Newfoundland & Labrador Hockey Arenas

Early Newfoundland Hockey Rinks

Our local indoor hockey arena stands as a hub and social gathering spot for enthusiasts of the game, yet the origins of organized hockey in Newfoundland and Labrador trace back to the outdoor expanse of a frozen Quidi Vidi Lake in 1896. In just three years, the game transitioned indoors to the Prince's Rink, attracting hundreds of spectators and significantly increasing hockey's popularity in the capital city.

Hockey in Newfoundland was first played on just about any frozen piece of ice people could find. Games were played on frozen ponds, harbours and in open-air rinks but soon the game would also move indoors into buildings with flooded rinks. Early skating rinks had large posts supporting the roofs that were an obstruction during a hockey game. 

The earliest rinks in Newfoundland were constructed in the capital city of St. John's in the mid-1800s, primarily for skating including two rinks in Bannerman Park. The Victoria Skating Rink opened in 1863 and the Avalon Curling & Skating Rink in 1870. Unfortunately, on July 16, 1878 both the Victoria and Avalon skating rinks were destroyed by fire (source: p. 14, James Murphy, A century of Events in Newfoundland 1824-1924). 

In December 1892 the Parade Grounds Curling & Ice Rink opened on Harvey Street. Elaborate skating events, such as masquerade parties accompanied by live bands, were common occurrences at these rinks. Curling and skating contests were the main sporting events in these early rinks. In the late 1890s, a number of hockey matches were played at the Parade Rink, but they were more of a curiosity. In these early years of NL hockey development, there was little ice-time made available for the sport. Additionally, the Parade Rink lacked an open space for gameplay. Wooden beams supporting the roof were often an obstruction to game play. As a result, city hockey enthusiasts initiated a plan to build a suitable indoor ice hockey arena.

The Prince's Rink and the Jubilee Rink

In the fall of 1898, the ground was broken for the first proper indoor hockey arena in St. John's. The building was completed in a few months. The rink would be named for the Prince of Wales, who at the time was Queen Victoria's eldest son Albert Edward. The Prince's Rink was a wooden structure with large wooden arched beams supporting the roof that created a wide-open playing surface. It was built on land previously owned by hockey enthusiast Robert G. Reid who received shares in the new rink management company. The rink opened in January 1899. Another arena with a design beneficial for hockey games was the wooden dome-structured named the Carbonear Rink (renamed the Jubilee Rink in 1935). 

Another wooden dome-structure built from with a design beneficial for hockey games was the Carbonear Rink (renamed the Jubilee Rink in 1935).

Re-Purposed Buildings and structures

Some early 20th century arenas were re-purposed buildings and structures including A.N.D. Company warehouses in Grand Falls and Botwood, and an ore shed in Buchans, 

After World War 2, hangars at Gander and Stephenville airports were converted and pieces of a hangar from Gander were reassembled in Twillingate to build an arena. Former World War 2 drills halls were renovated to make arenas in Gander and Botwood. 

The Twillingate and Botwood rinks are still in use today.

Artificial Ice Surfaces

Artificial ice was the key to the development of hockey in our communities, resulting in a longer season and a greater amount of available ice time for practice. When an indoor hockey rink has a refrigeration plant installed to produce a smooth artificial ice surface, hockey leagues are no longer defendant on the unpredictable and often unfavourable weather.

Successful hockey programs require adequate ice-time for practices and games but during the first half of the 1900s most provincial hockey centers depended on natural ice. The biggest issue facing all early hockey arenas was that ice conditions were dependent upon favourable weather. Hockey seasons would typically start in late December and end early in March but even during that short season the ice conditions were sometimes unsuitable for hockey. Games were often adversely affected and frequently cancelled or rescheduled due to poor ice conditions.

See Chronology of NL Artificial Ice Surfaces

The introduction of the artificial ice surface to the province in 1937 would be a critical step in our hockey development. Artificial ice provided many benefits including control of ice conditions and significantly more ice-time during a hockey season that could now be 3 to 4 months longer. The Prince's Rink in St. John's had the first artificial ice on the island. Although the surface was not regulation size, the benefits were immediate as skaters in Newfoundland took to the ice in August 1937.

The first hockey game played on the new artificial ice was between the Guards and St. Bon's (Herder Memorial Trophy, Abbott, p.17). However, a devastating fire in 1941 would limit its use to only four years. Rebuilding a new arena during the Second World War was not possible so from 1941 to 1955 the city's hockey teams used outdoor rinks and shared ice time at the renovated St. Bon's Forum. The benefits of a large modern arena with an artificial regular-size ice surface were clear after the A.N.D. Company built the Grand Falls stadium in 1947. A state-of-the-art facility when opened, the stadium had a capacity for thousands of ticket-buying fans and a longer hockey season that could start in October and last well into April. 

Recreation Capital Grants Program

The Recreation Capital Grants Program in Newfoundland during 1967 was part of the Canadian Centennial celebrations. The program's purpose was to encourage communities across Canada to build and open recreation facilities during Canada's Centennial year. This shared-cost program led to significant development of parks and recreational spaces across Newfoundland that included outdoor and indoor ice rinks.

Active Ice Surfaces

When all arenas are open for the hockey season, Newfoundland & Labrador has 60 indoor ice surfaces in 56 arenas scattered across the island and in Labrador [update required]. In these often very cold hockey rinks, from St. John's to St. Anthony, from Channel-Port-aux-Basques to Nain, indelible memories are created each year for families and generations of hockey fans.

Outdoor Rinks

The following rinks were used for organized hockey games before indoor arenas were available: (partial list)

Howell's Rink, Harbour Grace  - 1930s 

Beaver Pond, Brigus

Bonavista Rink - 1956-1966?

Conception Bay Arena, Bay Roberts - 1956-1958

Windsor Lions Club Rink - 1968-1971