Former names | Steinbach Centennial Arena (1967-1995) T.G. Smith Centre (1995-2023) |
---|---|
Location | 321 Elmdale Street Steinbach, Manitoba R5G 0E8 Canada |
Operator | City of Steinbach |
Capacity | 300 |
Construction | |
Opened | 1967 |
Expanded | 1995 |
Demolished | 2023 | (partial)
Tenants | |
| |
Website | |
www.steinbach.ca |
The T.G. Smith Arena is an ice hockey arena in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada It is adjacent to the site of the Southeast Events Centre, which is currently under construction. The Steinbach Curling Club is also adjacent to the arena. [1] [2]
Prior to 2023, the T.G. Smith Arena was part of the T.G. Smith Centre. The original part of the complex was the Steinbach Centennial Arena, opened in 1967 and accommodated up to 1,250 spectators (seated and standing room combined). A second indoor rink was constructed in the mid-1990s after which the entire complex was named after the T.G. Smith Centre, after a local banker and supporter of local sport programs. [3] The Centennial Arena was demolished in June 2023 to make way for the new Southeast Events Centre, leaving the existing arena as the remaining part of the complex. It has a capacity of approximately 300.
The T.G. Smith Centre was the home of the Steinbach Pistons of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League from 2009 to 2023 and the Steinbach Huskies junior and senior hockey teams. The T.G. Smith Arena continues to host the community's minor hockey, ringette, and figure skating programs.
In Senior 'AAA' hockey, the T.G. Smith Centre played host to two Allan Cup national senior "AAA" championships: the Steinbach North Stars, active from 2007 to 2010, hosted the 2009 event, while the South East Prairie Thunder hosted in 2016. [4] It also hosted the ninth place game of the 2002 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, in which Germany defeated Finland. [5] Aside from hockey, the T.G. Smith Centre has hosted two Manitoba Provincial Curling Championships (2006, 2010).
In March 2019, the T.G. Smith Centre hosted Rogers Hometown Hockey, the first time the program was hosted by a southeastern Manitoba community.[ citation needed ]
Steinbach is the third-largest city in the province of Manitoba, Canada, and with a population of 17,806, the largest community in the Eastman region. The city, located about 58 km (36 mi) southeast of the provincial capital of Winnipeg, is bordered by the Rural Municipality of Hanover to the north, west, and south, and the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie to the east. Steinbach was first settled by Plautdietsch-speaking Mennonites from Ukraine in 1874, whose descendants continue to have a significant presence in the city today. Steinbach is found on the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies, while Sandilands Provincial Forest is a short distance east of the city.
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) is a Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Manitoba and one of nine member leagues of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).
The Portage Terriers are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey team from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. They are members of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
The Steinbach Pistons are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada. They are members of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, which is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
The Credit Union Place is a 1,763-seat multipurpose arena located in Dauphin, Manitoba. The arena is part of the Parkland Recreation Complex, which also includes a curling rink and an aquatic centre.
The Lacombe Generals were a Senior AAA ice hockey team from Lacombe, Alberta, Canada that played in the Chinook Hockey League. The Generals are four-time national champions, having won the Allan Cup in 2009 and 2016 in Steinbach, Manitoba, and in 2013 in Red Deer, Alberta and in Lacombe, Alberta 2019. The club, resurrected by proud Bentley boy Travis “Trapper” Stephenson was formerly known as the Bentley Generals from 1999–2016, and played out of the Bentley Arena in Bentley, Alberta, as well as the Red Deer Arena. The team folded in 2019 due to concerns with the organization of senior hockey in Canada.
The 2009 Allan Cup was the Canadian championship of senior ice hockey. This tournament marked the 101st year that the Allan Cup has been awarded. The 2009 tournament was hosted by the City of Steinbach, Manitoba and the Steinbach North Stars. The tournament began on April 13, 2009, and ended April 18, 2009. All games were played at the T.G. Smith Centre.
The Île-des-Chênes North Stars are a Canadian senior ice hockey team based out of Ile des Chenes, Manitoba. The North Stars were 2003 Allan Cup champions and currently play in the Carillon Senior Hockey League.
Victor Alvin "Vic" Peters was a Canadian curler who was a three-time Manitoba curling champion, and one-time national champion as winner of the 1992 Labatt Brier.
The 2010 Allan Cup was the Canadian championship of senior ice hockey. This tournament was the 102nd year that the Allan Cup has been awarded. The 2010 tournament was hosted by the City of Fort St. John, British Columbia and the Fort St. John Flyers.
The 2002 Air Canada Cup was Canada's 24th annual national midget 'AAA' hockey championship, played April 22–28, 2002 at the K. C. Irving Regional Centre in Bathurst, New Brunswick. The Tisdale Trojans from Saskatchewan defeated the Dartmouth Subways from Nova Scotia 6-2 in the gold medal game to win the national title.
The South East Prairie Thunder were a Canadian Senior 'AAA' ice hockey team based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba and two-time Allan Cup champions. They played an independent schedule under the jurisdiction of Hockey Manitoba. The team is inactive as of 2021.
Tundra Oil & Gas Place is a multi-purpose recreation complex located in the town of Virden, Manitoba, Canada. The venue includes a 1,200-seat ice hockey arena, community hall, and recreational facilities. The naming rights to the complex were acquired by Tundra Oil & Gas Partnership in August 2012.
The Sun Gro Centre is a multi-purpose recreation complex located in the town of Beausejour, Manitoba. The complex features a 1,100 seat ice hockey arena, a curling club, an outdoor pool, and an indoor walking track.
The 2016 Allan Cup was the Canadian championship of senior ice hockey and the 108th year the Allan Cup was awarded. The tournament was contended in Steinbach, Manitoba from April 11 to April 16, 2016, with all games played at the T.G. Smith Centre. The Bentley Generals defeated the host and defending champion South East Prairie Thunder in overtime to win the national title.
The 2017 Telus Cup was Canada's 39th annual national midget 'AAA' hockey championship, contested April 24 – 30, 2017 at the CN Centre in Prince George, British Columbia. The Cape Breton West Islanders defeated the Blizzard du Séminaire Saint-François 5-4 in overtime to win the gold medal, becoming the first team from Atlantic Canada to win a national midget championship.
The 2017 Allan Cup was the Canadian championship of senior ice hockey and the 109th year the Allan Cup was awarded. The tournament was played at the J.K. Irving Centre in Bouctouche, New Brunswick from April 10 to 15, 2017 and won by the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts.
The BDO Centre for the Community, more commonly known as the Portage Centennial Arena, is an indoor recreational facility and community centre in the city of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada.
The 2018 Esso Cup was Canada's tenth national women's midget hockey championship, contested April 22–28, 2018 at Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. This was the first time the championship has held in Nova Scotia. The St. Alberta Slash of Alberta defeated the Saskatoon Stars 2–1 in the gold medal game to defend their national title.
The 2019–20 season was the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's (MJHL) 103rd year of operation. The league did not have a champion as the season was cancelled midway through the first round of the league playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.