Elgin Barrow Arena Complex

A moment of nostalgia overcame me when, during a random Unilocal search, I came across this Unilocal listing. As a kid growing up in Richmond Hill, this was minor league hockey Mecca.
I can still recall getting my house league hockey assignments in novice and atom and knowing that the games would be in either Elgin Mills East or Elgin Mills west arena.
As mentioned already, one side is definitely meant for the likes of a junior team, a seemingly larger ice surface, and tons of seating (far more than a gang of parents huddled together watching a 6am practice can fill). Having a game here as a youngster was like being drafter and playing in the NHL.
The other side (much smaller) was meant for younger teams, house league, summer hockey, etc. While the spectator areas were limited, the best seats in the house were from the enclosed viewing deck above.
Funny story about the latter, I was once playing goalie in house league and had been just told about the aggressive style of play of the once great Ron Hextal… I took the story far too literally and leveled a kid on the other team with an unsuspecting goalie paddle to the back. Ohhhh boy. Somehow I avoided getting into trouble Ha ha. But you can be the didn’t come near MY crease ever again.
Glad to hear it’s received some much needed renovations as even playing here as a 7 – 10 year old in the early ‘90s I could tell the place needed work. But it was home, it’s where I got my start and if I’m lucky enough to have kids one day, I’d love to see them play here one day (even if it’s just a visiting game).
How’s that for a #TBT style review.

Elgin Barrow is the #1 rink in Richmond Hill. It’s the home ice for all local rep teams: Stars, Kings, Coyotes. The town’s hockey office is here too, right behind the spectators seats of the main ice pad.
The main rink has enough seats to host a Jr A or an OHL game. Alas, there is no JrA or OHL team in Richmond Hill. Hence these seats probably never get warm.
The way this rink is built, the pillars and columns supporting the roof may block the view for those sitting the upper rows, which is a minus. That’s just the way they used to build rinks bank in the day.
The arena is warmer than most yet the ice is of decent quality. They have recently renovated the entire arena and the rink has received a sound proofing upgrade. Now it’s not as echoey and noisy as before.
The secondary rink has only a couple of small benches for the spectators. You can also watch the game or the practice through the glass from the hallway upstairs.
The snack shop is usually open and offers coffee, tea and a limited variety of snacks.
The pro shop is hardly ever works. At least I have not seen it open in a long while.
There is one or two party rooms that are frequently booked for birthdays and other events.
There are a few parking spots near the main entrance. There is a time limit there and the town is quick to write a ticket (don’t ask me how I know LOL). There is a huge parking lot behind the building, in between the arena and the baseball diamond. And even more parking across the street.