Area skaters need ice rink for play and competition

To the editor:

The kids who play ice hockey in the Cape Girardeau region are having a tough season. The local ice rink at Plaza Galleria is not functioning at the present time and has left ice hockey players and competitive ice skaters without a place to train and prepare for games or competitions.

The hockey team is practicing at Cape Skate Center, but this is hardly a suitable place for the coaches to teach the skills needed for ice hockey.

It is time for the Cape Girardeau area to build an ice rink that can be used for recreation and competitive sports. Kids need the time on the ice to improve their skills and to be competitive with teams from the St. Louis area. Most of the rinks in that area are affiliated with city parks.

Interest in ice hockey is growing, and the number of kids participating this season has increased. A new rink would be great for the community as another recreational option. A rink would provide the kids with a better training facility. It would also attract visitors from other cities who have hockey and ice skating teams, which would provide additional revenue for the city and county.

DR. JOHN COOLEY

Jackson