The ice is back in at the Sandman Centre – signalling that the Kamloops Blazers 2020-21 season is nearing.

City crews began the process over the weekend and it is expected to be complete early this week. Blazers training camp however won’t open until after Christmas with the WHL eyeing Jan. 8 as a tentative start date for season.

As it stands, the league has not made a final decision on whether fans will be allowed to attend games, as that is subject to approval from provincial health authorities in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, as well as in the states of Washington and Oregon.

The city’s Business Operations and Events Supervisor Sean Smith says Sandman Centre ice will be available to people starting Nov. 2.

“There’s a pretty decent demand for ice. I imagine as word gets out we will busy slotting people in where we can in the next few days,” he said. “It’ll really help our user groups and provide more prime-time ice.”

All told, this move will now means there are five ice sheets open in Kamloops with the others at Brock Arena, Valleyview Arena, and two at McArthur Island.

Memorial Arena is the only ice surface that remains closed at this time. It too could reopen soon as a contract with BC Housing to house a COVID-19 relief shelter ends on Oct. 31.

Does this count for #CellySaturday?? 🧊 🧊 🧊!! pic.twitter.com/3tUmPlJiZr

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) October 24, 2020