S. G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena - Haliburton County Huskies
- Dave Cottenie
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena
55 Parkside St
Minden, ON K0M 2K0
Year Opened: 2020
Capacity: 390
Sled Dogs
The Haliburton County Huskies are a bit of a curiosity in the OJHL. The most northern team, located in the town of Minden in Haliburton County, the Huskies are not too far from the most southern teams of the adjacent Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL). They also have one of the smallest population bases in the league and the smallest arena capacities.
However, they are located in Haliburton County and have been there since 2021, and are the pride of the area. The current Huskies were founded as the Oshawa Crushmen in 1965 as a Junior B franchise. They were purchased by hockey’s Primeau brothers, Wayne and Keith, and renamed the Oshawa Fury after their equipment company. They were moved to Whitby in 2008 and then eventually sold and moved to Haliburton County. The Fury moved to Junior A and the current OJHL in 1998. The current owner of the Huskies is Paul Wilson.
Home for the Huskies is the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena. A newer facility, built in 2020, the arena is named after Sinclair George Nesbitt, who was Reeve of Minden and also held a number of administrative roles in the area. The arena has a small capacity of 390 and shares space with the Minden Hills Community Centre.
Food & Beverage 2
Nesbitt Arena has a small snack bar upstairs, adjacent to the Blueline Club. There is a lack of a visual menu and price list, but a small selection of snacks is available, including chips, cookies, soda, chocolate, coffee, and hot chocolate. The Blueline Club is across the hall, above the lobby in the west end, and serves a variety of alcoholic beverages.
Atmosphere 3
S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena is part of the recreation complex. It definitely has a Northern Ontario look to it. The main entry is an attractive grey brick under a peaked canopy with wooden support beams. The rest of the exterior is a mix of brown brick, grey siding at the top, and windows. Once inside, the Northern Ontario vibe continues with attractive wooden beams supporting a peaked atrium, accented with grey brick.
Fans are met with a temporary ticket table as well as a number of tables with Haliburton County Huskies swag. Trophy cases dedicated to the Huskies are right at the door and are also found upstairs, where the main entry into the arena is found. A hockey stick from local NHL product Cody Hodgson is among the most treasured artifacts. The upper trophy case features a Haliburton Huskies leather jacket from their 1971 Junior D Championship team. To the left of the main entry is a framed jersey for the retirement of Huskies’ Patrick Saini, who holds the franchise record for scoring.
Inside the arena, fans are struck with a significant temperature drop. Nesbitt Arena is one of the coldest rinks anywhere. The ice surface is west-to-east oriented, with the seating found only on the south side. The small nature of the community is really felt in the seating area, as there are only three rows of plastic arena seats. Standing room with drink rails is also behind the seating. The seating area is elevated high above ice level, giving the arena great sightlines.
Fans are also able to stand behind the glass at ice level. The Blueline Club is the perfect place for fans who can’t handle the cold temperatures. The Haliburton Highlands Sports Hall of Fame is of note on the south wall. A little exploring will find the 1970-71 Junior D Haliburton Huskies, who won the area’s only junior championship, Cody Hodgson, and favourite son, Bernie Nicholls.
A simple hockey score clock hangs on the east wall to the left of a large Huskies banner. The ceiling is light coloured aluminum siding. This is of note because the acoustics are not terrific in the arena. Announcements can be difficult to understand. Overall, the arena is bright and clean and looks brand new.
Neighbourhood 3
S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena is located in the town of Minden, part of the greater Haliburton County. It would be considered right in the middle of cottage country. Minden Hills, being only a town of almost 7,000, options for food and drink in town are fairly limited. Some options include Boshkung Brewing Co., Mark’s Restaurant, Swan’s Thai Cuisine, Mulligan’s Pub, and Burnt Crust Pizzeria.
The Huskies are really the only game in town for the sports fan. Haliburton County is definitely an outdoor area, so many other tourist options are tied to the outdoors. Minden River Walk, Minden Boardwalk, and Nature’s Place Interpretive Centre are options. There are a few independent inns and motels for those who wish to stay in the area.
Fans 4
The Haliburton County Huskies occupy one of the smallest arenas and smallest population centres in the OJHL. Keeping that in mind, the fan support the team enjoys is significant. At the time of writing, early in the 2025-26 season, the Huskies averaged 418 fans per game. This is higher than the seating capacity of the arena and ranked 4th in the OJHL. The Huskies consistently rank in the top five in average attendance per game. There were 385 fans at the game that was reviewed. The fans at Haliburton County are fairly quiet and reserved, and not atypical of Ontario fans.
Access 3
The S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena is located in the Town of Minden, in the Township of Minden Hills in Haliburton County, which is pretty huge. The arena is just west of Highway 35, which is a two-lane highway. During the autumn, the drive into town will be gorgeous with all of the changing leaves; however, driving in during the winter could be more problematic with winter conditions.
There is plenty of parking on site, and parking in the lower lot where the main arena entrance is found is advised. There is no public transit option in Minden. The amenities in S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena are very good, and it is one of the cleanest arenas that one will find in this league. The arena is very cold, and there are no gas heaters above the seating area. When choosing a seat, fans should be aware of stickers on seats delineating reserved seats for season ticket holders. The washroom facilities are good, and other than the temperature, the arena is very comfortable.
Return on Investment 5
Haliburton County Huskies hockey provides an excellent value for the sporting dollar. Tickets for the Huskies are $15 for adults, with discounts for students and seniors. Tickets are available at the door,, and cash or card is accepted. Parking is free at the arena. The product on the ice is solid, and the facility is clean and comfortable. Haliburton County also provides a small-town feel to the production that is fairly unique and refreshing for the OJHL. Overall, the Huskies are a great experience for the dollar.
Extras 3
An extra mark for the Minden Hills Recreation Complex, which includes S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena as a community hub.
An extra mark for the community focus and small centre in Haliburton County, unique in the OJHL.
An extra mark for the beautiful autumn colours that fans can enjoy when driving into town during the appropriate season.
Final Thoughts
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.
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