To all residents of Unincorporated Jefferson County - Foothills Park and Recreation District (FHPRD) is gambling with your tax dollars. The Foothills Hockey Association (FHA) has been a tenant at the Edge Ice Arena in FHPRD for 17 years. FHA is in good standing with the Edge. We pay all our bills on time, we have no outstanding debt, we respectfully care for our ice home and everyone who works there. Yet, on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, we were evicted from OUR home rink, all for theoretical financial gain. Another hockey association made an offer to FHPRD to remove our hockey team from the Edge and replace it with their own. 

The proposed increase in revenue is based off of assumptions. Assumptions that non-district families would invest in our rink, that the new hockey organization would increase the number of hockey players in the program and increase the amount of ice time. Assumptions that an increase in public skate, Learn to Skate, skate sharpening, and Penalty Box food and alcohol sales would bring in millions of dollars in additional revenue. 

These assumptions don’t hold weight. FHA purchased all the ice time that was available to us last year. There is only so much ice to go around, and only so many hours in a day. There are no more hours to buy, and the cost is fixed. The 200+ FHA families that play at the Edge will not be able to transfer to a new hockey program as this violates Colorado Competitive Youth Hockey League (CCYHL) rules. Therefore even if our kids wanted to play for the new hockey program in order to stay at the Edge, they can’t. Revenue increases to the aforementioned programs won’t occur as out of District families aren’t going to come to our rink when they have multiple rinks in their own community, including a brand new rink being built right now. Ask yourself what FHPRD is doing with your money. 

There is no guarantee this move will bring in more money for the District, but there is a huge risk that money will be lost. Why would a long-standing tenant be evicted without being given the opportunity to compete, match or negotiate an alternative? Why did FHPRD only entertain one offer? 

To all past, current and future Foothills Flyers hockey families, any Denver or surrounding area hockey families, anyone who has a grandchild, niece, nephew, or friend who was or is a Foothills Flyer, and anyone who supports youth hockey – you should also be concerned. This could happen to you too. This could happen to someone you love. What if FHPRD does this to your soccer team or your swim team? What if another association comes in and tries to steal your ice, your basketball court, your soccer field, your pool? 

Join us and sign this petition to:  1) Hold Foothills Park & Recreation District (FHPRD) accountable and let the Foothills Hockey Association stay at the Edge; 2) Petition Colorado Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA), Colorado Competitive Youth Hockey League (CCYHL) and USA Hockey for their support to keep our rink and maintain competitive hockey in the state of Colorado. 

Losing our rink has left us scrambling for a place where our kids can play hockey. The FHA program has been around for 25 years, and the loss of our home rink could result in the full dissolution of our hockey program. The Foothills Flyers stand for dignity, integrity, teamwork, partnership, community and comradery. Our children (ages 4-19) put their heart, soul, blood, sweat and tears into this game, and they come to the Edge to play together, as a team and as a family. Losing our hockey home means we do not have a rink to play hockey. 

FHA has created multiple programs which bring a large amount of revenue into the community. Our Catch an Edge hockey tournament brings 80+ teams from around the country, providing comradery for our hockey players, and a boost in revenue to the local community (hotels, restaurants, shopping, etc.). Many of our hockey players live in the District, with some living right around the corner from the rink.  Per the CCYHL rules, families in District won’t be allowed to play in their own District. Some kids may have to give up playing hockey altogether because they can’t travel long distances from their home to another rink. The Foothills Flyers provide a family for our kids. If another hockey program takes over the Edge, we will lose our sense of community and our children will lose their team, their home, their friendships and their safe place. Stand with us and sign our petition to do what is right for my child, for your child, for the future of all sports in Colorado!

DISCLAIMER:  After signing you may be prompted for a donation.  Donations that are being requested are by Change.org, not Foothills Hockey Association.  You do not need to make a donation to share our Petition.