Stadium Reviews

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.

Knight-Newbrough Field @ University Stadium continues to be a work in progress.  Significant improvements have been made to the facility.  It looks like Laurier Golden Hawk fans will be rewarded with a great facility after enduring the growing pains of a number of years of construction.  It remains to be seen just how good the final product will be when the dust is cleared and the Seagram Project is finally complete.

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.

The Brantford Titans play in a facility that is quite unique in that it is not new, yet feels big, bright and modern.  The Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre is one of the best facilities in the GOJHL.  There is plenty for fans to explore at the Gretzky Centre and taking in a Titans game is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening.

The opportunity to see the North York Rangers play at the Herb Carnegie Centennial Centre is one that fans should not pass on lightly.  The venue is a love letter to the hockey legend that was Herb Carnegie and there is plenty to explore when there.  The Rangers offer a good product on the ice and fans will definitely have a good time.

Taking in an Aurora Tigers game allows hockey fans to step back in time and enjoy an old-time hockey facility that has been maintained well.  The Tigers are a good experience and the Aurora Community Centre has plenty to explore.  Welcome to the jungle!

Taking in a Niagara Falls Canucks game offers fans the opportunity to take in some solid Junior Hockey at a modern, comfortable facility in the Gale Centre, in one of the top tourist destinations in Canada.  It is well worth the trip to Niagara and Canuck country.

The majority of renovations at Rogers Centre are now complete as is the transition from stadium to ballpark.  The Toronto Blue Jays experience remains strong, but the price has increased to go along with it.  The improvements to Rogers Centre are definitely worth checking out.

Peterborough is definitely one of the lacrosse hot beds in Ontario and when taking in lacrosse during the summer months, the Jr Lakers are a must stop on the tour.  Playing in a Major Junior Hockey venue, the Peterborough Memorial Centre, the Jr Lakers offer an experience that is far different than many of the other teams in the OJLL.  Fans should definitely take in the (Junior) Lake Show.

In the OJHL there are few experiences that can top that of the Trenton Golden Hawks.  The Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens provides a great experience in an old-school hockey barn that does offer some modern amenities.  The location is picturesque and the RCAF motif makes it a real community team.

Heading to Varsity Arena is a trip back in time to an old school arena where hockey remains the focus. 

The former Maple Leaf Gardens is not what it once was, but it's been brilliantly restored to a fully functional facility for USports hockey.

When in Ottawa, taking in a Carleton Ravens hockey game is a great way to enjoy an evening of hockey for a low price

If attending an Ottawa hockey game, fans will be able to answer the question “What the heck is a Gee-Gee?”

Hopefully, the second life for lacrosse in Ottawa will have a longer lifespan than the previous Ottawa franchise.

Penetanguishene may be a summer town, but checking out the Penetang Kings in the winter is a good experience.