Stoufville Arena - Stoufville Spirit
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Stouffville Arena
12483 Ninth Line
Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario L4A 1C2
Year Opened: 1987
Capacity: 335
Smells Like Hockey Spirit
The Stouffville Spirit were founded in 1995 as the Stouffville Clippers in the OPJHL. They were sold before the completion of their first season to Ed Hakonson. The Clippers moniker was a nod back to the previous Stouffville Clippers who played at the Junior C level from 1970 to 1984. After being sold in that first season, the Clippers rebranded as the Stouffville Spirit and have been members of what is now the Junior A OJHL ever since. They have had modest success but had playoff issues until they took home the Buckland Cup as OJHL Champions in 2012. Chris Tanev is included among their alumni. The Spirit are currently owned by Chris Tambos, Zeev Werek, and Kenny Burrows.
Home for the Spirit is the Stouffville Arena. Located in the former town of Stouffville, now part of the larger Whitchurch-Stouffville town, north of the City of Toronto, part of the Greater Toronto Area, Stouffville Arena offers a pair of ice pads and community rooms. Stouffville Arena is owned by the Town of Stouffville.
Food & Beverage 3
A single snack bar concession is found in the lobby. Hot dogs, fries, chicken fingers, poutine, nachos, and popcorn are all available. Coca-Cola products are the soft drink of choice, and coffee, tea, hot chocolate and Slush Puppies round out the beverages. There is nothing terribly original at the concession, but they won’t go hungry either.
Atmosphere 3
The exterior of Stouffville Arena is straight out of the eighties. A corrugated, concrete exterior with a brown top accent is functional but not terribly attractive.
Inside, the lobby also gives off those eighties vibes with plenty of dark, brown brick. There are some locally framed photos and displays that are definitely worth a look. A tribute to Stouffville’s “Mr. Hockey” Bob McNeil is one of the highlights. A collage dedicated to local product Keith Acton and a framed photo of hockey Olympian Gillian Apps boast about the local hockey scene.
Inside the arena, the ice is south-north oriented with the seating on the east side. Seating consists of 11 rows of wooden benches with a steep incline for good sightlines. Seating goes right up to the top of the low-profile ceiling, such that fans can touch the support beams from the top row. Protective netting is found only at the ends.
There is some indoor seating at the north end, which also houses a number of trophy cases with plenty of Stouffville hockey artifacts. Above the indoor seating are some markings delineating Stouffville Arena as the home of the Spirit. Championship banners hang at the north end, including the 2012 Buckland Cup. There are also banners honouring five-year players J.D. Smithson and Randy Johnston and Coach Pat Madigan, who died suddenly in 2008.
The gameday production at a Spirit game is very simple. It is clear that the sound system is not the best, but the PA announcer does his best to make sure that announcements are as clear as possible by not yelling into the microphone. Typical promotion,s including the 50/50 draw, are present for games.
Neighbourhood 3
Stouffville Arena is located in Stouffville, part of the town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. There are a few dining options for fans in the area. The best plan is to head south to Main Street. Some options include Clock Tower Grill, Saints on Main, The King’s Landing Bar & Grill, Captain Hooks Bar & Grill, and the Junction.
The Stouffville Spirit are pretty much the only game in town. Stouffville is close to Newmarket, Markham, Pickering and Aurora, so OJHL rivalry games are not far away at all.
Other tourist options fans may want to consider while in the area include Bruce’s Mill Conservation Park, Treetop Trekking and Canada’s Wonderland. Stouffville is not terribly far from Toronto, which has a whole host of tourist options.
For fans interested in staying in the area, there is a Days Inn in Stouffville. Other options in other towns are not too far.
Fans 4
Assessing fans in the OJHL can be difficult as there are no centrally published attendance figures and many teams do not publish game-day attendance statistics on game sheets. That being said, Stouffville normally attracts between 250 and 300 fans per game and ranks in the top third of the OJHL. The small capacity at Stouffville Arena makes a moderate attendance seem like a full house. Fans are supportive, and the location of Stouffville makes it a good stop for many travelling fans.
Access 4
Stouffville Arena is located in the Stouffville community of the town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, approximately at the southeast corner of 9th Line and Millard. It is about 2 km east of Highway 48 and 12 km north of Highway 407, so a bit of a drive through town will be necessary. There is free parking on site; however, other minor sports on the local fields there may cause parking to fill up. For fans wishing to take public transit to the game, there are York Region Transit bus stops on Millard. Fans should consult the York Region Transit website for maps, fares, and schedules.
Getting around inside Stouffville Arena is not too difficult. Entry into the arena from the lobby is at ice level, so getting to the seating will require some traversing of stairs. The washroom facilities are good for this venue.
Return on Investment 5
Stouffville Spirit tickets are sold for $15 with discounts for students and seniors. Children under 5 years old are free. Tickets are available at the door and can be purchased with cash or card. Parking is free, and the concession prices are not too bad. The product on the ice is solid, and fans will have a good time at the game.
Extras 2
An extra mark for the number 19 banner that hangs behind the Stouffville bench in honour of Mike Robinson. Robinson was a former member of the Spirit who was tragically shot on a golf course in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, in 2025.
An extra mark for Stouffville Arena as a community hub, complete with a pair of ice pads, community rooms, and a number of outdoor sports fields.
Final Thoughts
Taking in a Stouffville Spirit game is a great way to spend a fall or winter evening. Stouffville is a decent arena for the OJHL and has a cozy feel to it in a community that loves its hockey.
