This is old news. it was open last summer as well. Unfortunatly because it is was not designed for running year round it may end up damaging the rink and building over the long term.

The more ice sports grows the less ice time there is at reasonable hours. If you want to train as a school team you will need to choose a time at silly hours of the night eg 10pm being the earliest. Using the curling rink to make room for practice sessions on the main rink is a no go because the time taken to prepare the curling ice afterwards doesnt make it worth it. The schools hockey are lucky to get the ice on wednesdays and there are some grumblings that they should lose it in favour of the clubs. Bottom line is if you  want to improve join the club and come to regular practices ( like Christchurch school kids do) or book some wierd late time after everyone else has finished. The former is the better option because you will get top quality coaching

The way you explained it means you were definitly onside when you still have one skate on the blue line as the puck crosses over the blue line into the zone. What the ref saw may have been different.