WHEELING — After WesBanco Arena officials announced a failure had occurred in its ice-making system, the facility’s workers are still working to secure temporary ice so that the Wheeling Nailers hockey season can begin on schedule Oct. 19.

Denny Magruder, WesBanco Arena executive director, said Friday that he hopes to know how much the temporary ice pad, which could be utilized for “several months,” will cost by the middle of next week.

“Hockey starts on the 19th. Right now that’s our goal,” Magruder said.

Arena officials announced Thursday that a failure in the facility’s ice-making system occurred recently after staff began the process of forming it. Now, staff and consultants are working to isolate the problem and determine what went wrong with the system, Magruder said.

The Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority Board, which oversees the arena, held an emergency meeting to consider options ahead of the upcoming 2019-20 Nailers season. Arena leaders are interviewing national companies that would install the temporary ice surface.

What steps to take regarding the arena’s permanent ice-making system itself is still being determined, Magruder said.

Meanwhile, a celebration of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church’s 200th Anniversary originally planned to occur at the arena next Saturday will now take place at the Capitol Theater. The program, featuring the Most Rev. Michael B. Cury, will begin at 3 p.m. Oct. 5, and tickets won’t need to be exchanged.

The Nailers announced a change to their preseason schedule as well Thursday. A preseason game originally slated for Oct. 4 in Wheeling will now occur in Fort Wayne, Ind., with face-off scheduled for 8:05 p.m.

However, the Osiris Shrine Circus set for 4 p.m. Oct. 14 at WesBanco Arena is still on, Magruder said.