Canada Games Park - Brock Badgers
- Dave Cottenie
- Nov 14
- 6 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57
Algoma Central Arena @ Canada Games Park
2021 Canada Games Wy
Thorold, ON L2V 4Y6
Year Opened: 2021
Capacity:1,200
Brockey Night in Canada
Brock University is a public research university in St. Catharines, Ontario, and boasts over 19,000 students. It was established in 1964 and is named after Sir Isaac Brock, a British General who died at the Battle of Queenston Heights during the War of 1812. Brock is well-known for their Sports Administration program, which boasts the likes of NHL General Manager Kyle Dubas amongst its alumni.
The Brock Badgers began playing hockey in 1967 as part of the OIAA. The Badgers joined what is now the OUA in 1971. They have made four appearances in the University Cup and played for the Queens Cup on four occasions, earning silver three times.
In 2022, the Badgers moved from their previous home, Seymour-Hannah Sports & Entertainment Centre in St. Catharines, to the brand new arena at Canada Games Park across the road from campus in Thorold. Built for the 2022 Canada Games hosted by the Niagara Region, Canada Games Park offers some indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including the Algoma Central Arena, where the Badgers play.
The indoor facilities, including Algoma Central Arena, are found in the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre. Canada Games Park is owned by a unique consortium consisting of Brock University, the City of St. Catharines, the City of Thorold, and the Regional Municipality of Niagara.
Food & Beverage 3
The main concession stand is found in the common lobby of the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre. The menu is fairly simple and includes typical snack bar items. These include hot dogs, sausage, chips, chocolate, candy, cookies, muffins, and Dip’n Dots. Coke products, slushies, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and water are soft drinks that are available. A small selection of beer, cider, and seltzers is also available.
Atmosphere 3
Canada Games Park is a large property with both indoor and outdoor facilities. The indoor facilities are found within the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre, which is a low-profile, sleek building featuring plenty of glass and a dark gray siding fascia. The green grass on the roof is evident as part of the environmental design of the building. Inside the facility, the vastness is evident immediately.
The most prolific of the indoor facilities is the Algoma Central Arena, which is the main arena for both hockey and lacrosse and supports a capacity of 1,200 fans. Algoma Central Arena is on the west side of the building, and fans will enter from the south end of the arena. Naming rights for the arena are held by Algoma Central Corporation, which operates a fleet of marine carriers. In 2024, a totem pole was moved from a park in St. Catharines and now has a home inside the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre.
Inside the arena, an aura of newness and cleanliness prevails. The ice runs from north to south, with all of the seating found on the west side. Grey, plastic arena seats offer fans a degree of comfort not found in many buildings in this league. The floor on the south end is raised higher than the arena floor. The east side features a metallic grating, which gives the arena a fresh and clean look.
On the wall in the northeast corner are championship banners for the St. Catharines Athletics of the OJLL. Unfortunately, there are limited markings showing Algoma Central Arena as the home of the Badgers. A banner under the window on the east side and the centre ice logo are pretty much the entirety of the markings. Fans enter at ice level in the southeast corner of the arena, where ticket sales and ticket scanning occur. At the entry, there is a trophy case which had some Brock jerseys.
Also found in the trophy case is the Steel Blade Classic trophy, which is awarded to the winner of the annual Homecoming Game played at Meridian Centre. It is a decorative sword, patterned after the sword carried by artillery soldiers during the War of 1812, in a wooden case. Another trophy case houses a set of medals from the 2022 Canada Games and a model of a ship from the Algoma Central fleet. Also on the southern wall, fans will find information placards on the Welland Canal and Algoma Central Corporation. A simple score clock hangs above centre ice as well.
The gameday production at a Badgers game is very simple. The speaker system is very good, and it is easy to understand the announcements.
Neighbourhood 4
Canada Games Park is located at the north end of the City of Thorold, immediately south of St. Catharines, and part of what is considered the Niagara Region. There are some spots for fans to get a pre- or post-game meal. These include In Piazza, Cracker Jack’s, and the Overtime Pub. For fans looking for other sporting experiences, Algoma Central Arena is shared by the St. Catharines Athletics of the OJLL; however, their schedules do not overlap.
The Badgers also field other teams on campus, including basketball. The nearby Meridian Centre in St. Catharines is the home of the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs and CEBL’s Niagara River Lions. It is a very short drive for fans to get to Niagara Falls, which has a plethora of tourist options, including the Horseshoe Falls themselves. This is a must-see for fans new to the area. Hiking on the nearby Bruce Trail may also be of interest. For fans wishing to stay near Canada Games Park, the Four Points Sheraton is right there.
Fans 3
It is difficult to assess USports hockey fans as the Badgers have not published any attendance figures for the 2024-25 season. The game that was reviewed, the third home game of the 2025-26 season, welcomed 200 fans to the game. Attendance reporting for the current season has been inconsistent.
That being said, Brock has a reputation for strong fan support, especially when it comes to taking their fans on the road, with the school periodically organizing road trips and providing a group of loud and rowdy students to a road game. The Steel Blade Classic, an exhibition hockey game played at the Meridian Centre as part of Homecoming, routinely sells out.
Access 5
Canada Games Park is located on the north side of Thorold, immediately south of St. Catharines. It is surrounded by Lake Moodie to the east of Merrittville Highway and Isaac Brock Blvd. Getting to Canada Games Park is very easy. Highway 406 is due east of Canada Games Park and is the main north-south artery for the region. There is free parking on site, and enough that finding a spot should not be an issue.
For fans wishing to take public transit, some buses run along both Merrittville Highway and Isaac Brock Blvd. Fans should check the Niagara Region Transit website for fares, schedules, and maps. With its modern design, traversing the Algoma Central Arena and Walker Sports and Abilities Centre is not difficult at all and the washroom facilities are adequate for the facility.
Return on Investment 5
Tickets for the Badgers are $15 for adults, with discounts for seniors and youth. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the door. Parking is free at Canada Games Park, and concession prices are decent. The quality of play on the ice is strong, and Brock routinely ices a competitive team. Overall, the Badgers provide a solid return on investment for the sports fan.
Extras 2
An extra mark for Michael Nicholson, who became the 1st black player to captain a Canadian college in 1969.
An extra mark for the Steel Blade Classic, which has become one of the premier USports hockey games in the country.
Final Thoughts
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 the Niagara Region and Brock University for a bit of Brockey Night in Canada.
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