BY PAUL MITCHELL

North Country This Week

CANTON – A new ice season at the Canton Pavilion is underway with a full day of skating slated Thursday.

Canton Recreation Director Meghan Richardson noted that admission remains at $2 for all public ice sessions unless a session is posted for free. Skate rentals are $3 and skate sharpening is $5.

Thursday ice times are a free adult skate from 9:30 to 10:20 a.m., free open skate from 10:30 to 11:20 a.m., 18+ open hockey from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., and an open skate from 3:30 to 4:50 p.m.

Season passes are also available.

“Season passes are a great way to save money and also not have to worry about bringing cash with you to the rink every time you attend a public ice session. Season passes can be used for both open skate and open hockey,” said Richardson.

Individual passes are $30 and a family pass (four living in the same household) is $60.

“New this year is a skate sharpening pass. For only $100, individuals get 24 sharpenings throughout the year,” she added.

Another new offering is a regularly scheduled open skate session every Saturday from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m.

“This session will only change if we host a varsity hockey game on Saturday, and we will announce the change if and when that happens,” said Richardson.

The Sunday Open Skate is now held from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. for the entire season with Grasse River Real Estate once again sponsoring Sunday open skate sessions.

“That means free admission to open skating on Sunday only,” Richardson noted.

Tuesday and Thursday ice time again this year will feature a morning trio of free Adult Skate, free Open Skate, and 18+ Open Hockey. The times have adjusted slightly compared to last year, with Adult Skate kicking off at 9:30am.

Richardson said as the year goes on, the recreation department will be posting different open hockey sessions. Please note the age group allowed for open hockey: 12U (12 and under), 13+ (13 and over), 18+ (18 and over). If no age is listed on open hockey sessions, all are welcome and the ice will be split by age group. 13+ on the scoreboard side of the ice and 12U on the lobby side of the ice.