On February 5, 2025, my friend Steve McLean became the fourth person to complete all 60 rinks in the CHL in Victoria. I am happy to host his rankings here as a contrast to my own.
Steve: 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 your website, and not only being a great friend and travel partner during many of these visits, but also for having this website which I randomly found in grade 12 tech class and which inspired me to travel the OHL in the first place. 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 Betchleys, the Clarks, the Strowbridges (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.
For more in depth thoughts on each arena as well as photos please check out my album on Flickr.
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. 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 upcoming loss of their franchise.
57. CAA Centre - Brampton - OHL
Suburban Hell. There is nothing remotely within walking distance of the rink. It has a barebones 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.
56. 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.
55. 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.
54. 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.
53. 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.
52. 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.
51. 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.
50. 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.
49. 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.
48. 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.
47. 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.
46. 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.
45. 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.
44. 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.
43. Westoba 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.
42. 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.
41. Brantford & District 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.