Hockey for All Centre

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

Hockey for All Centre
Former namesMTS Iceplex (2010-2017)
Bell MTS Iceplex (2017-2022)
Location3969 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Coordinates49°53′8″N 97°19′41″W
OwnerTrue North Sports & Entertainment Limited
OperatorWinnipeg Jets
CapacitySubway Arena - 1,512[1]
Assiniboine Credit Union Arena - 225[1]
MB Building Trades Arena - 225[1]
Flynn Arena - 225[1]
Construction
Broke groundJuly 2009
OpenedAugust 2010
Construction cost$26.6 million CAD[2]
($32.3 million in 2021 dollars[3])
Tenants
Winnipeg Jets (NHL) 2011-present
Manitoba Moose (AHL) 2010-2011; 2015-present
Winnipeg Wild (MU18HL) 2010-present
St. Pauls Crusaders (WHSHL) 2010-present
Balmoral Hall Blazers (JWHL) 2010-present
Winnipeg Freeze (MJHL) 2022-present
Manitoba Maple Leafs (WWHL) 2010-2011
Winnipeg Blues (MJHL) 2010-2019; 2023-present
St. Boniface Riels (MMJHL) 2018-2019
Website
hockeyforallcentre.com

Owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, the 172,000-square-foot (16,000 m2) 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.[2] In exchange for public funding, True North guaranteed use of the facility for local amateur and recreational hockey.[4][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.[5]

A 21,000 square foot addition to the center was completed in 2016. As part of this expansion, new training facilities and office space were built for the Jets and Moose.[6]

The facility was renamed Bell MTS Iceplex following Bell Canada's acquisition of MTS in 2017.[7] On November 14, 2022, it was announced that Scotiabank had 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.[8][9]

Facilities

Hockey for All Centre is located 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.[1][5][10]

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.[5]

Events

The Iceplex was one of three venues that hosted the 2011 World Under 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.[11][12]

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.[13][14]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and 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.[15][16]

References

  1. "MTS Iceplex - Our Facility". MTSIceplex.ca. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  2. "Iceplex opens". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  3. 1688 to 1923: Geloso, Vincent, A Price Index for Canada, 1688 to 1850 (December 6, 2016). Afterwards, Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada tables 18-10-0005-01 (formerly CANSIM 326-0021) "Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021. and table 18-10-0004-13 "Consumer Price Index by product group, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  4. "Grand opening for MTS Iceplex". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  5. "Mooseplex renamed MTS Iceplex". CBC News. 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  6. "TSNE announces addition to MTS Iceplex". MTSIceplex.com. 2015-09-01. Archived from the original on 2015-09-07.
  7. "MTS Centre, Iceplex renamed following Bell takeover of MTS". CBC News. Canadian Press. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  8. "Iceplex rebranded hockey for all centre". Winnipeg Free Press. 2022-11-14. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  9. "Jets, Moose practice facility just west of Perimeter gets new name". CJOB. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  10. "If You Build it… Manitoba's U17 Hosts Showcase New Arenas". Hockey Canada. February 11, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  11. "Winnipeg to host World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2011 and 2012". HockeyManitoba.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-01-01. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  12. "Windsor, Ont., to host 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge". mjhlhockey.ca. Archived from the original on 2012-04-07. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  13. "Hockey Manitoba Cup". Hockey Manitoba. Retrieved 2014-11-09.
  14. "MJHL Showcase". MJHL. Archived from the original on 2013-11-20. Retrieved 2014-11-09.
  15. "Manitoba Moose plan to move to the Bell MTS Iceplex - Winnipeg | Globalnews.ca". CJOB. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  16. "Tracking the Moose: Moving from downtown to the Iceplex". Global News. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
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