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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, September 30, 2003--21 /Mi1ton Sports Centre opens Thursday P hase one includes twin rinks and gymnastics club By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Gamne on! Starting Thursday, Milton hockey players will utter those words in a brand new venue, as the much-anticipated twin rinks open for competition. The 250-seat pads - with additional viewing available in slight- ly-elevated lobby stands - are part of a $1 3-million initial phase of the multi-faceted Milton Sports Centre. The Derry Road complex also includes a 15,000-square-foot home for the until now under-accommodated Milton Gymnastics Club, that'll assume occupancy in about a month. It's enormous. It's 50 big and accommodating," said longtimne head coach Janet Campbell, who's already had a couple of sneak peaks at the new facility. "We're delighted with what we're getting. This is a per- manent home." Housing the first ice pads built locally in a quarter of a century, the Milton Sports Centre has several unique features - the moat visible of which is eight-foot high letter signage situated at the north-east comner of the building. "There's lights at the bottomn to illuminate it (sign) at night," explained Milton's Community Services Director Jennifer Reynolds, during a comprehensive tour of thse facility Friday momning. "Once ail the landacape work is done behind, it's gomng ~ to look great." On a more practical note, the complex will bouse its share of vis- itor-friendly gizmos - including an electroic pole on Santa Maria Boulevard that'll highlight upcomitsg events and direction- oniented television screens in thse main entrance. These aida wiil be added later this fail, while a massive oval- ahaped concession stand ahould be in operation by thse end of January. An interim refresbment set-up - aI leaat during busy periods - will ho available in the meantime. Reynolds expecta thse 60-seat raised vîewing area outaide each rink to, ho especially weil-received by fana and parents, adding that varioua team rooms offer even more room, to take in the action. Each pad bas six dressing rooma and ample storage space, while a 180-seat banquet bail looks out onto what will ho one of the two M future inks that are expected to ho built by 2009. The Town bas comntitted to, revisiting hockey and skating club__________________ still include an Olympic-size centerpiece ice surface. Other phase one features include a state-of-the-art computerized refrigeration plant and indoor snow remnoval capacity, somnething V 1 BRBT h currently unavailable at either Memnorial Mrena or John Tonelli Sports Centre. "It's a fabulous facility," said Reynolds, who noted tias phase' one was completed within a year despite last month's blackout and Multons newest ice-man, Gary Heinz thse extra pumnping required from a particularly wet spig (above and centre), takea an Inaugu- Sharing a siinilar view of thse complex are two long-timne sports rai spin around one of the Ie sur-w 0: enthuiasts who'llhoespending their fair share of time in it. facesaîtthe new Milton Sports Centre, NfrirolaniI ( omni th' \ewî paleerrSpeciaI Suppleust "It's state-of-the-art. I'm quite impressed," said rep hockey man- whlch features unique signage (at T8ODSZ ager and Scooter's Snack Shack proprietor Scott Ansders, who' tps n tt-f-h-r optr amnong those bidding on the concession stand contract. lzed refrigeration plant. Phase one of Added longtimne Milton Skating Club president Charlotte Koso, the complex opens Thursday. 'lt's just hoautiful. I'm going to ho proud to ho there when we hold testing and competitions." Photos by GRAHAM PAINE Steve LeBlanc can be reached at skblanc@haltonsearch..com.