Hockey for All Centre explained

Stadium Name:Hockey for All Centre
Logo Image:File:Hockey_for_all_centre.svg
Location:3969 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Coordinates:49.8856°N -97.3281°W
Broke Ground:July 2009
Opened:August 2010
Owner:True North Sports & Entertainment Limited
Operator:Winnipeg Jets
Construction Cost:$26.6 million[1]
($ in dollars)

Hockey for All Centre (stylized as hockey for all centre) is an ice hockey facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, near the Red River Exhibition.

Owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, the 172000square feet complex contains four arenas, and serves as the practice and training facilities of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League and Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, and host of various minor hockey teams and competitions.

History

Initially known as True North MoosePlex Hockey Canada Centre, the facility was built on time and within its budget, at a cost of $26.6 million. The federal and provincial governments contributed $11.7 million, while True North provided the remaining $14.9 million.[1] In exchange for public funding, True North guaranteed use of the facility for local amateur and recreational hockey.[2]

In April 2010, as an extension of its naming rights relationship with Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS) for the MTS Centre, the facility was renamed the MTS Iceplex.[3]

A 21000square feet addition to the centre was completed in 2016. As part of this expansion, new training facilities and office space were built for the Jets and Moose.[4]

The facility was renamed Bell MTS Iceplex following Bell Canada's acquisition of MTS in 2017.[5] On November 14, 2022, Scotiabank acquired the naming rights to the facility, renaming it Hockey for All Centre (stylized in lowercase) as an extension of Scotiabank's diversity initiative of the same name.[6] [7]

Facilities

Hockey for All Centre is on the western edge of the city, near the junction of Portage Avenue and the west Perimeter Highway. It is surrounded by the Perimeter Highway to the east, Assiniboia Downs to the north, Pointe West AutoPark to the south, and the Red River Exhibition grounds to the west. The facility is open year-round and consists of four arenas, dryland training facilities, 22 dressing rooms, a pro shop, a restaurant and bar, a conference room, concessions stand and office space for Hockey Manitoba, Hockey Canada, and True North.[8] [3] [9]

Each of the four arenas has an NHL regulation-size ice surface and is sponsored by a local business. The Subway Arena seats 1,512 spectators, while the Flynn, Assiniboine Credit Union, and MB Building Trades arenas each seat 225 spectators.

Events

The Iceplex was one of three venues that hosted the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, a major international hockey tournament held annually by Hockey Canada. It was slated to host the 2012 tournament also, but Hockey Canada, at the request of True North, decided to relocate the tournament to Windsor, Ontario.[10] [11]

Some of the annual events taking place at the Iceplex include the Manitoba Senior 'A' hockey championship, the Winnipeg High School Hockey League Rookie Classic and the Hockey Manitoba Cup.[12] [13]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to minimize disruption to Bell MTS Place under NHL COVID-19 protocol, the Manitoba Moose played all but four home games for the shortened 2020–21 AHL season at the Assiniboine Credit Union Arena, with all games played behind closed doors and in compliance with Manitoba public health orders. The arena received upgrades in order to meet AHL standards.[14] [15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Iceplex opens. Winnipeg Sun. 2011-01-05.
  2. Web site: Grand opening for MTS Iceplex . 2011-01-05 . Winnipeg Free Press.
  3. News: Mooseplex renamed MTS Iceplex. CBC News. 2011-01-05. 2010-04-09.
  4. News: TSNE announces addition to MTS Iceplex. https://web.archive.org/web/20150907175241/http://www.mtsiceplex.ca/news/tnse-announces-addition-to-mts-iceplex/. dead. 2015-09-07. MTSIceplex.com. 2015-09-01.
  5. Web site: MTS Centre, Iceplex renamed following Bell takeover of MTS. CBC News. Canadian Press. 30 May 2017.
  6. Web site: 2022-11-14 . Iceplex rebranded hockey for all centre . 2023-06-19 . Winnipeg Free Press . en-US.
  7. Web site: Jets, Moose practice facility just west of Perimeter gets new name . 2023-06-19 . CJOB . en-US.
  8. Web site: MTS Iceplex - Our Facility. MTSIceplex.ca. 2021-12-29.
  9. News: If You Build it… Manitoba's U17 Hosts Showcase New Arenas. . June 17, 2011. February 11, 2011.
  10. Web site: Winnipeg to host World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2011 and 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20110101135950/http://www.hockeymanitoba.mb.ca/news.php?id=685. dead. 2011-01-01. HockeyManitoba.ca. 2011-01-05.
  11. Web site: Windsor, Ont., to host 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. https://web.archive.org/web/20120407112515/http://www.mjhlhockey.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=343:windsor-ont-to-host-2012-world-under-17-hockey-challenge-&catid=5:news&Itemid=14. dead. 2012-04-07. mjhlhockey.ca. 2011-11-04.
  12. Web site: Hockey Manitoba Cup. Hockey Manitoba. 2014-11-09.
  13. Web site: MJHL Showcase. https://web.archive.org/web/20131120071737/http://www.mjhlhockey.ca/fan-zone/showcase-2011.html. dead. 2013-11-20. MJHL. 2014-11-09.
  14. Web site: Manitoba Moose plan to move to the Bell MTS Iceplex - Winnipeg Globalnews.ca . 2023-06-19 . CJOB . en-US.
  15. Web site: Tracking the Moose: Moving from downtown to the Iceplex . 2023-06-19 . Global News . en-US.