Prince Albert coach seeks brighter future for outdoor rink
A Prince Albert man is looking to relocate an outdoor rink so it can shape young kids in the community.
Victor Corduban grew up in Romania, playing and coaching 13 years professionally and with the former Romanian national team.
Working with Canadian coaches he was given the chance to move to Saskatchewan and continue his coaching and teaching career. He has a PhD in Physical Education and Sport and is a high performance coach.
“One of them gave me the opportunity to come work here in Canada, so I embraced the Canadian lifestyle as Canada is well known for ice hockey."
Corduban found his community outdoor rink in Shell River Heights had fallen into disrepair after decades of floods.
The rink sits on the bank of the Sturgeon River, which is prone to high water levels during spring runoffs.
Despite the overgrowth, the boards are in decent condition, which Corduban hopes to bring to the new location up the hill.
He says many life lessons can be learned through hockey, which is why he’s spearheading the project to relocate the neighbourhood rink.
“Hockey, first of all, helps kids to develop healthily and has a huge impact on a long life,” said Corduban.
“It also has a social impact where kids form relationships on their team and can be mentored by their coaches, and the parents can build small communities while the kids are playing.”
Corduban hosted a fundraising event on Saturday at the Prince Albert Wildlife Federation.
The outdoor rink project is still in the planning stages as the provincial government has yet to approve a plot of land for the new rink.
The community hopes to have some form of surface ready for the winter, even if it’s just a rough rink with no boards, and add additional equipment like basketball hoops later.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.