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 neighbourhood 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.