Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Rink: Arena Glencore
Capacity: 3,200
Built: 1951
League: QMJHL
City: Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec
Home Of: Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Games Attended: 1
Only Game: November 5, 2021 vs Val d’Or
Unique Arena: #53
QMJHL Arena: #9
Making the trek far north to Rouyn-Noranda during hockey season can be an intimidating one, and it makes the trips to places like North Bay and Sudbury seem like a run to the corner store for milk. While I was a tad nervous to plan for an early November trip, we lucked out on weather and found an old arena with a new renovation just outside of the downtown core of the now combined towns of Rouyn and Noranda. Parking appeared to be limited, but with our hotel only 1km away and mild temperatures we walked pre and post-game.
Before the renovations the building was only as tall as the brick façade with a half cylinder roof. While the half cylinder roof above the ice remains, the new ends of the building jut up into the sky giving the outside of the building almost a U shape. There is also a curling rink attached next door, much better than that, a 24-hour poutine greasy spoon directly across the street.
The 2011 renovation of this rink makes it feel way newer on the inside than its 70-year history would have you believe. Before it was just seven rows of seats all around the ice surface, with old wooden seats. Now the seats are all brand new comfortable molded plastic, done in team colours, which is always a great touch. The ends have been expanded to not only add a lot more seating but also add some suites as well. While I did not attend a game here pre renovation, I can’t imagine it lost much of its old barn feel it must’ve had before. It definitely hasn’t lost that feeling completely.
All the seats in the building are close to the ice both figuratively and literally. There wouldn’t be many bad views here, however the top row on the sides may be slightly obstructed thanks to the stairs that lead up to the bare bones suites and press box. In true old barn fashion, the team benches are on opposite sides of the rink. Also, the ice pad itself is a bit higher than street level, so be prepared to climb stairs no matter where you sit.
It’s not often you are in an old barn and get a view like the one above. This is from the top balcony, which have seats that normally aren’t sold unless the lower sections are full, but the opposite balcony had minor hockey teams, and the Huskies ticket manager did us a huge solid as we wanted to see the game from this amazing spot. While we had no fans directly around us it didn’t take away from the atmosphere of the crowd below, as the Huskies scored three times in the third to take a 6-3 win. We also had the PA announcer up there farther down our row, and he spent most of the game actively cheering the Huskies on while not on the mic, it was cool to see.
We managed to get a nice long look around the arena in the afternoon before the game without any crowds, which made exploring much easier. The photo you see below is the view from the press box. Watching a game from here would be incredible, it’s so close to the ice a puck went in it during play that night. It’s an old barn that they have done their best to modernize, and honestly while it has a capacity most would scoff at in junior hockey, it works. If you can make the trip one day I can’t recommend it enough!
