With the continuing growth of ball hockey in the Orillia area, local supporters of the sport feel the time has come to expand the existing facilities.

In the next few weeks, construction will begin on the first phase of a three-rink ball hockey facility at Forest Home Park.

“We are planning on having the first rink up and running by approximately the end of August,” said Dan Sawatsky, one of the driving forces behind the Orillia Ball Hockey League.

Sawatsky has joined up with Anthony Pasto, president of Ball Hockey International (BHI), to finance the construction of the new rinks, on approximately two acres of land.

BHI has ball hockey locations in Welland, St. Catharines and Brantford.

Following 12 months of discussions, the duo recently reached an agreement with staff from the Orillia parks and recreation department on the leasing of the land and the adjacent clubhouse.

The land and ball diamond had been all but abandoned, since youth softball was moved into Orillia some years ago.

Heavy equipment is expected to move onto the site within the next few weeks, with initial work to include paving for a large parking lot and the connection of water services to the clubhouse.

While useful in its time, Sawatsky said the current ball hockey site on Norweld Drive in Orillia had become outdated and a new facility was needed.

Currently, approximately 700 children and adults are registered with the Orillia Ball Hockey League.

All signs point to continued growth for the organization in the future.

The new facility will have all the bells and whistles, including an ultra-modern floor; lighting, scoreboards, benches and the nearby clubhouse will have washrooms installed.

“We didn’t really have proper washrooms in the old facility,” said Sawatsky.

Always a problem at the Norweld location, Sawatsky said there would be ample parking at the new facility.

While he would not reveal the amount being invested in construction of the new ball hockey facility, he did indicate it is significant.

Plans call for the first rink to be in place by August.

If all goes according to schedule, a second and possible third rink will be built at the same location in 2009.

“We just want to get the first rink up and running and see where we go from there,” he said.

Growing up in St. Catharines, Sawatsky said he had a passion for ball hockey as a child. That passion stayed with him in the 1990s, when the accountant moved to Orillia.

“I’ve always enjoyed being around the game. I’m looking forward to seeing this facility up and running and I know the players will as well,” he said.