They have raised an amazing $200,000 all by themselves.

But the Bermuda Inline Hockey League have been forced to sit on the money for a year and a half because they have yet to receive Government permission to build a new rink at the Pembroke Community Club's premises in Spanish Point.

Now they are starting to get frustrated.

And president of the BIHL, Mike Daly, said the real losers are the "children of Bermuda".

The BIHL started just over a decade ago and initially catered to ex-pat adults and their children who had grown up with the game.

That is not the case today as scores of young Bermudian kids have gravitated towards the sport.

The $200,000 was raised in memory of the BIHL's late president, Tom MacNeil, who died suddenly in April of 2008.

With that money the BIHL will be able to build a new and bigger rink with a specialised surface, bleachers, protective walls and lights. And the league are not asking for any money from Government to upgrade their rink – all they want is permission to go ahead with the project.

In fact, they have obtained architectural plans, quotes, planning permission and a building permit.

The PCC are their landlords and after much discussion the club gave their formal blessing to begin building this past summer.

In August, with the contractors on site with their equipment, work was set to begin in earnest.

Then the Minister of Works and Engineering, Derrick Burgess, issued a "Stop Work" order.

Since then the future plans have been in limbo while Government renegotiates with PCC about extending their landlord lease.

Daly said: "We are just waiting for Works and Engineering to finalise their lease arrangement with PCC and we hope that happens soon. We really want to start the project next summer so it will be ready for the 2010-11 season. We have parks permission, planning permission, the money, the building permit, everything, we are all set to go.

"We will widen the rink by 15 feet and lengthen it by 45 feet. It will be 80 percent (size) of a real NHL rink. The best thing is that we will be able to get more kids out there playing. We will also be putting in new lights, making stands for bleachers for the spectators, putting in players boxes and a penalty box. And we will be putting in a new surface. The rink is in need of upgrading now as the surface is starting to crack and the restraining bar around the rink needs to be removed for safety reasons. We also hope to put in proper hockey boards as well. It will be a versatile court – it will be smoother and it will be better for the skaters and also for other programmes."

Daly said there were now 138 children in the programme. "Of those there are 74 Bermudian kids. We are very pleased with the support we have received from the Bermudians – it is a sport that has caught on for all of Bermuda.

"We have 18 coaches so we are really well supported by the adults. We have everything from a Learn to Skate Programme for the five-year-olds right up to the senior league for kids up to 15 years old. There are teams, schedule, standings and we use proper referees.

"Many kids do not know how to skate when they first start – and they do not have to have any previous experience. And the more the kids learn the better they become and the more they get into it. Right now we have 41 kids in the Learn to Skate Programme. There are 39 kids in the junior programme, 25 in intermediate programme and 33 in the senior programme. Of that there are 45 new skaters – the vast majority are in the Learn to Skate Programme and we now have 30 girls who come out and play. We have seen a 10 percent increase from last year and if we get this larger rink we can accommodate more players."

And the rink will not just be used for inline hockey.

"The rink can also be used for netball and the Pembroke Majorettes have practised on it. We have had the remote car people use it and the lacrosse league have expressed an interest. It is something the whole community of Pembroke can be very proud of.

"We think this is a great programme for the kids of Bermuda. We have quality coaches and the players have improved over the years.

"It also complements the other sports Bermuda has to offer. One way to make sure it continues is to have a better facility that can be used by us and other sports as well. We just hope that PCC can work things out with Government because this is all about the kids. That is what Tom (MacNeil) would want."

MacNeil was president of the BIHL from 2004 to 2008. When he died, Daly took over.

"Tom was definitely the driving force behind the expansion of the facility. This is something we wanted – it is something we talked about for quite some time and unfortunately it took his death to get the money for it."

MacNeil's wife, Gail, is very involved with the BIHL and Daly said: "Gail said that if anyone wanted to donate to Tom's memory they should do so in support of the new facility – not for flowers. That got quite a bit of interest and then we had the 'Skate for Tom' on May 24."

The 'Skate for Tom' event brought out 100 skaters for the May 24 race. "That brought in about $100,000," said Daly.

In total $200,000 was raised in two months.

"People really supported Tom. He was a fantastic ambassador for Bermuda and hockey in Bermuda. We miss him very much. This is one thing his wife wanted to continue on. I certainly appreciate the way people donated funds as I lost my best friend on the Island and I want what Tom would want – a great facility for the kids," added Daly.

The BIHL wanted to get the new facility up and running in the summer of 2008 for the 2009-10 season. That was delayed while they talked to PCC and then the club gave their blessing so it was thought that the facility could be renovated last summer for the 2009-10 season. Then the Stop Work order came.

"Now we are hoping to start work next summer for the 2010-11 season. If it doesn't the children of Bermuda are the real losers in this hold-up as they know a new facility would really help with their skills development," said Daly, adding that the season runs from October to March.

Asked whether they would look at any other location for the new facility, Daly said: "We would and we have. But we really want to stay at PCC."