Collingwood Minor Hockey Association is in need of more ice time.

"It's vital. It's almost to the critical stage," says association president Dale West.

The organization includes about 25 rep, local and house league squads and more than 350 players.

West says with the growth of the community, and the demand for ice, it has become difficult for some teams to find practice times.

From a development perspective, it is even more difficult for kids playing at the bantam and midget levels, as he says they should be practicing at least twice a week.

"We are the biggest user of ice in the town and we are 13-15 hours short," he said.

He says when the organization can't get ice time at the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena, they are spending thousands of dollars to get ice time in Feversham.

In 2004, a proposal for a new multi-use recreational facility was being considered by the town. The facility was to include two ice surfaces and could have solved the ice-time shortage but it was defeated by the council of the day.

The town constructed an outdoor ice surface behind the Collingwood Curling Club in 2005.

West says if there was a roof and a breaker to stop the wind from the northeast, it would help ease the burden.

He says if the plan was to use it for more than just for practices, the town would need showers and changing facilities.

"You could use it as a practice facility," he said. "We're not asking for a palace, we're looking for a place to play."

Peter Dunbar, director of leisure services, agrees the need for ice time is great and says there has been some talk about putting a roof on the outdoor ice surface, but nothing more.

He said the big thing about putting a roof on the surface, is the cost. He said it could cost more than $800,000.

"Those are decisions made by the politicians," he said.

He says the outdoor surface wouldn't work for minor hockey at the moment, because the quality of the ice is dependent on Mother Nature.

"Eddie Bush is used from six in the morning to one at night," he said.

West recognizes that the project would have to be a partnership between the town and the user groups.

"If we want it, we're going to have to go out and make it happen," he said.