Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14
Carleton Ice House
Raven Road
Ottawa, ON K1S 5R2
Year Opened: 1974
Capacity: 820
Quote the Raven
Ask any Canadian about the athletic teams of Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, inevitably the conversation will come to basketball. The Carleton Ravens basketball team has enjoyed unprecedented success, achieving seventeen National Championships since 2003. That success through basketball has invigorated the rest of the athletic department.
The return of Ravens football after a 15 year absence in 2013 signaled a change in the Ravens Athletic Department. Hockey also returned in 2008 after being on hiatus since 1974. The Ravens hockey team was originally founded in 1949 and played for six seasons before disbanding. The second iteration of the team lasted from 1960 to 1974. The Ravens have since appeared in the USports National Championship Tournament in 2014, 2016 and 2019.
Home for the Ravens is the Carleton Ice House. The arena was built in 1974 and features two NHL-sized ice surfaces. The main rink has a capacity of 320 seats with space for 500 fans to stand.
Food & Beverage 1
The concession options are extremely limited at the Carleton Ice House. On the ground level there are a number of vending machines for drinks and snacks. There are signs that there is a Tim Hortons and Subway in an adjoining Physical Education building, however, if their hours of operation coincided with hockey games is unknown.
Atmosphere 3
The Carleton Ice House is a fairly simplistic hockey venue. The exterior is fairly attractive at the main entrance at the west with light brick and windows attached to a long building with rounded roof. The main lobby has plenty of red and black with Ravens markings. There is not much that is sport specific or even hockey specific, but the lobby is not unattractive.
Fans must ascend to the upper level for entry to the rink. In the main rink there is a strong warehouse feel to the environment with the north wall covered in corrugated siding. The ice is east-west oriented and there is only seating on the north side. The seating area consists of 3 or 4 rows of older, red arena seats with plenty of standing room behind the seating. The simple scoreclock hangs on the eastern wall along with a banner for the retired number 12.
Paul Correy played for Carleton before the program dissolved, but was integral in the return of hockey to the university in 2008 by leading the fundraising campaign and drumming up interest in the community. He was enshrined in Carleton’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 and has subsequently had his number 12 retired by the hockey team. The south side of the arena features Ravens markings to give the rink a bit more of a home team feel to it.
The gameday production at a Ravens hockey game is extremely simple. There are no promotions, which are common during USports hockey games. The most irritating feature of the gameday experience at Carleton has to be the sound system, which is very poor, making announcements almost impossible to understand.
Neighbourhood 4
Carleton Ice House is located on the campus of Carleton University, adjacent to the Old Ottawa South neighbourhood. There are a few spots that are not too far from campus that are good choices for pre or post game food and drink. Some possibilities include Hometown Sports Grill, Bergham, Local Public Eatery, Irene’s Pub and The Prescott.
Ottawa is a fantastic tourist spot and there are a number of other sporting options in the city. Carleton is of course known for its basketball team but also fields a football team. The Ravens’ closest rival is the cross-town Ottawa Gee-Gees, who also field football, hockey and basketball teams. Professional sports is available with the Ottawa Senators, Ottawa RedBlacks and Ottawa Black Bears and fans can get their Junior hockey fix with the Ottawa 67’s.
Ottawa has a plethora of things to do in the city, however, not in the neighbourhood where Carleton is. Skating on the Rideau Canal, visiting Parliament or taking in one of the dozens of museums in the city are great tourist options. For fans wishing to stay near campus, the Best Western and Residence Inn are good options.
Fans 3
At the time of writing, for the 2024-2025 season, Carleton attracted an average of almost 240 fans per game. The game that was reviewed saw 155 fans at the game, which seems to be low. This ranks Carleton 8th in the conference in average attendance. There is plenty of room for improvement, but they are not at the bottom of the conference. The fans in attendance were knowledgeable and supportive. It would be beneficial if Carleton could attract more students on a regular basis and not just for the big rivalry games.
Access 4
Carleton Ice House is located on the campus of Carleton University, adjacent to the Old Ottawa South neighbourhood of the city. Getting to the arena is not that difficult. It is located south of Highway 417 which provides fairly easy access. However, traffic in Ottawa can be an issue, even on the highways.
There is parking on site, however, fans will need to pay, even on the weekends and in the evening. For fans wishing to take public transit to the game, the light rail station is west of University and there are buses on University also. Fans should consult the Ottawa Carleton Transit website for fares, schedules and maps. Getting around the arena is not difficult and the washroom facilities are adequate for the size of the crowd.
Return on Investment 4
Carleton Ravens hockey offers good value for a small investment. Tickets for the Ravens start at $15 with discounts for youth, alumni and students. Fans will have to pay for parking and concessions are a bit of a pain with vending machines. That being said, the product on the ice is good and fans will have a good time at a Ravens game
Extras 3
An extra mark for the Colonel By Classic, the rivalry game with the Ottawa Gee-Gees that is played at TD Place Arena, home of the Ottawa 67’s, and is very well attended.
An extra mark for the resurrection of the Ravens hockey program.
An extra mark for the Ravens hanging in under the massive shadow of Carleton basketball.
Final Thoughts
When in Ottawa, taking in a Carleton Ravens hockey game is a great way to enjoy an evening of hockey for a low price. The Carleton Ice House is a simple venue but is adequate for USports hockey. Time will tell if some of the basketball Ravens success can rub off on the hockey team.
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