Sarnia Arena
Encyclopedia
The Sarnia Arena is a 2,302 capacity arena
in Sarnia
, Ontario
that is home to the Sarnia Legionnaires
, one of the most successful teams in Canadian junior ice hockey history. Located at the corner of Wellington and Brock Streets, it is the largest arena owned by the city of Sarnia. It was built in 1948 and is currently home to the Legionnaires of the Western Junior B Hockey League
, as well as minor hockey teams and minor hockey tournaments.
The Legionnaires have won six championships and launched the careers of nine NHL players, including Hall of Famer Phil Esposito.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley credits the Legionnaires with keeping the Sarnia Arena alive. In fact, because the team drew such huge crowds in the 2008-09 season, city council decided to put in new seating, higher glass and to repair the roof. There had been talk of tearing the building down, but that disappeared after the '09 Legionnaires drew more than 50,000 fans to their games.
While used primarily for ice hockey
, it is also used for skating lessons, public skating sessions, the circus, high school graduation ceremonies, and other special events.
The Sarnia Sting
of the Ontario Hockey League
played at the arena briefly in the mid-1990s while the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre
was under construction. The arena was not large enough to host the OHL
team permanently, and the Sting were only allowed to move to Sarnia on the condition that a new arena (now the RBC Centre) be built.
In January 1957 the Chicago Blackhawks
of the NHL played an exhibition game at the Sarnia Arena against the Legionnaires. The Hawks won, but the Sarnia Jr. 'B' team got six goals.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
in Sarnia
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
that is home to the Sarnia Legionnaires
Sarnia Legionnaires
The Sarnia Legionnaires were a Canadian junior ice hockey team that won five Western Jr. 'B' Hockey League championships and four Sutherland Cups as Ontario Hockey Association Junior B champions in the 16 seasons they operated out of Sarnia, Ontario from 1954 until 1970. The club folded after two...
, one of the most successful teams in Canadian junior ice hockey history. Located at the corner of Wellington and Brock Streets, it is the largest arena owned by the city of Sarnia. It was built in 1948 and is currently home to the Legionnaires of the Western Junior B Hockey League
Western Junior B Hockey League
The Western Ontario Hockey League was a junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association from 1969 until 2007. As of 2007, the league has become a division of the newly formed Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League...
, as well as minor hockey teams and minor hockey tournaments.
The Legionnaires have won six championships and launched the careers of nine NHL players, including Hall of Famer Phil Esposito.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley credits the Legionnaires with keeping the Sarnia Arena alive. In fact, because the team drew such huge crowds in the 2008-09 season, city council decided to put in new seating, higher glass and to repair the roof. There had been talk of tearing the building down, but that disappeared after the '09 Legionnaires drew more than 50,000 fans to their games.
While used primarily for ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, it is also used for skating lessons, public skating sessions, the circus, high school graduation ceremonies, and other special events.
The Sarnia Sting
Sarnia Sting
The Sarnia Sting are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They play out of the RBC Centre, formerly the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
of the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
played at the arena briefly in the mid-1990s while the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre
Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre
The RBC Centre is a 5,500-capacity multi-purpose arena in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the campus of Lambton College and opened in September 1998. The RBC Center is currently home to the Sarnia Sting OHL ice hockey team. And the Sarnia Legionnaires Jr...
was under construction. The arena was not large enough to host the OHL
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
team permanently, and the Sting were only allowed to move to Sarnia on the condition that a new arena (now the RBC Centre) be built.
In January 1957 the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
of the NHL played an exhibition game at the Sarnia Arena against the Legionnaires. The Hawks won, but the Sarnia Jr. 'B' team got six goals.