By TERRY PUGH
Fifteen years after it was first installed, the protective netting in the Warman Home Centre Communiplex (WHCC) KH Arena is due for a replacement.
In a report to the Warman City Council committee of the whole meeting on Monday, March 16, the city’s Recreation and Community Services department noted the white monofil netting is failing.
Replacement netting is slated to be installed in May at a cost of $21,019.80. The contract for the netting was awarded to OmniSports Inc., following a competitive bid process. The price came in below the $30,000 allocated for the project by council in the 2026 civic budget.
The decision to replace the netting was made last fall by council at the time the budget was approved.
The existing netting was initially installed during the final stages of construction of theWHCC rink prior to its opening in October, 2012.
Protective netting was also first installed in Warman’s Diamond Arena in 2008 as a safety measure following a serious injury to a spectator that required emergency surgery. The decision at that time was also influenced by a similar incident in Rosthern.
Provincial regulations require spectator netting on the ends of the playing surface. However, protective netting along the sides of the playing surface is not mandatory if the regulations for board and glass heights are met.
Many arenas in communities with Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) teams do not have protective netting along the sides.
A request, dated February 23, 2026, from the ownership of the SJHL’s Warman Wolverines to remove the side netting was received by the City of Warman.
The team ownership stated in the letter of request that removing the side netting would “enable us to introduce exciting new initiatives for the upcoming season, including a Teddy Bear Toss, T-shirt throwing promotions, hat trick celebrations, concerts and an overall enhanced visual experience for both our fans and camera operations. These fan engagement activities are designed to boost attendance and create memorable moments, but they are currently hindered by the existing netting.”
The request from the team ownership was voted down by the city’s Recreation Advisory Committee (RAC) during a meeting on February 25. The minutes of the RAC meeting were reviewed at the Warman City Council committee of the whole meeting on Monday, March 16.
WSCV DISPLAY RELOCATION
At the Warman City Council meeting on Monday, March 23, a motion was passed to remove the Warman Sport and Cultural Village (WSCV) Recognition Display from the top of the main stairs in the WHCC.
The WSCV committee has wound down its fundraising activities and no longer exists.
The WSCV Recognition Display will be relocated to the lobby area of the city’s recreation and community services department in the WHCC.
The wall space at the top of the WHCC main stairs will be sold as advertising space, with the revenue used to offset operational costs at the facility.