 17. Tangedal said those who attend will receive $100 off their registration fee.
