CHL Arena Rankings
The rankings you are about to read are totally subjective and based on the experiences I had while visiting them. Sometimes you visit on a day when the atmosphere is better than normal. Sometimes you’re there on an off night. I tried to rank these based on my personal experience along with things like how good the atmosphere is, views, facilities etc. The rinks that hit on all the good things tend to get ranked higher while the ones that don’t hit any of these things get ranked lower.
Since many people will read this, I want to say some thank you’s to the people who made this happen and helped me reach my goal. First of all, Kevin Jordan, thank you not only for graciously hosting my rankings on his website until I built one for myself, and not only being a great friend and travel partner during many of these visits, but also for creating the website which I randomly found in grade 12 tech class and which inspired me to travel the OHL in the first place. I urge you all to also check out his All 60 CHL ranking here. Thank you to Brian Thompson not only for all the great years making a fun podcast with me, but for being the first to even suggest that I could visit all 60 one day. Thank you to many hosts and friends along the way: the Betchley’s, the Clarks, the Strowbridge’s (WELL SIR!), the NOOF chat group, the Junior Hockey Junkies, Chad Balcom, Derek Pomery for being there when I hit all 60, the Victoria Royals for their awesome gift the night I hit all 60, and to all the people who ever took in a game with me or ran into me at a game to talk. Thank you all. Lastly, thank you to my awesome family for indulging me and encouraging me to reach my all 60 goal.
*Side note* I am tentatively scheduled to go to a WHL game in Penticton, BC in March 2026 so until then their arena is not part of the below rankings.
CHL Arena Ranking 60-1
60. Centre d’Éxcellence Sports Rousseau – Blainville-Boisbriand – QMJHL
Blainville-Boisbriand isn’t necessarily the worst arena in the CHL, but it is the epitome of no frills and lacklustre. Zero atmosphere and just not a fun place to watch a game. It feels like it would be much better suited as a Jr A rink.
59. Eastlink Centre – Charlottetown – QMJHL
This is objectively the worst building in the CHL. The layout is a mess, the seating is too shallow, and if you sit behind the nets there is an obstructed view. What saves Charlottetown from coming in last is the people. It’s not an amazing atmosphere, but the fans are easily the friendliest I’ve come across. I look forward to returning to the Island one day and giving them another shot.
58. CAA Centre – Brampton – OHL
Suburban Hell. There is nothing remotely within walking distance of the rink. It has a bare bones interior that’s barely seen any upgrades since it opened, while the rink itself has small crowds with no atmosphere. It’s a slightly worse version of what the Steelheads had in Mississauga. Despite plenty of parking and small crowds, it still takes a while to get out of the parking lot post game.
57. Innovation Credit Union iPlex – Swift Current – WHL
I’ve been told Swift Current can rock, but the night I was there we had a small crowd with little to no atmosphere. It has some small-town charm, but it just didn’t do much for me unfortunately. It’s also not in a great location, either, with nothing really within walking distance. I want to like Swift Current more and rank it higher. I would like to go again one day maybe and give them another shot.
56. Moose Jaw Events Centre – Moose Jaw – WHL
A rink that should be closer to the middle of this list, but it’s a standard modern-day clone with issues you just don’t normally see from modern day clones. Fairly poor A/V production, dark shadowy areas on the playing surface, yet there are lights from the rafters pointed straight into our faces in row 5. The atmosphere wasn’t the worst I’ve seen, but it’s far from the best. The rink feels super out of place downtown with the big box aesthetic it gives off from the outside.
55. Co-Op Place – Medicine Hat – WHL
This rink should be much higher on this list. It’s a great facility and should host many big-name events in the future, but it was built too big for the Tigers. A franchise once known for sellout streaks and amazing atmospheres now plays to smaller crowds who make no noise in literally a cow pasture outside of town. Even throwing some black and orange paint on the walls would knock them up several spots. The upper bowl in only one end makes the roof much higher than it needs to be for the rest of the rink and it’s cavernous.
54. Town Toyota Center – Wenatchee – WHL
It’s basically Brampton but smaller and nicer. It has an identical layout, but it’s just slightly smaller and there’s no centre ice scoreboard. The game day production is the most amateur in the CHL, still operating at their former Jr A level. Fans are decently loud for their size which knocks it up a couple spots. It’s not a terrible building, but it just feels a bit spartan and lacks a little something. If you want lasers and dry ice, however, this place is for you.
53. Arena Glencore – Rouyn Noranda – QMJHL
An old tiny bandbox that got a face lift. It’s still got an old barn vibe and some newer upgrades, but the layout is pretty awful. There is much more seating in the ends than on the sides, which only goes up a few rows. Sightlines on the sides are awful. This short review sounds mostly negative, but I did like it believe it or not. I just can’t in good faith rank it much higher than this. The atmosphere by Quebec standards wasn’t great either.
52. Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens – North Bay – OHL
Another old rink with a face-lift. Getting around the rink is extremely difficult with a packed house, and any seats more than halfway up on the sides have an obstructed view of the video board. That said, when full the atmosphere in North Bay is fantastic and the new renovations don’t take away from the old barn charm.
51. Centre 200 – Cape Breton – QMJHL
The exterior of Centre 200 really reminds me of the old Tullio Arena in Erie, and it would be pretty bland and soulless if not for the attached casino and glassed-in main entrance that leads into a very large atrium where most people congregate at intermission. The seats highest up have an obstructed view, but those aren’t used too often. All the concessions are down at the main entrance end, so they can be a hike if you’re sitting at the opposite end of the rink. There’s not many frills and the atmosphere when I was there was a total dud, but with nice people and mostly good sight lines. Almost immediately after my visit, however, the crowds and atmosphere have improved from what I’ve seen online. I would love to give them another shot one day.
50. The Arena at TD Place – Ottawa – OHL
At one time this rink would be much higher on the list, but in recent years it’s felt super run down. The crowd and atmosphere has fallen off from its heyday. The sightlines are mostly good, but some are terrible. Seats are very comfortable and it’s in a fantastic location with plenty of underground parking, restaurants and things to do in the area.
49. Prospera Place – Kelowna – WHL
An earlier clone rink which is now past its 25th birthday, and which hasn’t had the best maintenance schedule along the way. It’s well known that work has to be done ahead of hosting the 2026 Memorial Cup, and it is very much needed. It has the worst scoreboard in the CHL bar none. The atmosphere was decent for my Wednesday night game, so I suspect it might be better on prime nights.
48. Progressive Auto Sales Arena – Sarnia – OHL
It’s time for the mushy middle. Sarnia is a late 90’s clone rink that doesn’t feel quite as old as its age suggests. No bad things to say about this rink, but nothing that stands out as great either. The Sting do a much better job than a lot of teams with their branding around the arena which is nice to see. Not a great location on the edge of town, but at least it makes parking a breeze.
47. Sasktel Centre – Saskatoon – WHL
This rink is my longest drought among current CHL buildings, as I have not seen a game here since the 2013 Memorial Cup final. A clone of Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, but one that has been kept up much better through the years. It’s too large of a rink for the WHL, and even the Memorial Cup I attended there didn’t have the best atmosphere with 10,000 people spread out through a 15,000 seat arena. However I’ve heard its gotten much better in recent years. It has a terrible location in that even 35+ years after it was built, it’s still barely on the outskirts of town.
46. Sudbury Arena – Sudbury – OHL
An older barn that I should have higher on this list, but for some reason I don’t love it quite as much as most people do. Everything is old and run down save for a new video board. The sightlines are mostly good except if you’re anywhere close to the corners. It’s a step back in time for sure. Extra points for the stuffed wolf on a pulley system that is wheeled out after Wolves goals.
45. Dort Event Center – Flint – OHL
This arena has had numerous upgrades since the OHL moved in a decade ago. The Dort has some of the comfiest seats around, courtesy of the Palace of Auburn Hills. It has decent sightlines and a small capacity with a low roof which gives it a very intimate vibe. It could use some more team colours and branding in the concourse, which is small and tight around most of the bowl. Watch out for pot holes in the parking lot.
44. Assiniboine Credit Union Place – Brandon – WHL
This is an old barn that feels old but doesn’t feel run down. It has as big-time community rink vibe to it. It doesn’t lack any amenities but doesn’t go over the top with them either. I was a tad disappointed that the atmosphere was middling at best. It reminded me a lot of Owen Sound but on a bigger scale. All the seating was replaced just after my visit.
43. CN Centre – Prince George – WHL
This is a very similar arena to Kelowna and Mississauga. Good sight lines, nice wide concourse. The atmosphere the night I was there was OK considering the small crowd size, but it wasn’t great. The team store was among the most bare bones and smallest I’ve seen in the CHL – basically a closet off the concourse that doesn’t even have room for the cashier. However the wood carvings of animals through the concourse gives it that extra northern BC vibe. It doesn’t have the best location on the edge of town, but like other edge of town rinks it makes parking quick and easy.
42. TD Civic Centre – Brantford – OHL
A small barn that the city has done a good job at upgrading the best they can while they await a new rink. It’s the smallest arena in the OHL and super intimate. Game day ops are top notch. The sightlines are fantastic but the seats are a bit too tight for me. I prefer standing room here. It’s a tough arena to navigate around when its full, which is often. A new arena is coming so go here while you still have the chance.
41. Sadlon Arena – Barrie – OHL
Located in suburban big box hell, but surprisingly not a terrible location with lots of restaurants and parking nearby. The problem here is getting in and out as Mapleview Drive gets insanely backed up even on non game days. One of the good examples of building a rink on the edge of town and the neighborhood building up around it. The sightlines are fantastic with steeper than usual seats. Ice level suites are certainly a different touch. The concourse is way too narrow in some places and it’s tough to get around sometimes. Barrie used to have a reputation of being a library but I’ve always found the atmosphere here to be better than most arenas.
40. Slush Puppie Place – Kingston – OHL
A newer building that still feels a bit fresh out of the package, but which is also a bit dull and spartan. Could use some more of that Fronts black and yellow, as even the walls and seats are a plain grey. I understand going for the limestone look but it’s just very drab, especially when there are smaller crowds which unfortunately is more often than not. Otherwise it’s a fine, serviceable clone. Multiple staff in my last visit there were a bit short with us however.
39. Scotiabank Saddledome – Calgary – WHL
Obviously, an NHL rink that’s much too big for the WHL. However, it’s cool to explore areas you’d never be allowed in for a Flames game unless you’ve got the expensive tickets. There’s more Hitmen branding around the rink than I expected, but it’s obvious the Hitmen aren’t the main tenant here. It’s a super unique building but that comes across better for Flames games than Hitmen games.
38. Save on Foods Memorial Centre – Victoria – WHL
The arena that finished off my journey to all 60. This rink is a better version of what they have in Kelowna. It has the exact same layout except with about 1,000 extra seats. The crowds and atmosphere however are a tad worse. Even the scoreboards are a similar layout, except Victoria’s actually feels like it’s from this century. A nice downtown location and the team treated me like gold, nothing bad to say here.
37. Colisée Desjardins – Victoriaville – QMJHL
This is a very intimate rink with lots of newer upgrades. It feels like a better version of Flint except the seats are the absolute tightest in the CHL bar none. Sitting here was uncomfortable and if I go again I’ll be getting a standing room spot. The atmosphere lacked a tad by Q standards but yet I really want to go back. Put Flint’s comfortable as hell seats in this building and I would’ve shot it much further up the rankings.
36. Scotiabank Centre – Halifax – QMJHL
This rink should be much higher on the list if they literally didn’t have thousands of seats that have obstructed views along the sides. The atmosphere is fantastic and the good seats offer great views of the ice. The game day ops are on a pro level and this team and setup wouldn’t feel out of place at the AHL level. It would be much higher up if about 30-40% of the seats didn’t have obstructed views.
35. Centre Georges-Vézina – Chicoutimi – QMJHL
One of the oldest barns in the CHL and it very much feels like it. The seats are a bit cramped for my taste, but not small on a Victoriaville level. The good seats have fantastic views, but there are some bad ones that either have support columns obstructing the view or corner seats that feel a bit far from the Olympic-sized ice. This feels like the QMJHL’s answer to Sudbury Arena.
34. Centre Marcel Dionne – Drummondville – QMJHL
An arena that feels way older than it is. Incredible views of the ice with very steep seats which are still all wooden two-man benches. It can be very tough to get around even without a full house. Concessions and modern amenities lack a bit with just one big canteen area at one end of the rink. The atmosphere here is terrific though and it’s worth your time checking this place out.
33. Dow Event Center – Saginaw – OHL
The rink has gotten much better with the Memorial Cup upgrades. The seats are all old yet very padded and comfortable. Some seats feel a bit far from the ice but the views are mostly good. The atmosphere has been hit and miss in my games over the years, sometimes it’s rocking, sometimes it’s a library. The rink feels a bit bigger than it actually is. The concourse feels a bit 1970’s still, but it’s wide and easy to get around.
32. Mary Brown’s Centre – Newfoundland – QMJHL
A clone rink that doesn’t do anything bad, but it’s nothing spectacular, either. Newfoundland gets great crowd support, but they are a bit more subdued than you would expect. It’s worth the trip to Newfoundland just to check out the beautiful local scenery and great downtown location of the arena.
31. GFL Memorial Gardens – Sault Ste. Marie – OHL
The epitome of a clone rink. Doesn’t do anything amazing but doesn’t do anything bad either. All the red for the Hounds is fantastic and lots of history on display is a plus. Good downtown location near hotels, restaurants and the mall. The atmosphere here is better than most places.
30. Centre Sportif Alcoa – Baie Comeau – QMJHL
Atmosphere is king here. Even with smaller crowds the place rocks with noise. It has an odd layout with a three grandstand setup, but most of the seats are on one side of the rink, like Cape Breton but with no corner seats. The steep seats give off great views even from the back row of the large section of seats. The roof slopes down from the top of the big side so the entire rink feels very intimate. It feels like a much older barn than it is.
29. Avenir Centre – Moncton – QMJHL
If you’re just talking about the building, it would arguably be the best in the CHL. It has very steep and comfortable seating and a wide concourse with quick grab and go concessions like you see in NHL buildings. The atmosphere unfortunately is a total dud. The rink is much too big for the crowds Moncton gets, but if we were just ranking the buildings themselves and not adding in the actual experience, then Moncton would easily be number 1 on this list.
28. Rogers Place – Edmonton – WHL
Comparing this rink to the rest of the CHL just isn’t fair for obvious reasons. Its ranking here is as a junior experience, which was better than I was expecting with a crowd of 5,000 in an NHL sized rink. Everything is pro all the way and it’s a nice chance to sit in seats you just can’t afford in the McDavid Oilers era.
27. Peterborough Memorial Centre – Peterborough – OHL
A small band box barn. Peterborough has an odd layout with a big chunk of the seating all in one end, but it’s a rink I love going back to over and over. The city’s sports hall of fame just off the concourse is among the best I’ve ever seen. Just standing in this place at ice level you really feel the history of the place. It’s a pretty pure form of watching junior hockey in Canada, even if the atmosphere isn’t always the rowdiest.
26. Toyota Center – Tri-City – WHL
Despite being only four years older than Kamloops, it feels like a much older mini coliseum. The rink feels like it was built with hockey as the top priority, and the sightlines are all fantastic. The concourse is a bit tight but has most of the concessions one could want. There is a lounge upstairs that all fans have access to, though it’s segregated from the bowl itself so you can’t see the game from there. For a very small crowd on a rare Monday night game the atmosphere was pretty decent.
25. Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre – Owen Sound – OHL
A rink many might think should go much lower, but which I love going back to. The Bayshore is an absolute tiny barn that’s extremely intimate with great views of the ice that are all on top of the action. I don’t talk food too much, but it has the best fries around. The fans here are some of the nicest I’ve ever come across as well. Getting to Owen Sound in the middle of winter might be one of the most treacherous trips in the OHL, but going for a game in the fall makes for a lovely drive.
24. Sandman Centre – Kamloops – WHL
An early 90’s version of a clone. The sightlines are all good, but they’re especially good from the balconies that run down the sides. The atmosphere was fantastic for my trip there, though it was for a Memorial Cup. It was also great being there for games in the summer with Riverside park nearby, though summer games are obviously a rarity. Parking in the area is a bit scarce.
23. TD Station – Saint John – QMJHL
Harbour Station has a fantastic maritime setting and is among the best rinks in the Q for amenities, comfort and sight lines. Unfortunately in recent years the crowds have dwindled and the atmosphere was fairly dead for my visit. The promotional team does an exceptional job. If this rink had big crowds and a good atmosphere it would easily rank top 10 on my list.
22. Langley Events Centre – Vancouver – WHL
This is one of the better new clone rinks out there. The exterior architecture is fantastic and screams BC. The atmosphere was decent but not fantastic. It has all the new amenities one could want, with exceptional options at the concessions and a good A/V production. A clone in the suburbs doesn’t exactly have the charm of the Pacific Coliseum, but it’s likely a much better option for the Giants in the long run.
21. Brandt Centre – Regina – WHL
This arena is larger than your average CHL rink. It looks old and run down from the outside but feels much newer and well maintained on the inside. The seats are all comfortable and have great views of the ice. Getting around at intermissions is a bit tough with big crowds, but unfortunately that isn’t much of an issue these days as more recently the Pats play to small crowds and little to no atmosphere. My only games here were for the 2018 Memorial Cup and the atmosphere for the Pats games were pretty good with a full house.
20. Centre Videotron – Quebec – QMJHL
Like Edmonton, ranking this building compared to the rest isn’t fair. It’s an NHL building whose top tenant is a Q team. As an NHL rink it’s pretty good but not among the elite. Normally (I’ve been told) the atmosphere is spectacular. Unfortunately while our game had a solid crowd of 7,800 people, it felt below average for the reputation of the Remparts. Being in an awesome city like Quebec I can see myself giving this another shot sometime soon.
19. Sleeman Centre – Guelph – OHL
Total homer move ranking the Sleeman Centre this high, but I just love the vibe of Storm games. The rink feels a little more intimate than its cousins in Sarnia and the Soo. The arena is always packed even when the team isn’t good, though Storm fans could be louder. There are lots of cool little touches throughout the rink, like a list of all the players who wore the number on each section number pole; the history of the hat trick which started in Guelph; it goes on. They need to replace the scoreboard, however, which is now the oldest in the OHL.
18. Centrium – Red Deer – WHL
An early 90’s rink that feels like it’s from the 80’s era. The sightlines are fantastic with the two decks of seats on the sides. The atmosphere was decent for my Memorial Cup visit, but I would like to get to a regular season game here one day. For some reason, being at a game in Red Deer just feels like what the WHL is supposed to be.
17. Meridian Centre – Niagara – OHL
A brand new fantastic rink in the heart of downtown, taking full advantage of nice pre and post game spots. It’s a clone, but a new one that is done well. Atmosphere had been fantastic for a new rink until their recent run of terrible on ice play. The one section of roll away seats in the one end is awful, but otherwise there are no bad seats in the house.
16. Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena – Spokane – WHL
This is one of the best big buildings in the CHL. The arena has fantastic sightlines from both bowls and a wide concourse with tons of food options, a huge team store and lots of history on display. Spokane gets bigger than average crowds in the CHL, and while those big crowds can’t fill this bigger building the atmosphere doesn’t lack from it. It was one of my highlights of the league for sure.
15. Centre Gervais Auto – Shawinigan – QMJHL
Shawinigan is a rarity in that this is a new building that wasn’t built at all like a clone. It has a smaller capacity than usual for a newer rink, and it feels bigger than its capacity suggests. I kind of got some Barrie vibes from this place. The arena has tons of team history on display, which is always a plus even if the team identity is a tad on the insensitive side. The atmosphere was pretty good, unfortunately it’s the only rink I haven’t seen the home team score in. The Cataractes got shutout on my lone visit here. A good enough excuse to go back I’d say.
14. Canada Life Place – London – OHL
JLC, Bud Gardens, Canada Life Place, whatever you want to call it, has been amongst the class of the CHL ever since it opened in 2002. A mini NHL rink with two bowls and all the modern amenities one could want. A rink that’s full more often than not and always loud whether it is full of diehards or bandwagoners. The lower bowl seats are a bit too shallow for my taste, but the upper bowl seats seem to be as steep as legally allowed, and it’s a fantastic view that you don’t get the chance to see much of across the CHL.
13. Erie Insurance Arena – Erie – OHL
What was a dank pit pre renovations a decade ago has turned into an arena most teams would envy having. The fans in Erie are the loudest in the CHL I’ve ever come across. Even when the crowds are smaller during down periods this rink isn’t quiet. The new renovations have made the building feel more spacious and luxurious. It feels like a newer and bigger version of Lethbridge. The original seating grandstands down the sides are a bit too shallow but the new end of seats has a bit better angle to them. All the seats are comfortable as hell. Cool downtown location that is attached to the minor league ballpark.
12. Centre Slush Puppie – Gatineau – QMJHL
While not the true glass palace (that’s in Portland) the rink in Gatineau feels a bit futuristic with the glass façade allowing natural light in for those afternoon games. A giant bowl of black seats with black accents everywhere makes it feel a tad intimidating, and it scores extra points with black being the teams main colour. One of the few rinks outside the OHL I’ve been to twice, and the atmosphere was great both times with the game day ops being top notch. My only complaints are be the location, which isn’t the best, and the total lack of a team store other than a tiny out-of-the-way counter which was a disappointment.
11. Tribute Communities Centre – Oshawa – OHL
The crowds in Oshawa 90% of the time are full and loud which gives the rink a great atmosphere. There is a crazy amount of history on display here, not only in the bowl but in the city’s sports hall of fame just off the concourse, which is impressive. It has a great downtown location, and even the in-rink restaurant isn’t too bad if you’re into that. My only complaint is why you would make the seats the same colour of your historic archrival? Get rid of the maroon seating!
10. Accesso ShoWare Center – Seattle – WHL
Another clone that feels a lot like Mississauga or Kelowna, layout-wise. However, what sets Kent (where the arena is actually located) apart is the atmosphere. Even with a half-full crowd the night I was there, the building was absolutely rocking. Perhaps with a full rink the Thunderbirds fans could rival Erie for the loudest in the CHL. The arena has a nice open concourse with natural light from the glassed-in main entrance. However you can’t walk 360 degrees around the building on the main level, which can be a slight pain. Good views and good game day ops as well.
9. Centre Agnico Eagle – Val-d’Or – QMJHL
Luxury is not something you’re going to find much of in Val d’Or. It is amongst the smallest of band box barns in the CHL and I loved it so much. The seats are all modern plastic, though it felt a bit on the tighter side, but the views of the ice are all fantastic. You’re on top of the action here, almost literally, with the first row of seats starting at the top of the dasher boards. A renovation has extended the seats high into one end much like in Peterborough. It doesn’t have the frills, it doesn’t even have as much noise as many of the rinks I ranked below it. But for some reason I just loved it. I want to go back.
8. VisitLethbridge.com Arena – Lethbridge – WHL
Lethbridge has many similarities to the rinks in Regina, Erie and Red Deer, but what really helped its ranking on my list was A: the “upper bowl” seating being so close to the ice and giving off an amazing view, and B: the atmosphere being fantastic. Now, truth be told, we got lucky with a sold-out crowd to see the Connor Bedard show just before his NHL draft, but the crowd were all firmly behind the Hurricanes all game and it was a fantastic atmosphere. Also worth noting: the A/V production was pro quality. Many others would maybe rank Lethbridge lower, but we happened to see it at its best and its best was awesome.
7. WFCU Centre – Windsor – OHL
I’ve been to some twenty-five games at the WFCU Centre and I’ve seen it at its best and its worst for atmosphere. More often than not for my games in Windsor the atmosphere has been very good and when it’s at its best it’s unreal. The bowl is much steeper than most new buildings, so the sightlines are particularly good. The location isn’t the best, but the neighborhood around it has been slowly building up since it opened. The concourse is a tad on the narrow side for such a new building, especially with a full house. It can be tough to get around at intermissions.
6. Angel of the Winds Arena – Everett – WHL
A similar layout to Spokane, but more of a London size. Everett was a fantastic experience, as the atmosphere was electric for a non-conference game. The lower and upper bowls both have fantastic sight lines and the game day production is top notch as well. It has a great downtown location to boot. Everett really felt like a pro experience in all the best ways possible.
5. Veterans Memorial Coliseum – Portland – WHL
Objectively there are some things about the Coliseum that should have it ranked lower than this. A lot of the seats are in rough shape and literally being held together with duct tape. Some of the sight lines have slightly obstructed views and the seats on the sides feel a tad far from the ice. That being said, the building is also awesome. The Glass Palace (as it’s also known) shows off spectacular views of downtown Portland from the concourse. There are lots of odd nooks and crannies to explore, as well as a ton of Portland hockey history on display, not just of the Winterhawks. It’s one of those tough to put into words situations. For much of the game I just sat in awe looking around the building. The atmosphere was unfortunately a total dud for the game we attended, but I know in the past Hawks fans can make the place rock. I would love to take in the annual game where they draw the curtains back and let the natural light into the bowl.
4. Palais des Sports Léopold-Drolet – Sherbrooke – QMJHL
Another older intimate barn that has been renovated and kept up very well, which as you might see from these rankings is my favourite type of place. It’s a fairly small building, not much bigger than Brantford, and it has a similar design, but it’s just slightly bigger so it can breathe. Newer suites along the sides really close the building in more for an intimate feeling. The seats are steep with great sightlines and are comfortable enough. Atmosphere was better than most, and wood paneling in the concourse? Hell yes. My only complaint was the scoreboard, which is a tad small and my sitting in the end made it a little hard to read the imposed score bug. Most of the time if I wanted to look and the scoreboard I looked towards the one hanging at the opposite end of the ice.
3. Art Hauser Centre – Prince Albert – WHL
Many might be surprised to see this ranked as my top WHL building. But everything about the Art Hauser Centre was fantastic. It’s an older barn with a lower roof that gives the place a very intimate feel. It can be tight in some places, but the seating is all very comfortable and it has fantastic sightlines. The crowd for an early season game was fantastic as the building rocked all night long for a blowout victory over the Pats. The people were also incredibly nice, and it took us over an hour after the game to actually leave as people kept lining up to talk to us after seeing our out of town jerseys. My experience in Prince Albert is everything I love about junior hockey.
2. Colisée Financière Sun Life – Rimouski – QMJHL
Another old barn with modern renovations. Rimouski has some of the most comfortable seats in the entire CHL. Not only that, but with a moat around the ice surface and the first row elevated a tad, it makes the sightlines here incredible. They have a pro hockey-worthy game day production along with a team store that should be the envy of all 59 other franchises. The only downside is getting around can be a bit difficult at intermissions, but I loved this building so much and can’t wait to return for the 2025 Memorial Cup.
1. Kitchener Memorial Auditorium – Kitchener – OHL
I am a Guelph Storm fan, so putting Kitchener at the top of this list is a tad bittersweet for me. But that goes to show how awesome The Aud is. It’s one of those buildings where you can feel the history in the air (along with the smell of Oktoberfest beer nuts). It honestly feels like a mini Maple Leaf Gardens. The sightlines are incredible with steep seating and an atmosphere that is more often than not fantastic. There is a ton of awesome history on display, not just through the concourse, but in a wide open team store that has a small hall of fame attached to it. The front facing façade of the building is gorgeous as well. The huge renovation to add some 1,500 seats a decade ago means the building isn’t always sold out anymore, which is a drawback, and some of those new seats have slightly obstructed views high up in the rafters. But the renovations didn’t take away from the aura of The Aud. It is a temple of junior hockey and everyone owes it to themselves to make the trip at least once.
Former CHL Arenas
12. Compuware Arena – Plymouth – OHL
If this was still a current building in the CHL it would be extremely low on the all 60 rankings. The place feels like, and is designed like, a warehouse. It was built on the cheap and quick, in a not so great location in the far suburbs of Detroit. The seating angle is way too shallow, the PA announcer was very annoying and the atmosphere was usually a dud, though I should say there were a few times it got decently loud in there. The concourse was wide as hell on the sides and corners but narrow in the ends. Getting around usually wasn’t too hard with the small crowds. The biggest positive was the awesome restaurant attached to the rink, which has some of the best pizza I’ve ever eaten.
11. Jack Gatecliff Arena – Niagara – OHL
The Jack was a dump, plain and simple. The seats were tight two-man benches and I usually preferred to buy a standing room spot, though some of those had obstructed views. It was a giant pain in the ass to navigate around and concessions were very poor, which were at one point during the IceDogs tenure temporarily shut down by the health department! Also, while downtown adjacent, it wasn’t exactly close to anything except apartment buildings. The lone saving grace of the Jack was the atmosphere, which was incredible, and the rink was intimate as hell. I can’t imagine being at a smaller place in the modern day OHL other than St. Mikes (which I missed out on).
10. Canadian Tire Centre – Ottawa – OHL
For years the 67’s played the odd home game here during the playoffs when their own building was booked. But it became a semi-permanent home for two full seasons during Civic Centre’s renovations. During that time the 67’s were also bad, missing the playoffs both seasons and losing much of the core fan base who didn’t want to travel to Kanata. Even as an NHL building this place isn’t very good, as it’s large and cavernous. For an OHL game even the crowd of 5,000 felt small and it had no atmosphere whatsoever. On top of it all its location is horrible and getting out after the game can take forever.
9. Joe Louis Arena – Detroit – OHL
I didn’t get to a game here during its OHL heyday of the early/mid 90’s when it was an actual home rink to the Junior Red Wings. But I did get to go for its final OHL one off between Windsor and Saginaw. It was a small crowd that lacked atmosphere, and the Joe was a bit of a dump to boot. That said it was built with hockey in mind, which means it had fantastic views of the game. Also some of the Junior Red Wings crowds back in the day were sold out and rabid. This beats out Ottawa just for being a better hockey rink alone.
8. K.C. Irving Regional Centre – Acadie Bathurst – QMJHL
Fairly small barebones rink that is starting to get a tad run down in places. Easily the worst of the clone rinks. Feels like not much has been updated since it opened 25+ years ago. Atmosphere was a tad better than I was expecting. I feel for the diehard Titan fans at the loss of their franchise.
7. Paramount Fine Foods Centre – Mississauga – OHL
Mississauga is a good modern clone arena now past its 25th birthday. If the rink ever had a stable team with a good fan base and atmosphere it would’ve been a much better experience. As it was, the building had a revolving door of teams with little to no fans or atmosphere to it, and it just mostly felt like a generic experience. That’s not to mention the awful location in an industrial park with nothing around it, and no easy access to the highway within spitting distance. My very first OHL game was here on October 28, 2001 so it will always hold a special place in my heart for that alone. Plus, with it being so close to where I grew up in Brampton, I ended up going to 50 games here over the years. That’s not because it was an awesome experience, but because it was close and tickets were easy to get at the door.
6. First Ontario Centre – Hamilton – OHL
A much too big 1980’s NHL-calibre rink that the NHL quickly outgrew and never came to, beyond the odd one off. 15,000 seats is way too big for junior hockey, and it lacked all the fancy things you see in modern day buildings like in Quebec or Edmonton. Bulldogs crowds did try though, as the atmosphere for playoff games got to be pretty good, and I was present with some 11,000 others for Game 7 of the OHL final which was a cool experience. Seating felt like it was a bit too far back from the ice for my taste. The video board by the end was starting to feel pretty old as well.
5. Yardmen Arena – Belleville – OHL
Despite having the largest ice surface in the OHL at Olympic size, this was one of the smallest arenas in the O. During its OHL years it was basically just two grandstands down the sides with only standing room in the ends at ice level and an elevated walkway that doubled as the concourse. There was also a pair of small balconies overhead which made the seats at the top of the main grandstand obstructed view. Most of the seats had great views of the ice, especially up in the balcony. This felt like the most Mom ‘N Pop operation in the OHL but in a nice charming way. The atmosphere most of the time was very good, and the fans had a reputation for being friendly as well. Lots of fan-made signs would hang from walls that could be seen in the stands, which gave it a much more old school atmosphere.
4. Arena Robert Guertin – Gatineau – QMJHL
In the final years of “The Bob” the crowds and atmosphere lacked a bit as the team had many lean years. I got very lucky in that A: thanks to the pandemic that hit about a month later, I was at one of the last handful of regular season games to take place here. And B: with top ranked prospect Alexis Lafrenière playing for the visiting Rimouski Oceanic, I got a then-rare sold-out crowd. The Bob was a small building and laid out a bit poorly. The huge crowd made getting around very difficult and slow. But during the game all of that was forgotten as the views were incredible and it felt like stepping back in time. No, I couldn’t understand any of the French announcements, and there was no video board to help understand things I might’ve missed, but it was an awesome hockey-watching experience that I am grateful to have gotten before the arena was closed and demolished some years later.
3. Windsor Arena – Windsor – OHL
The Madhouse on McDougall, or just simply “The Barn”. Windsor Arena was a dump by its end when I got to my lone game here in October 2008. But like Gatineau above, what an awesome hockey-watching experience that you just don’t get anymore. While this was no longer the heyday of the Windsor crazies (which being a visiting fan I was thankful for), the atmosphere was still terrific and the incredibly steep seating put you right on top of the action, even sitting high up like we were. It was uncomfortable, hard to get around and had zero modern amenities, but it was awesome.
2. Moda Center – Portland – WHL
This rink is the total opposite of the last couple, except in atmosphere. I was shocked to be at a WHL game in an NHL-sized arena but still have a large crowd with a fantastic atmosphere for a season-opening game. On top of the great atmosphere, it had all the modern comforts a fan could want with insanely comfortable seating, luxurious wide concourses, video boards, you name it. The seats for a lower bowl were steeper than I would’ve expected as well. The Winterhawks true home is and always was next door at the Coliseum, and the Hawks are better off playing there. But for a new modern facility of NHL size, this was the Ritz.
1. Colisée Pepsi – Quebec – QMJHL
It’s hard to put into words how awesome the Colisée was. My only games here were for a Memorial Cup, so some didn’t even involve the Remparts, but it didn’t matter. It had seating so steep it probably legally can’t be built like that anymore, and a rowdy Québecois crowd that had the atmosphere at eleven. Despite its old age I found it fairly easy to get around, with large concourses and tons of great food options. Side note, it had easily the best poutine at an arena I’ve ever eaten. The Colisée was a gem, and I was incredibly fortunate to go to the last few hockey games ever played there.