Vale Health & Wellness Centre - Port Colborne Sailors
- Dave Cottenie
- 3 hours ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Vale Health & Wellness Centre
550 Elizabeth Street
Port Colborne, Ontario
Year Opened: 2013
Capacity: 1,000
Teeder is Sailing into Niagara
The Niagara Region of Ontario has a rich hockey history. There are currently 5 teams in the Junior B Greater Ontario Hockey League that make up the Niagara Region GOHL triangle. In the southwest corner is the city of Port Colborne, Ontario. No stranger to hockey, the current Port Colborne Sailors are relatively new to the scene.
The current Sailors were established in 1963 as the Thorold Jaycees. The Jaycess began in the Niagara District Junior B Hockey League. In 1975, they became the Paper Bees and in 1979, to coincide with a drop to Junior C, they became the Paper C’s. In 1982, they returned to Junior B and became the Golden Eagles for 4 years before settling on the Blackhawks.
In 2007, the Ontario Hockey Association reorganized the Junior B level, and Thorold, and with their entire league, joined the GOJHL. Facing significant renovations for the 2022 season, the Blackhawks moved south to Port Colborne, a move that became permanent the following season. The rebranded Port Colborne Sailors are currently owned by Scott Barnes.
The home for the Sailors is the Vale Health & Wellness Centre. A community hub, Vale boasts a pair of ice rinks and a swimming pool, and a YMCA Fitness Centre. It is one of the cleanest venues a fan could find. Toronto Maple Leafs legendary captain, Ted “Teeder” Kennedy is a Port Colborne native, and his presence is felt throughout the facility as the city’s favourite son.
Food & Beverage 3
The main concession is found on the main level and appropriately named the Kennedy Club after Teeder Kennedy. There is a typical snack bar type menu including fries, poutine, chicken fingers, chicken burgers, and hot dogs. Other snacks include ice cream, chocolate, candy, chips, and muffins. Pepsi products, as well as hot chocolate, coffee, tea, protein, and energy drinks, are the beverages available. There did not appear to be a Blueline Club selling alcoholic beverages in Vale Centre.
Atmosphere 3
The Vale Health and Wellness Centre offers an attractive, modern exterior with light siding and a unique protruding overhang. The Community Celebration of 2013, no doubt linked to the opening of the Vale Centre is commemorated with a large autographed brick sitting on a pedestal to the right of the main entrance.
After entering the Vale Centre, the trophy case in the vestibule immediately catches the attention of patrons and, at the very least, warrants a turn of the corner upon entry to the lobby to check out all of the artifacts. Pictures of Port Colborne teams, Teeder Kennedy, other Port Colborne NHL players, and artifacts can be found in the case. Other items of note include framed jerseys down the hall of Nick Dobrin and Tyler Crooks.
Both Port Colborne minor hockey players passed too soon, with Crooks actually passing in the line of duty with the Canadian military. The jacket of local Port Colborne coaching legend Muir McGowan is also framed. Framed pictures and a jersey of Teeder Kennedy are found right beside the concession window. Also of note, possibly better viewed from upstairs are massive text art portraits of Port Colborne NHL legends Donald Gallinger, Teeder Kennedy, Harry Dick, Don Simmons, and Bronco Horvath. Each portrait is made of letters that spell Port Colborne.
The best entry to the arena is upstairs, which brings fans to the top of the west seating. A small merchandise table is found in the lobby just before entering. Inside the arena, the ice is north-south oriented, and the best spot to get a picture of the centre ice logo is from the west. Vale Centre has two sets of seating options with seven rows of elevated seating on the west side and 3 rows at ice level on the east side.
All seats are typical plastic arena seats, and there is plenty of space on the west side for those who wish to stand. Vale Centre is possibly the cleanest arena out there. The boards have no advertisements on them, and the ads that are on the wall are neat. There isn’t much in the way of banners other than the Toronto Maple Leafs Teeder Kennedy banner from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Protective netting is found on the north and south ends, leaving a clear view on the sides.
During the flooding of the ice, the lights are dimmed, and blue lights are used as trim on the upper level. This gives the pregame a bit of a unique feel. On the north wall, fans will find the Port Colborne Sports Wall of Fame. An enshrined member of note is the play-by-play voice of the Calgary Flames, Derek Wills. A curiosity is that none of the NHL players in the text art portraits, including Teeder Kennedy, have plaques on the Wall of Fame.
The game day production at a Sailors game is fairly simple. Promotions include the 50/50 draw and the frisbee toss, a safer, possibly more challenging version of the chuck-a-puck. The speaker system is decent in Port Colborne; however, the play-by-play voice on the broadcast also seems to double as the public address announcer, which is not ideal.
Neighbourhood 3
The Vale Centre is located in the northeast corner of Port Colborne. It is a bit out of the main tourist areas, but there are a number of places available for pre or post-game food and drinks. Some options include Melina’s Family Restaurant, Moe’s Tap and Wings, and The Lock Wood Fried Pizza. The Niagara corridor has a number of other GOHL teams, including the Welland Jr. Canadians, Pelham Panthers, St. Catharines Falcons, and Fort Erie Meteors. All are very close to each other. Other tourist options in Port Colborne include the Welland Canal, Canal Lock #8, and Nickel Beach. For fans who wish to stay in Port Colborne, there are a few independent hotels in the area.
Fans 3
Port Colborne had decent fan support. For the 2024-25 season, the Sailors averaged just over 400 fans per game. This ranks them 13th in the GOHL. There were far fewer fans in attendance for the game that was reviewed, an abnormal Sunday evening. The fans in attendance were fairly quiet and reserved.
Access 4
Vale Centre is located in the northeast corner of Port Colborne, which is one of the easier spots to get to, considering its distance from the waterfront. It is essentially at the intersection of highways 3 and 140. It is 10 km south of Welland, which is where the main highway, 406, ends.
There is plenty of parking on site. For fans interested in public transit, Niagara Transit does have some stops in Port Colborne; however, they are on the west side of the Welland Canal, a significant walk from Vale Centre. Fans should consult the Niagara Transit website for maps, schedules, and fares. Getting around Vale Centre is not difficult. It is a very comfortable arena, and the washroom facilities are adequate.
Return on Investment 5
Tickets for the Port Colborne Sailors are $12 for adults, with discounts for students and seniors. Kids 10 years old and under are free. Parking is free, and concession prices are decent. The on-ice product is good, and the Vale Centre is one of the cleanest, most comfortable facilities around. This all adds up to a solid return on investment, with fans not needing to blow the bank to have some great sports entertainment.
Extras 3
An extra mark for the Vale Centre being a community hub for Port Colborne.
An extra mark for the numerous ways Teeder Kennedy is honoured at the Vale Centre.
An extra mark for Vale Centre as one of the cleanest, well-maintained venues out there.
Final Thoughts
When heading to the Niagara Region, a stop in Port Colborne is a great idea. Catching a Port Colborne Sailors game at the Vale Health and Wellness Centre is a great way to watch some solid hockey and not spend much money.
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