Community Services Minister Archie Lang says the government "is committed to make sure (Ross River) has a recreation complex” – not exactly a ringing endorsement for action after the community's hockey rink burned to the ground last Thursday morning.

Ross River's community arena was the subject of much publicity during Hockey Day in Canada celebrations in Whitehorse last month, as CBC television featured a story about the rink's revival and RCMP Const. Adam Lightfoot, whose volunteer efforts made it happen.

For six years, Ross River's arena was in a state of disuse. After Lightfoot was transferred to the village from Whitehorse, he ignited the community's volunteer spirit and spearheaded its restoration.

When Liberal MLA Darius Elias asked what the government was doing to respond to the current situation during Monday's question period in the legislature, Lang said the government is working on it.

"We on this side of the house are concerned about the Ross River situation they found themselves in after the fire,” said Lang.

"There is a team of people on the ground in Ross River as we speak, working with the First Nation, the residents and the fire marshal's offices on the ground there to do the investigation on the fire itself.”

As of press time early this afternoon, the Star could not reach Kevin Taylor, the territory's deputy fire marshal, but Taylor told local radio that a faulty appliance or aging electrical wiring in the building was likely the cause, not arson.

Adding to the tragedy is the fact the fire consumed much of the community's hockey equipment which was stored at the rink, as well as Ross River's youth centre, which housed a big-screen television and pool table on the second floor.

Justice Minister Marian Horne, who as the MLA for Pelly-Nisutlin represents Ross River, claimed "all of Yukon has come together to support Ross River.”

However, Horne, nor Lang, nor Premier Dennis Fentie stated the government's specific intentions to replace the rink in the community of 300 people.

Following Hockey Day in Canada, Fentie had this to say about the importance of hockey in a tribute he made to the legislative assembly about the event and Yukoners' character:

"The national exposure and profile of Whitehorse and the Yukon demonstrated to the rest of Canada Yukoners' warm hospitality, pioneering spirit and proud sense of community,” Fentie said. "This week was all about celebrating our game of hockey and how it plays an important role in our lives.”

In an interview with the Star in January, Const. Lightfoot also spoke of the importance of hockey in Ross River and why he decided to get the community's rink back in shape.

"All the kids were asking, ‘Is there gonna be hockey? Is there gonna be hockey?'” Lightfoot recalled.

"Soon it got to be August (of 2010), and nothing had happened so we kind of took it upon ourselves to get it done.”

So, with the kids' enthusiasm to play hockey in the back of his mind, and with the help of fellow Const. Mitch Rowland, Lightfoot recruited more like-minded volunteers and went to work.

"We got a grader, we levelled it. Somebody donated a packer, we packed it. The guy who drove the local water truck met at the rink every night at nine to flood it,” Lightfoot said of what turned into a community effort.

"And our ultimate goal was to have this rink be self-sustaining, because there might not be someone here every year to do this.”