Stadium Reviews

The Vancouver Giants do not play in Downtown Vancouver and are a bit of a hike for those who dwell in the city.  However, the Giants do have one of the most attractive venues in the Canadian Hockey League and provide a solid gameday atmosphere which should not be missed.

The London Knights are the gold standard of franchises in the Ontario Hockey League and the Greater Canadian Hockey League.  Their home, Canada Life Place, is among the best in the league, and taking in a Knights game will provide fans with one of the best experiences in Junior Hockey.

The Barrie Colts are a franchise worthy of the memory of Dale Hawerchuk and Sadlon Arena is a solid arena for Junior Hockey.  What was once one of the quietest experiences, now has a bit of life to it and a Colts game is a great experience.

The Cobourg Cougars are the epitome of junior hockey.  The only game in town that the community rallies around.  The Cobourg Community Centre has lots going for it and is a comfortable spot to catch a hockey game.  It will be interesting to see how the team and community bounces back from the 2025-26 season challenges.

While this arena and the hockey game day experience will not blow you away, what makes a trip to see the Charlottetown Islanders is not the game itself, but immersing into a cultural and tour experience that embraces the community and the region.

We have a National Hockey League that is so focused on markets such as Phoenix, such as Atlanta, that are failed hockey experiments, but provide robust TV households and corporate headquarters which goose up their financial bottom line. Yet Quebec waits. In the meantime, go. Go see the Remparts. Go explore Quebec City. If you are a hockey fan, you will feel it everywhere.

The Victoria Royals may seem a bit isolated being located on Vancouver Island.  However, Victoria is an excellent tourist destination and the Victoria Royals can definitely be a part of the excitement.  The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre provides a solid junior hockey experience and fans will definitely enjoy the experience.

As a destination venue, Centre 200 in and of itself is not the kind of building that will make an indelible impression. It is kind of basic, it lacks some of the glitz that has become part of some of the newer arenas in the QMJHL. But what makes this a compelling and worthwhile travel experience is the totality of the destination itself. Sydney offers a lot to see and experience, even in the winter.

Halifax in and of itself offers a superb vacation destination, albeit this region is more geared for tourism in the warmer months, and that means not so much during hockey season. Plenty of attractions, historic sites, a vibrant and bustling downtown, and this arena which strays away from the mold of the quintessential rural “community rink”. This city, and this experience, is definitely worth the trip!

The OJHL moving from Brantford to King City is an interesting one.  The ownership situation in King is an interesting one as well.  The King Rebellion now enjoy their brand new facility in JTF Homes Arena @ Zancor Centre and time will tell if the Rebellion will be a long term staple for the area or a flash in the pan, much like the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837.

After pressure from the Siskins alumni, in 2025, the GOHL’s Siskins returned to the “Waterloo Siskins” moniker, having previously played as the Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins.  The Siskins continue to put a solid product on the ice and the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex is a good facility which has benefited from some recent, key renovations.

The St. Thomas Stars are a solid franchise in the Junior B level GOHL.  St. Thomas has shown the love for their hometown hero, Hockey Hall of Famer, Joe Thornton.  The Joe Thornton Community Centre is a solid Junior B facility that offers good sightlines and comfort and taking in a Stars game has tremendous value for the sporting dollar.

The newest member of the QMJHL has hockey fans talking.  There are high hopes for the return of hockey to Newfoundland and the results are being seen at the turnstile.  Hopefully the Newfoundland Regiment have a long and successful reign at Mary Brown’s Centre in spite of the travel challenges it brings the league.  Hockey on the Rock is a necessity and Junior Hockey is the perfect fit.

Heading to Prince Edward County is a great plan, especially in the autumn.  While in Prince Edward County, taking in a Wellington Dukes game at Lehigh Arena is a fantastic idea and will leave fans satisfied in one of the most picturesque areas of Ontario.

A trip to see the Burlington Cougars will not blow fans away with bells and whistles and Central Recreation Centre has some issues, however, there is great value in OJHL hockey and the Cougars are consistently competitive.  Fans will leave a Cougars game having enjoyed themselves and seen some solid hockey.

St. Michael’s College School Arena is a trip back through time, a journey in hockey history.  They just don’t build them like this anymore.  Taking in a St. Michael’s Buzzers game will give fans the opportunity to see a solid hockey product on the ice, in a true hidden gem of a hockey cathedral.

Taking in a Caledonia Corvairs game is a great way to take in some Junior B hockey.  The Haldimand County Caledonia Centre offers a good mix of hockey history with modern comfort that will have fans satisfied at the end of the game. 

When heading to the Niagara Region, a stop in Port Colborne is a great idea.  Catching a Port Colborne Sailors game at the Vale Health and Wellness Centre is a great way to watch some solid hockey and not spend much money. 

With the rebrand of the London Nationals complete and the season in full swing it is clear that the Nationals offer a solid product.  The Western Fair Sports Centre is a clean and comfortable venue that is a good home for Junior B hockey.  With the Nationals back on track, hockey fans should take in a game at Western Fair.

The Norwich Merchants offer that small town hockey feeling that is prevalent through the PJHL.  Nor-Del Arena is a solid hockey venue and fans will enjoy their time there.  It is worth the drive to tobacco country to catch a Merchants game.