Roaming The Rinks

We've decided to help arena roaming fans keep track of new arena opportunities, as well as those venues that may end up with new hockey tenants, or end up closing or vacant this upcoming season. We'll have a series of reports as the season gets closer.  For this edition we anaylze the preseason in the CHL, and check out the opportunity fans have to attend arenas in places where they otherwise may not have a chance to watch big-time hockey.  Some of the alternate venues are one-off games in small town arenas, whereas some have turned into annual traditions where fans can count on some Major Junior preseason action.  Many of these arenas are home to Junior A or other teams, whereas are few have no "countable" hockey other than these preseason games.  Here's what is on tap this preseason-

WHL:  The Western League will provide quite a few opportunities for fans to check out their teams at alternate locations this preseason.  Here a list of the venues and dates-

Servus Credit Union Place,              St. Albert, AB,                     Red Deer vs Edmonton            September 5th

Servus Credit Union Place,              St. Albert, AB                     Calgary vs Edmonton                September 12th

Ladner Leisure Centre,                     Delta, BC                           Kamloops vs Vancouver            September 5th

Ladner Leisure Centre                      Delta, BC                           Victoria vs Vancouver                 September 12th

Centennial Civic Arena                     Lloydminster, AB               Saskatoon vs Edmonton             September 6th

Coaldale Sportsplex                         Coaldale, AB                     Swift Current vs Lethbridge         September 11th

Ralston Community Centre               Ralston, AB                       Moose Jaw vs Medicine Hat      September 11th

Legends Centre                                 Warman, SK                     Prince Albert vs Saskatoon         September 12th

Crowsnest Pass Sports Complex       Coleman, AB                    Lethbridge vs Kootenay              September 17th

Crowsnest Pass Sports Complex       Coleman, AB                   Calgary vs Kootenay                    September 19th

Langley Sports Complex                    Langley, BC                     Kelowna vs Vancouver                September 18th

Stettlet Recreation Centre                  Stettler, AB                       Medicine Hat vs Red Deer          September 19th

OHL:  The OHL has a pair of new teams coming on board this season, and also has quite a few opportunities to catch some action at alternate arenas.  The dates and locations are-

Andreychuk Mountain Arena             Hamilton, ON                 Peterborough vs Hamilton             September 5th

G. Rickard Recreation Complex        Bowmansville, ON         Niagara vs Oshawa                        September 8th

Beamsville Centennial Centre            Beamsville, ON             Windsor vs Niagara                        September 16th

MasterCard Centre                            Toronto, ON                   Kitchener vs Mississauga               September 18th

William Allman Arena                         Stratford, ON                  Erie vs London                               September 19th

Ajax Community Centre                     Ajax, ON                         Hamilton vs Oshawa                      September 19th

McMorran Place Arena                      Port Huron, ON              Flint vs Sarnia                                 September 20th

Burlington Central Arena                   Burlington, ON               Erie vs Hamilton                              September 20th

Sixteen Mile Sports Complex            Oakville, ON                  Guelph vs Mississauga                   September 20th

McMorran Place Arena in Port Huron, Michigan will be one of the unusual locations that fans can see Major Junior preseason action this fall.

QMJHL:  The Q starts the earliest of the 3 CHL leagues, and allows for a summertime hockey fix if you are so enclined.  Alternate locations for QMJHL preseason games range from resort island locations to working class suburban Montreal arenas.  Here's where you'll find preseason Q action at alternate venues-

Complexe Alphonse-Desjardins               Trois-Rivieres, QC                     Victoriaville vs Shawinigan           August 13th

Pownal Sports Centre                                St. Alexander, PE                      Saint John vs Charlottetown       August 15th

Pownal Sports Centre                                 St. Aexander, PE                      Cape Breton vs Charlottetown    August 21st

Arena Pete Morin                                         Lachine, QC                               Sherbrooke vs Victoriaville         August 15th

Halifax Forum                                               Halifax, NS                                 Cape Breton vs Halifax               August 15th

Halifax Forum                                               Halifax, NS                                 Cape Breton vs Halifax              September 3rd

Complexe Multidisciplinaire                       Ancienne-Lorette, QC                  Rimouski vs Quebec                  August 15th

Complexe Multidisciplinaire                       Ancienne-Lorette, QC                  Chicoutimi vs Quebec                 August 21st

Red Ball Internet Centre                            Moncton, NB                                Halifax vs Moncton                     August 16th

Colisee Jean Beliveau                               Longueuil, QC                              Shawinigan vs Victoriaville         August 22nd

Rath Eastlink Community Centre              Truro, NS                                      Charlottetown vs Haifax             August 22nd

Centre Jacques Lesage                              Mont-Laurier, QC                        Blainville Brois. vs Val D'or        August 22nd

Murray Community Centre                         Springhill, NS                               Acadie Bathurst vs Moncton      August 23rd

Emera Centre Northside                              North Sydney, NS                       Halifax vs Cape Breton              August 23rd

JK Irving Centre                                          Bouctouche, NB                          Saint John vs Moncton               August 28th

Memorial Civic Centre                                Campbellton, NB                         Rimouski vs Acadie Bathurst      August 28th

Colisee Albin-Aucoin                                  Iles de la Madeleine, QC             Charlottetown vs Quebec            August 28th

Colisee Albin-Aucoin                                  Iles de la Madeleine, QC              Charlottetown vs Quebec           August 28th

You may not have thought about catching preseason hockey at alternate venues, but it provides a chance to see hockey in locations you may otherwise not be able to, allows for an early season hockey fix, and often allows you to experience big-time hockey in a much more intimate setting than you would see in the regular season.  With locations such as Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, and Iles de la Madeleine, Quebec, you may also find yourself in a destination you may not otherwise consider during the dead of Winter.  Throw  in a chance to see such great venues as Allman Arena in Stratford, Ontario, or even the return of the Q to Longueuil, Quebec and you have the recipe for some fun.

A lot can happen between now and when the puck drops on the season. We'll keep you posted. Look for more Plus/Minus Arena Reports covering juniors, college, pro, and even some semi-pro leagues and venues.