Ray Twinney Recreation Complex - Newmarket Hurricanes
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57
Ray Twinney Recreation Complex
100 Eagle Street West
Newmarket, Ontario
L3Y 1J4
Year Opened: 1985
Capacity: 3,700
Rock You Like A Hurricane
During the 2024-2025 Ontario Junior Hockey League season, the Toronto Jr. Canadiens played a few “neutral site” games in the town of Newmarket, Ontario. Newmarket has an interesting past as a hockey city, as the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Newmarket Saints, from 1986 to 1991, and the Newmarket Royals of the OHL from 1992 to 1994.
The games were well attended and resulted in the announcement that the following season the Canadiens would move permanently to Newmarket to become the Hurricanes. This was the second iteration of the Hurricanes in the OJHL, as the previous team played from 1975 to 2019 before moving to Milton to become the Menace. The original team began in Newmarket in 1975 as the Flyers, rebranded to the 87’s in 1987 and again as the Hurricanes in 1997.
Home for the Hurricanes is the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex. Located in the town of Newmarket, which has a population of almost 88,000, the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex has been a pillar of Newmarket hockey since 1985. It has been the home to Newmarket hockey at the OJHL, OHL, and AHL levels. The Recreation Complex is named after Ray Twinney, the mayor of Newmarket from 1979 to 1994.
Food & Beverage 4
The Ray Twinney Recreation Complex has one concession stand in the lobby, outside the arena. Bart’s Bites offers the typical arena fare including hot dogs, sausage, chicken burgers, and chicken fingers. Snacks like popcorn, nachos, chips, and candy are also available.
Bart’s Bites takes concession options to the next level with pulled pork and a variety of Dunn’s Products, including Montreal Smoked Meat Egg Rolls, peanuts, and Black Cherry Soda. Pepsi products are the soft drink of choice. Alcoholic beverages are available at a separate table and are provided by a local brewery, Market Brewing Company.
Atmosphere 3
Ray Twinney Recreation Complex is a large complex that includes a pair of ice pads and a swimming pool with a number of outdoor athletic fields on the grounds. It is a bit confusing as to where to head inside for a Hurricanes game, as there is a lack of signage indicating a main entrance. The exterior is fairly attractive with brown brick and blue accent siding. The entrance fans should head to is on the east side where the Canadian flags fly.
Inside the lobby, fans are greeted by a portrait of former Newmarket mayor Ray Twinney, whom the complex is named after. In the lobby, there are temporary tables where tickets and alcohol are sold. There are a few interesting items in the lobby worth checking out. A number of portraits are framed honouring Newmarket hockey players who went on to play major junior hockey or higher.
There are a few framed jerseys for the Newmarket 87’s, who won a Buckland Cup in 1996, and the original Hurricanes, who won in 2010. There are also framed jerseys for K.J. Ramolla and Kevin Lord, former Newmarket players who passed away. A large trophy case has a number of local artifacts in it, including some associated with the OHL’s Newmarket Royals. The highlight of the case, however, is the Newmarket Redmen banner honouring the 1933 Memorial Cup Champions.
Inside the arena, the ice surface is southeast to northwest oriented. The best spot for a picture of the centre ice logo is from the northeast. The main arena is simply named Arena 1, which is curious, as the secondary rink has a corporate sponsor. The seating bowl consists of eight rows of blue, plastic arena seats, with the first row elevated above ice level for improved sightlines.
Protective netting encircles the entire ice. A full 360-degree walkway is behind the seating with some railings for standing room. A few banners hang in the arena, including ones that honour the founder of the Newmarket 87s and the Buckland Cup champions of 1996. There is also a banner for the Newmarket Hurricanes that were Buckland Cup champions in 2010.
The game-day production at a Hurricanes game is fairly simple. At the game that was reviewed, there were some audio issues, and music before the game and during stoppages was sporadic. The PA announcer is decent. Typical promotions, including a 50/50 draw and chuck-a-puck, are Newmarket staples.
Neighbourhood 3
Ray Twinney Recreation Complex is in the Glenway Estates neighbourhood of Newmarket. It is generally a residential area, but there are some spots for pre- or post-game food and drink not too far on Yonge Street. Some options include Villa Risi, Big Bone BBQ, Flame Cafe and Cynthia’s. There are also a number of large chain restaurants.
The Hurricanes are pretty much the only game in town. However, their location north of Toronto makes a road trip to see the rival Aurora Tigers or King Rebellion very simple.
Other tourist options in the area include Elman W. Campbell Museum, Newmarket’s Riverwalk Commons, and the Holland Marsh. Six Flags Canada’s Wonderland is just minutes away and could be a destination early in the season.
For fans wishing to stay in Newmarket, the Comfort Inn, Fairfield, and Best Western are good options.
Fans 3
Assessing fans in the OJHL can be a bit of a challenge as the curation of attendance figures is sporadic. The original neutral site games for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens drew well over 500 fans per game, and the first game of the new Hurricanes drew over 1,000. The Hurricanes seem to have settled into a regular attendance of between 250 and 350 fans per game. The game reviewed did not have published attendance, but was mainly a friends & family crowd of possibly 100. That being said, the game was early in the season on a Tuesday evening, which surely mitigates attendance.
Access 4
Ray Twinney Recreation Complex is located in the Glenway Estates neighbourhood of Newmarket. It is found on the west side of Eagle Street between Crossland and McCaffery. It is approximately 5 km west of Highway 404 and 5 km east of Highway 400. Getting to the arena will probably require driving through some residential areas; however, traffic in Newmarket should not be an issue. There is plenty of parking on-site that is free.
For fans who wish to take public transit, there are bus stops on Eagle Street. Fans should consult the York Region Transit website for fares, schedules, and maps.
Getting around the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex is not that difficult. Entry into the arena is at ice level, so fans will have to traverse some stairs to get to their seats. Season seats do not appear to be reserved, so seating should be wide open for fans. The exterior of the complex can be confusing as there are a number of entrances. Fans should head to the east side where the flagpoles are for entry to the Hurricanes game. There is no significant signage there. The washroom facilities are adequate at the complex.
Return on Investment 5
Tickets for the Newmarket Hurricanes are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and $5 for minor hockey players. Tickets can be purchased at the door with cash or card or beforehand online. The game that was attended was “Twoonie Tuesday,” which provided a few concession specials. Otherwise, concession prices are reasonable, and parking is free. The product on the ice is solid, and the venue provides a comfortable atmosphere and great sightlines. For the best crowd, a weekend game is the best plan.
Extras 3
An extra mark for the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex as not only a current OJHL venue but previously an AHL and OHL venue.
An extra mark for the former Newmarket OJHL iterations still having a presence in the arena.
An extra mark for Twoonie Tuesday providing some special concession items at just $2.
Final Thoughts
The return of the OJHL to Newmarket has been an improvement from the Jr. Canadiens days in Toronto. The long-term viability of the franchise is still a wait-and-see, but there is no reason why the Hurricanes should not be successful. Ray Twinney is a comfortable venue with great sightlines also.
