Marlboros

Toronto Marlboros

Arena Name: North York Centennial Centre
Capacity: Unknown
Built: 1966
Last OHL game: 1970?
Address: 580 Finch Ave W., Toronto, ON, M2R 1N7
Ice Surface Size: Unknown

OHL

 North York Centennial Centre

North York Centennial Centre

 What Was the Arena Like?

One day in 2006 I was doing unrelated research in the London Free Press archives for my Masters degree. I was reading a newspaper from the spring of 1970 and I happened, purely by luck, to notice a story referring to the Knights playing the Marlboros in the second round of that year's playoffs. The note reminded fans travelling to the game that that evening's game would be played at the North York Centennial Centre, as Maple Leaf Gardens was otherwise booked.

So, purely by chance, I discovered another OHL building, and I checked it out later that year. North York Centennial Centre is an aluminum-coated 1960's edifice located in a high-density residential area in North York. Its neighbours are mainly high-rise apartment buildings, and it is also located relatively near to a city park.

Inside the building, there is a small main lobby which leads into the main arena bowl. The arena only has seats on one side of it. There are 15 rows along the one side of the building, separated by a main concourse halfway up, but the other three sides of the arena only have standing room. There is also a second level of standing room around the building which affords a decent view, and a press box high above the ice on the side without the seats. The arena is decorated by 1960's pop art, and even without the "Centennial" name, it is easy to guess its age based upon its construction and decoration.

From my research, it appears that once the Markham Centennial Centre opened in 1974, the Marlboros preferred that building's higher capacity to the smaller North York Centennial Centre, and to the best of my knowledge never returned to North York. The arena is not an OHL-calibre building by any stretch, but it is still an interesting footnote to the league's history.

 Inside North York Centennial Centre

Herb Carnegie Centennial Centre

 What's the Arena Used for Today?
The North York Centennial Centre has never really had a major tenant to the best of my knowledge. In 2001 it was renamed the Herb Carnegie Centennial Centre after the pioneering Black hockey legend.

 Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at Email and I'll update the guide.


Copyright © OHL Arena Guide, 2002-19.
All rights reserved.
Last Revised: December 7, 2019