Stadium Reviews

The Canadian Tire Centre is more than an adequate venue to watch a hockey game. Sens fans dreaming about a new shiny toy in downtown Ottawa might have to wait a bit before the Yellow Brick Road to the capital is complete.

The relocation of the FireWolves to Oshawa from Albany is an ambitious idea moving to the smallest venue in the NLL.  However, the move to the Tribute Communities Centre has brought professional lacrosse back to the east side of the GTA.  It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the FireWolves.

In a return to Hamilton, the Toronto Rock are enjoying a renovated new home in TD Coliseum.  There is a different vibe surrounding the upgraded facility and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the Rock in their return to the Hammer.

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.

Taking in a Brock Badgers hockey game will give the fans the opportunity to catch a consistently competitive hockey team play in a bright, clean and comfortable setting.  It is worth checking out Niagara Region and Brock University for a bit of Brockey Night in Canada.

All hockey fans should consider making a pilgrimage to see the Toronto Maple Leafs and extend the trip to see the city of Toronto and especially the Hockey Hall of Fame.  Scotiabank Arena remains among the premier venues in the league and MLSE has done a spectacular job keeping the arena relevant for the last two decades and continuing to revamp and upgrade the experience.

Although it may be the smallest centre in the OJHL, the Haliburton County Huskies are putting together a big time experience.  S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena is one of the cleanest, brightest facilities in the league and fans will have a wonderful time at a Huskies game. 

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.

Taking in an Ottawa Gee-Gees football game is a great way to spend a fall afternoon and Gee-Gees Field, although not fancy, does offer a uniquely “Ottawa” experience.  The location right on the Rideau River is very unique and the Parliament Building can even be seen from a few spots.  It is definitely worth the trip.

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.