NDP MP suggests ice hockey should be played 'without ice' to stop climate change

Ice hockey is Canada's sport, and over the years, while the gear, skills, and viewership have changed, one thing has remained constant: the game is played on a rink made of frozen water.

On Wednesday, an NDP member of parliament from British Columbia brought attention to the impact ice rinks have on the climate, suggesting that perhaps players of our national sport should find another surface to compete on.

Bonita Zarrillo, who represents Port Moody-Coquitlam, Anmore, and Belcarra, expressed thoughts in a now-deleted tweet.

"Is indoor skating ice even a necessity anymore?" Zarrillo asked. "Can every ice sport be done without ice and different equipment?…just pondering the climate impact of human-made indoor ice."

Hours later she attached an article from Inhabitat, a website "dedicated to green design, innovation, and the future of clean technology," outlining the case against man-made indoor ice rinks.

According to the article, the refrigerants used in modern-day arenas can be detrimental to the environment, namely the ozone layer.

EPA estimates show the rinks used by the NHL emit 530,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases every year, equivalent to driving 110,000 vehicles.

It was noted, however, that many of the refrigerants are in the process of being phased out in Canada, with no new hydrochlorofluorocarbon-related equipment being manufactured or imported since 2010.

Also highlighting the potential health risks associated with the chemicals used in the making of ice rinks, Inhabitat suggested that artificial skating surfaces should be prioritized going forward.

They did, however, point out that since most of these products are made out of plastic, they too could be seen as detrimental to the environment.

Nonetheless, while synthetic ice has been around for decades, very few manufacturers, if any, have been able to give skaters an experience akin to playing on real ice.

Elite players often train on surfaces that mimic the feel of the rink, however come game time, nothing compares to a fresh sheet of ice under your skates.

Zarrillo received a number of responses to her comments, mostly pointing out how such a suggestion would never gain traction in Canada.

One user pointed out an example of a region that had managed to reduce its carbon footprint without doing away with real ice.

Another took on a more mocking tone, quipping, "We should get rid of indoor basketball arenas to help save the rain forests, too.."

"Opposition to this tweet is what will finally unite Canada," National Post comment editor Carson Jerema added.