By Graeme Strachan

DUNDEE ICE Arena last night vowed to do all it can to help hundreds of north-east skaters and ice hockey players who have been left out in the cold following the closure of Aberdeen’s Linx Ice Arena.

General manager Alex Cram warned, however, it would not be easy to absorb so many people and he fears a lot of skaters and hockey players will drop out of the sport.

Aberdeen City Council will close that city’s ice rink for 18 months from March 31 so refurbishment work can be carried out, and dozens of young skaters and ice hockey players fear their careers may be irreparably damaged.

The 18-month closure of the facility, close to Aberdeen beach, will save Aberdeen City Council £900,000 in revenue funding.

Ice hockey and skating clubs are now exploring options to travel together to Dundee.

Dundee Ice Arena general manager Alex Cram said they would help out as much as they possibly could.

“From a selfish point of view we’re always looking for new business,” he said.

“It won’t be easy to absorb that amount of people but we’ll try to do what we can.

“The Linx Ice Arena will be a big loss and a lot of kids will drop out of the sport.”

The nearest ice skating rink to Aberdeen is in Dundee. There is a curling rink elsewhere in Aberdeen but skaters say it is not suitable for their sport.

“There are curling facilities but ice skaters and hockey players will have nowhere to go,” said Mr Cram.

“We believe the ice hockey teams are going to try to keep going and we’ll do all we can to help out.

“Our figure skating clubs are running almost to capacity though.

“The ice arena is a busy place but we’ll try and absorb as much as we can.”

Minister for communities and sport, Stewart Maxwell, said Aberdeen City Council is discussing a new grant scheme to support displaced clubs.

“Clubs can bid into this for travel costs to other ice rinks,” he said.

“It is understood that the ice hockey and skating clubs are exploring options to travel together to Dundee.”

Campaigners have already started a petition to save the ice rink from closure. Already over 5000 names have been added to the list.

Sara Paterson (24) swapped a career as a solicitor to take up coaching full-time.

“The nearest rinks for us are now Dundee, which is 69 miles away, and Elgin,” she said.

“Dundee is privately owned. Elgin is a small rink and most people don't have the means to travel that far once a week, never mind every day.”

Ice dancer Gillian Smith’s hopes of glory are now in trouble because of the closure.

The 24-year-old, from Portlethen, said, “I came fifth in the Scottish Championships last year and was hoping to better that this year. But now I have no chance.

“I either have to move or give up altogether.”

News of the closure came last month when Aberdeen councillors voted to accept a Scottish Government grant of £3.3 million to freeze council tax.

The freeze was accompanied by £27 million of cuts in spending on sports and cultural facilities, as well as services for vulnerable people.

The venue will re-open in time for the European Curling Championships, which will be hosted in Aberdeen in partnership with Curl Aberdeen from December 5-12, 2009.

Once re-opened it is expected that the ice rink will be operated by the new body to be set up to run all sports facilities on behalf of Aberdeen City Council.

During this period of closure, £1 million will be invested in the facility.

Aberdeen City Council leader Kate Dean defended the cuts.

She said, “I have had a lot of Emails in protest, in particular, concerns about Linx Ice Arena and the Bon Accord Baths.

“But I have personally had a lot of support, from people knowing that it is a hard job to do.”