Frontenac Ball Hockey buzz hits the Frontenac Arena

May 04, 2016

Tim Laprade, Arena and Recreation Supervisor for the Township of South Frontenac, had a vision about making the Frontenac Community Arena a continuing destination for youngsters and their families after the ice hockey season is over.

Back in December he put a call out to see if anyone wanted to run a ball hockey league. Laprade got an overwhelming response both from local individuals and the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Now just two weeks into its opening season, the Frontenac Ball Hockey League has eager players and their families flocking to Piccadilly. The sheer number of cars that filled the parking lot and spilled over onto the grass on May 1, the league's second Sunday, was nothing compared to the hive of energy and activity that was taking place inside. The music was loud and clear thanks to a new sound system; the lighting brighter and the stands were packed with onlookers as three separate games took place simultaneously.

Over 265 youngsters of all ages were playing, each with new jerseys, and Laprade was thrilled to see the sport take off. “The response was overwhelming right from the start and it's great to see the place just rocking,” he said on Sunday afternoon.

The league quickly registered with the Ontario Ball Hockey Association, and the FMHA also applied for a Trillium grant, and received funds to train coaches and referees.

Laprade who took over the arena management in September 2015, said, “One of my goals as arena manager has been to find ways to increase programming during the off season. From March until September it has been sitting empty and I knew there was an opportunity here.”

Laprade said that a number of initiatives have been fulfilled since the new league began, including the installation of the new sound system. The arena's capital fund also paid for new overhead lighting, which replaced the old metal halide lights with new LED lights that are not just brighter but also more efficient. Laprade said that new spectator heating has also been installed thanks to the Turn Up the Heat campaign, which will keep spectators more comfortable when the ice is back come September. Laprade said the next project that will be completed before the start of the next ice hockey season will be the replacement of the 40-year-old ice compressors with two new ones that are more energy efficient.

Many events are also being planned for the arena's upcoming 40th anniversary in August and a new website (www.frontenacarena.com) has been launched, which has information about all the current programs, activities as well as many of the upcoming special events.

The arena also has a new twitter account, which Laprade said will help to keep members of the community up to date and in touch with the day-to-day goings on. Laprade said his goal is to look at new opportunities and he wants “people to walk in and see, hear and feel a difference.”

Judging by the atmosphere in the place on Sunday, it seems that Laprade is someone who not only has a vision but can make that vision a reality.

FMHA president Al Pixley is equally pleased to be able to offer a new form of hockey to local youngsters at a price that most families can afford. For more information about how to register for the upcoming ice hockey season, visit frontenachockey.ca or email Rob Edmunds (registrar for both the FMHA's ball and ice hockey) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Edmunds encourages parents to register early.