Yorkton faces ice time shortage as Kinsmen Arena closes for upgrades

Yorkton is facing a shortage of indoor ice time as the Kinsmen Arena prepares to close for upgrades starting December 23. This leaves only the Westland Arena available for local hockey programs, which have historically relied on multiple rinks in surrounding towns. Yorkton Minor Hockey has expressed ongoing frustration with the lack of ice availability, stating that over half of their activities last season took place at the Kinsmen Arena. The city is investing $4.5 million in upgrades, expected to be completed by September 2025. As the Kinsmen Arena closes, nearby towns like Bredenbury are seeing increased rink usage from Yorkton teams. The city is encouraging collaboration among skating groups to maximize ice time at the Westland Arena and other local facilities.