Arenas at Nick Smith Centre in Arnprior re-opening ahead of schedule

Both arenas at the Nick Smith Centre in Arnprior are re-opening ahead of schedule. 

The arenas were closed as of Sunday, Jan 22 for repairs due to major damage to the refrigeration system.

Town officials originally said that the repairs would take 10 days, and the arenas would re-open on Feb. 1 in time the Ontario Winter Games. 

The arenas will be opening on Wednesday, Jan. 25 with programming resuming as of 5:30 p.m. 

“A substantial brine leak was discovered on Saturday,” said Graeme Ivory, the Town of Arnprior’s director of recreation in a release on Monday, Jan. 23. “Staff and technicians worked around the clock to establish a temporary solution to ensure Sunday's minor hockey tournament could proceed, however the damage to a large section of pipe requires permanent replacement.”

Brine (a non-toxic saltwater solution) is the refrigerant that flows through pipes, and when these pipes leak, the cooling capacity is lost. The section of damaged pipe is over four decades old, as it's original to the building (1977).

Staff worked with neighbouring arenas to find available ice times as repairs were being made. 

“I would like to thank our neighbours in Mississippi Mills and the Cavanagh Sensplex who supported some of the user groups that were displaced by this situation,” added Ivory in a release on Tuesday, Jan. 24.