The community of Ninga has had a long history of hosting rec hockey and this year is no different!

Local resident, Cindy Pugh, is a former Board member of the rink committee, and runs the rink canteen.

The Ninga rec program has 4 different age groups, from ages 4-18 years old. "On Monday night is the oldest group and then on Thursday night we have 3 teams practicing," explains Pugh.  "There's also been a lot of family rentals and private rentals, especially during the Christmas season there's been families having their gatherings there."

With approximately 80 kids registered for rec hockey, the numbers are on par with previous years.  "At our peak we've been over 100, but 80 is fairly normal for most every year, and we've got kids coming out from other communities like Boissevain, Deloraine, Minto and Killarney."

Pugh says the canteen has been very busy over the month of January with Ninga hosting weekend tournaments.  She says teams hail from as far away as Gretna and Plum Coulee to the east, north from Forrest and from out west as far as Virden.

The Ninga arena typically has a shorter season due to their natural ice.  As long as winter temperatures continue, rec hockey players will continue taking their turn on the ice!  "Whenever the weather warms up, we shut it down," she adds.  "Lots of times we can go to the end of March."