Ahmat in Haukiputa can’t open the doors of his ice rink, because the wildly increased price of electricity makes the costs too high.
The heating of the ice rink corresponds to the heating costs of approximately 25 detached houses. The ghouls association
In North Ostrobothnia, in Haukiputaa, hockey enthusiasts have a difficult situation. It is not possible to start making ice in the ice rink, and the local club Ahmat ry is now feverishly looking for a solution.
The situation in the ice rink changed in a flash during the past week. The hall company announced a changed electricity contract and prices shot through the roof.
– We came to the conclusion that the price of electricity is so high that we cannot yet open the ice rink and turn on the ice machines. The costs simply rise too much that you have to think about alternatives, he says Katja Kälkäjä.
Kälkäjä is a member of the club’s board and his child plays in the team.
The ice rink is owned by Ahmat ry. It is also the only ice rink in Haukiputaa. Kälkäjä says that the ice rink will now remain closed at least until September.
– Usually, the season and team activities start on the 1st of September at the hall. Now we are thinking about solutions, how to get the hall open at the beginning of October. But so far it looks bad, Kälkäjä says.
Ahmat has taken offers from electricity companies. Based on them, the costs can possibly even triple. The ice rink’s consumption corresponds to the heating costs of approximately 25 detached houses.
Money is not enough
The situation affects the hobbies of many children and young people. The club’s coaching manager Marko Paananen according to Ahmo, there are about 400 enthusiasts, of which 320 are under 18 years old.
– We have the entire junior path, from hockey school up to 18-year-olds, Paananen says.
– Ice hockey is an important hobby here and many players have goals to advance in the sport. If the situation is that other clubs can practice normally and we don’t have ice in the ice rink, I can understand how the child feels.
The wolverine hall is a tarpaulin hall where the electricity consumption is much higher than in ordinary halls. Making ice is expensive.
– In the past, the prices have been a few cents per kilowatt hour. If they now jump to many tens of cents, the expenses in the ice rink will multiply. There simply isn’t enough money for that, says Paananen.
Ahmat ry has sought help from the club community in the Oulu region, which includes seven different clubs.
– We cooperate with local clubs and we have discussed with them whether we could put juniors on the same ice shifts, Paananen says.
– We have thought about this, but of course it is not terribly comforting for our teams. There is not enough ice for everyone, and our enthusiasts do not have the opportunity to train in the normal way.
There are several ice rinks in the surrounding areas where you can buy ice, but in a city the size of Oulu there are so many enthusiasts and different clubs that demand is high and there is a shortage of ice.
Who supports?
There are about 400 hockey enthusiasts in Ahmo. MostPhotos
According to Kälkäjä, there is already a lot of discussion among the players’ parents about the difficult situation.
– The senior leagues start already at the beginning of September, but there are no training sessions and some of the games have been played in Haukiputaa. The team leaders have to think about where to get the ice for practice, Kälkäjä says.
Kälkäjä describes the current situation as unbelievable.
– Now we’ve gotten over the corona pandemic a little bit and got into a normal rhythm when it comes to exercising, so now this one comes to the fore. This causes a lot of extra work, uncertainty and concern about the hobby opportunities of their own children, Kälkäjä thinks.
– As a parent and as a member of the board, I am also horrified by how we are able to secure the activities of the club and the children’s hobby opportunities. It is important that in the Oulu region the hobby opportunities in smaller towns can also be kept vibrant.
Kälkäjä and Paananen say that this matter does not only concern their club and the ice rink. Many other localities may face the same problem in the coming autumn due to the high price of electricity.
– I’ve heard that other clubs have a similar problem and it will be present in others as well. The price of electricity will not stay that low for anyone, Kälkäjä reflects.
The club is now looking for support from other parties for a difficult problem.
– It would be desirable to find some kind of support. I myself cannot say whether the sports club will receive support from, for example, the state. Children’s hobbies are very important for society, Paananen sums up.