New indoor soccer pitch seeks to turf opposition

Canlan boasts high-tech surface

Canlan Ice Sports has ripped up one of its hockey rinks and replaced it with a brand new indoor soccer pitch featuring the leading aesthetic surface.

Julie Chartier, general manager of Canlan Ice Sports on Ellice near the airport, said they made the move in response to City of Winnipeg statistics that revealed there was an over supply of hockey rinks for the city’s demographic.

They also discovered indoor soccer was a burgeoning sport and a there was a huge shortage of places to play.

“It was a logical choice because it offers us a chance at a whole new set of customers,” said Chartier, adding they still offer extensive hockey facilities with their three other rinks.

Although the bill is yet to be tallied, Chartier estimated the cost the cost to transform the space to be between $350,000 and $450,000.

Chartier said construction started in July and the project was completed on Oct. 3, and the first game was played the following night.

She said the facility is booked solid until March, with a mix of adult, mini and high school leagues using the pitch.

They also plan to run a series of skill development programs and tournaments.

Chartier said indoor soccer is faster and because there’s only five people on each team, it builds on a player’s skill through increased ball possession and improves their transitional game, which refers to the quick switch from offense to defence.

Differentiating themselves from the pack, Canlan also offers showers and dressing rooms adjoining the pitch and a multi-purpose pitch that can become a lacrosse field within minutes.

Chartier also said they opted for the best surface on the market, FieldTurf, which is used by the Bombers, Major League Baseball clubs and the NFL.

Jean Prevost, one of FieldTurf’s founders, said they have constantly developed their product to be a market leader.

“We’ve developed a surface that combines the properties of natural grass with the best attributes of synthetics,” said Prevost, adding they have done more than 1,800 installations worldwide.

“And for indoor soccer, it’s the only surface endorsed by FIFA,” says Prevost.

Prevost said FieldTurf has six layers: soil, open graded stone, choke stone, carpet backing and infill, which is a mix of sand and rubber for grip and the aesthetic grass.

The net result is a natural looking and feeling pitch without the hassles of grass.

Prevost said it’s also proven to reduce injuries and saves on maintenance and laundry costs associated with outdoor fields.

Chartier said all they have to do is groom the aesthetic grass to make sure it stays upright.