Peterborough Memorial Centre - Peterborough Jr. Lakers
- Dave Cottenie
- Jul 30
- 6 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Peterborough Memorial Centre
151 Landsdowne Street West
Peterborough, ON K9J 1Y4
Year Opened: 1956
Capacity: 3,729
(Junior) Lake Show in Peterborough
Without a doubt, Peterborough, Ontario is known as a bit of a hockey hotbed. Legendary names have come through town and played for the venerable Peterborough Petes. Coaching legends like Scotty Bowman and Roger Neilson got their starts behind the Petes bench and Hall of Fame players like Steve Yzerman and Chris Pronger led the Petes to glory back in their junior days. It is a little known fact that Peterborough is also a hotbed of lacrosse. The Senior ‘A’ Peterborough Lakers are both wildly popular and have been wildly successful. Peterborough also puts a Junior C team on the floor. However, the focus of this review is the Peterborough Jr Lakers that play in the Junior A level, Ontario Junior Lacrosse League. Founded in 1950, the Lakers have found themselves under a vast number of monikers, most of them sponsor driven, including the Filter Queens, Pat’s, Pete’s, UEWs, Hastings Legionnaires, Petes, Tee-Pees, Gray-Munros, Century 21, James Gang, Maulers, Traders, Javelins and finally in 1999, the Lakers. Earning a staggering 12 Minto Cups as junior lacrosse National Champions, the Lakers have also been wildly successful.
The home for the Jr Lakers is the Peterborough Memorial Centre. It is most known as a hockey rink and the home of the Petes in the winter, but in the summer months it is home for lacrosse, both at the Senior A and Junior A levels. The PMC opened its doors in 1956 and is one of the most unique venues. It gives the Jr Lakers a bit of a boost as they are the only team in the OJLL that plays in such a large, professional-type venue. The PMC has been the centre of plenty of discussion over the last number of years as replacement has been a popular topic of conversation locally.
Food & Beverage 2
The concession situation for Jr Laker games is not terrific. The typical concession stands on the ground level are closed. There are vending machines available on the west side, upper level, with soft drinks and small snacks. The south side of the arena, near floor level, does have a full service bar that sells alcohol, which gives the food score a bit of a boost.
Atmosphere 4
The Peterborough Memorial Centre is a very unique building. Fans enter the building from the north side, on Lansdowne Street, and are welcomed by a ground level, glassed-in lobby, that is beneath a huge, rectangular facade with flags perched atop of the building. Upon entry, fans enter a large concourse and it is immediately apparent that this is the home of the Peterborough Petes. Banners of Petes legends hang in the concourse. Off to the left is the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, which is excellent. Unfortunately, on the day of this review, it was closed. It is probable that the museum is not open for Jr Lakers games. Fans will ascend the stairs to get to the upper concourse, which is the easiest way to get to the seating area.
The floor of the Peterborough Memorial Centre runs from north to south and fosters the very unique seating area. The north end has a massive seating section, most of which is closed for Jr Laker games. The east and west sides have smaller seating areas that provide excellent sightlines. The bulkheads above the east and west seating provide a facade for the massive number of accolades that have accumulated in Peterborough. The east side has the accomplishments of the Peterborough Petes as well as the banners for honoured players and coaches. The honoured players are a who’s who of hockey royalty and include such names as Chris Pronger, Larry Murphy, Jamie Langenbrunner, Steve Yzerman and Bob Gainey as well as coaching legends Scotty Bowman, Colin Campbell and Roger Neilson. The west side covers all of the Peterborough lacrosse accomplishments of the MSL Lakers (Senior A) who have earned a ton of Mann Cup’s as National Champions, as well as the 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1986, 1987, 1989 and 2006 Minto Cup banners for the Junior Lakers. Unparalleled success is on display in Peterborough.
The floor at the Peterborough Memorial Centre is covered in turf, which is not standard in the OJLL but found in only around half of the facilities. As well as being more aesthetically pleasing, the turf changes the game a bit with the ball reacting less erratically on bounces off of the floor. One of the most unique aspects of the Peterborough Memorial Centre is the corners of the floor, which are much more square than a traditional hockey arena. A big advantage for the Jr Lakers is the videoboard, which hangs above the centre of the floor, the only one in the league. The production at a Jr Lakers game is fairly simple. Kids take to the floor with their lacrosse sticks and balls during intermission, and the main promotion is a 50/50 draw. When the Jr Lakers score, the song “Heave Away” by The Fables is played over the excellent PA system.
Neighbourhood 3
The Peterborough Memorial Centre is located at the north end of the Kenner neighbourhood, bordering South Central, south of downtown. It is west of the Otonabee River and north of Little Lake. There is not a ton in the immediate neighbourhood. One Eyed Jack’s is a restaurant right beside the Best Western, which is within walking distance of the arena. Other bar and restaurant options that are a very short drive away include Dockus, the Original Spaghetti House and Sticks.
If in the area during the summer months and looking for another sporting event, the MSL’s Peterborough Lakers are the best bet. During the lacrosse off season, taking in a Peterborough Petes game is a must. Peterborough is a nice town in the summer with some good outdoor entertainment options like taking in the Trent-Severn Waterway. Also consider the Canadian Canoe Museum and the Peterborough Museum. The Best Western and Holiday Inn are both close to the arena and good options for accommodations.
Fans 3
It is very difficult to assess fans in the OJLL as attendance figures are not published or tracked. The Peterborough Jr Lakers further this difficulty by playing in a facility that is massively oversized for the league. For the game that was reviewed there appeared to be more than the traditional “friends and family” crowd. The Jr Lakers play many games on Monday evenings, including the one that was reviewed, which is not an ideal time for spectator sports. Peterborough fans are knowledgeable and not afraid to let the officials know about what they think of the previous call.
Access 5
The Peterborough Memorial Centre is located in the Kenner neighbourhood of Peterborough. It is north of Highways 7 and 115 and will require travelers to drive through the city to get to the arena. This is not difficult and definitely easier than for a Petes game, although that is not difficult either. There is plenty of onsite parking that is free. For fans interested in public transit, there is a Peterborough Transit bus stop right on Lansdowne Street. Fans should consult the Peterborough Transit website for fares, maps and schedules.
One of the big advantages of playing in a bigger venue is the ease of getting around. The seating is more comfortable than many of the other OJLL facilities and moving around the arena is no problem at all. The washroom facilities are more than adequate for the crowd on hand.
Return on Investment 5
The value of an OJLL game is very high and taking in the Peterborough Jr Lakers is no different. Jr Lakers tickets are $10 each with discounts available for those that qualify. It is cash only at the door so be prepared. Parking is free and the concession prices are appropriate for vending machines. The action on the floor is solid and fans will definitely enjoy taking in a Jr Lakers game.
Extras 2
An extra mark for the Jr Lakers playing in a professional-like venue.
An extra mark for the recognition of the accomplishments of the Jr Lakers that is found in the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
Final Thoughts
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.
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