Sleeman Centre - The Frosty Mug
- Dave Cottenie
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey.
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Sleeman Centre 50 Woolwich St Guelph, ON N1H 3V1
Year Opened: 2000
Capacity: 4,715
Still Frosty After 16 Years
There are few USports events quite like The Frosty Mug. In 2026, the Guelph Gryphons took to the ice for the 16th time at the Sleeman Centre in Downtown Guelph. They were followed to the game by nearly 4,900 students, who made the event the party of the year. Other schools have similar rivalry games, namely the Carr-Harris Challenge Cup between RMC and Queen’s and the Crowchild Classic between Calgary and Mount Royal, but none are quite like the Frosty Mug.
Over a few years, it seemed that the game was going to end up as a rivalry game between the Gryphons and Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, with six matchups in a row and two others for a total of eight of the sixteen; however, the last three years have seen the Gryphons return to somewhat random opponents. The Frosty Mug is not a rivalry game. It is being pushed to the stratosphere of USports events by Guelph Gryphons fans. The first Frosty Mug event was held in 2010 and has grown exponentially to where it is regularly a sell-out.
The centrepiece of The Frosty Mug is the Sleeman Centre. Regularly the home of the Guelph Storm of the OHL, the Sleeman Centre opened in 2000 and is owned by the City of Guelph. The Downtown Guelph location is critical for the success of the event, making it easy for students to get to the arena from campus.
Food & Beverage 4
There are a number of concession options in the Sleeman Centre. Pretzels, popcorn, hot dogs, and pizza are all on the menu. Candy and ice cream can be found at a few of the stands, too. Some more unique choices include the authentic Roman Pizza at the Penalty Box or some of the huge selection of confections at the Candy Counter.
Coca-Cola products are the soda of the Sleeman Centre, and water, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are among the soft drinks available. Sleeman products are available at the beer stands. Draught Picks Tap House and Grill is a full-service bar on the south side of the arena and is also an option for fans. For the Frosty Mug, the restaurant is not open as it would be for a normal Guelph Storm game, and is used for VIP guests.
Atmosphere 4
The Sleeman Centre is a unique facility because it is built inside a shopping mall. As a result, the majority of fans will not enter through the main doors on Woolwich Street. Parking entrances off Macdonell Street, with fans entering through the south side or through the Old Quebec Shoppes, the remnants of the mall, are far more popular.
That being said, the front exterior of the Sleeman Centre is attractive, with light siding and tinted windows. It is not a hulking structure and is almost inconspicuous from the front. Entering through the front or through the mall will take fans to the main staircase, which is essentially under the arena. Fans will pass by the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame, which features a number of notable inductees, including George McPhee, Todd Hlushko, and John Cullen. Guelph also has a history of providing officials to the NHL, including Bill McCreary, Ray Scapinello, Terry Gregson, and Ron Asselstine.
Patrons will ascend the stairs to the second level, which is the main entry to the arena. The concourse around the seating bowl is not very wide, so getting there early for some exploring is the best idea. The ice at the Sleeman Centre is oriented from west to east, with entry to the concourse coming from the south side. The north side is going to provide the perfect centre-ice logo picture.
Above the ice is a four-sided videoboard with top and bottom ribbon rings and a simple score clock. The fascia of the second level, which is home to the club seats and luxury boxes, has a full, 360-degree ribbon board. The rafters are littered with banners honouring Guelph junior hockey players and accomplishments. The Frosty Mug has become such a success that the time has come for there to be some sort of permanent recognition of the event in the arena.
The gameday production at The Frosty Mug is very simple, yet effective. The students in the stands really drive the atmosphere. The team enters the ice from the south side at the beginning of the game through a giant inflatable gryphon, complete with red lights and smoke. Gryph, the Guelph Gryphons mascot, interacts with the crowd. During the second intermission, Gryph rides in the back of a pickup truck and rides around the ice, throwing t-shirts into the crowd. Possibly the highlight of the gameday package is the first intermission performance of the Guelph Gryphons Varsity Figure Skating team, which always garners a huge response from the crowd.
Neighbourhood 4
The Sleeman Centre is located in Downtown Guelph. There are a number of spots for pre and post game food and drink in the area. Some choices include 1881 Steakhouse, McCabes, NV Kitchen, Royal Electric, La Cucina, Baker Street Station and The Wooly Pub.
Fans looking for more sports in the area may want to consider heading to the University of Guelph where the Gryphons play football at Alumni Stadium, hockey at Gryphon Centre Arena and basketball at the Guelph Gryphons Athletic Centre. The regular tenant of the Sleeman Centre is the Guelph Storm of the OHL. During the summer, the Guelph Royals compete in the IBL.
Non-sporting options may include seeing something at the River Run Centre, on the opposite side of Woolwich Street, or taking a tour at the Sleeman Brewery in Guelph. For fans wishing to stay in Downtown Guelph, the Royal Inn and Suites and Western Hotel, may be of interest.
Fans 5
The Frosty Mug of 2026 attracted its fifth consecutive sellout, packing the Sleeman Centre with 4,942 fans. At no point has the attendance of The Frosty Mug fallen below that of the previous year, with the exception of the first post-COVID game which had attendance restrictions. It is one of the highest attended USports events on the calendar, which is definitely impressive. The fans in attendance are mostly students, and are loud and boisterous, out for a good time and supportive of their Gryphons.
Access 4
Getting to the Sleeman Centre is not terribly difficult. The Sleeman Centre is located in Downtown Guelph between Woolwich Street and MacDonnell Street. The confluence of Highways 6 and 7 is less than four kilometers from the arena, and getting there should not be too difficult.
Most fans are heading to the parking garages off of McDonnell Street, so the intersection of Woolwich and MacDonnell can be a challenge closer to puck drop. There are a few parking garages downtown, so finding a spot should not be an issue. For fans wishing to take public transit, the Guelph Transit Station is less than a block away. Fans should check out the Guelph Transit website for fares, maps and schedules.
Getting around the Sleeman Centre can be a bit of a challenge as the concourses are not huge. Intermission times are particularly bad and lines for the washrooms then can be long. For those wishing to purchase alcoholic beverages, a wristband policy is in effect and the lines for wristbands and alcoholic beverages are always long. The stairs from the Old Quebec Street Mall may present issues for those with mobility issues.
Fans do need to be prepared to have bags checked and be scanned by a metal detector before going into The Frosty Mug. Event organizers request bags be left at home, however purses are permitted. Stadium Journey strongly encourages consulting the Sleeman Centre website before heading to the game for the latest security protocols and list of prohibited items.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets for the Frosty Mug are priced at $25 and $20 for youth, staff and UofG students. The reality is that nearly the entire arena is filled with University of Guelph students. This is significantly more than the regular $10 ticket for a Gryphons hockey game on campus. Parking is not a significant expense, although in years past it has been free, and concession prices are what one would expect in an OHL arena. The Frosty Mug is a premier event and is annually among the top attended events at Sleeman Centre. The atmosphere is terrific and the fans are loud. A good time is definitely in store for those in attendance.
Extras 3
An extra mark for the annual incorporation of the Guelph Gryphons figure skating team into the Frosty Mug, who perform to a rousing ovation during the first intermission.
An extra mark for the building of the Frosty Mug game, which began with a modest attendance of over 1,100 to a game that eclipsed its own attendance record each year since.
An extra mark for the Frosty Mug itself. Both teams play for a glass mug. Like the best rivalry trophies, nothing too fancy.
Final Thoughts
One of the most significant events in Guelph annually is The Frosty Mug. The Guelph Gryphons pack fans into the Sleeman Centre every year for the most boisterous and loud hockey event in town. Getting to The Frosty Mug should be on the bucket list and is a part of a small handful of USports events that fans should not miss if possible.
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