hyprlte 0 Report post Posted August 26, 2010 I remember that rink. I had my first Rep game ever there!! What an experience. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fisticuffs 0 Report post Posted August 26, 2010 Thanks Duncan! I couldn't remember the name of that one to save my life today...here's a picture of what I'm talking about...That pic made me actually laugh out loud. That's awesome!OMG...that is Awesome! What a great use of space. I might have to add this arena to my "bucket list". Let me know if you ever make it down... I'll join you for a pickup game! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
althoma1 574 Report post Posted August 26, 2010 That is so kewl... I love when they just jam an arena in somewhere you would never expect to find one. One of my all time favourite experiences was playing at one of the Canlon Toronto rinks which was located underneath a Chinese food restaurant. It was so wierd pulling up and thinking "we surely have the wrong address..." only to notice a small sign over a set of stairs indicating there really was an arena there.Big plus...the dressing room smelled like chinese food (mmmmm) instead of stinky gear. I played Men's league hockey there for about 7 years. The location is convenient for me since it's only about 10 minutes north of me via the DVP, but the rooms are really small and the ice is generally terrible. Canlan did some renovations and installed new cooling systems when they bought the place, but there are still issues sometimes when it gets warm out. The regular men's league team I play on finally gave up last year and we moved to York - the drive is 3x as long, but the facility is also about 5x better so we've decided it was worth it. We had played Thursdays and they started giving us off nights a few times a season and would also rent out prime time ice for shinny and then schedule all our games either really early or really late so that combined with the poor facility finally made us give up the more convenient location (for most).The one thing we miss about the rink is actually the little bar Aladdin's Palace - the slowest service ever, but they have pretty good food for a bar/pub and the prices are reasonable. If you're not in a rush it's a good place to go. It's definitely cheaper than the Thirsty Penguin at York and the portions are larger.The Chinese place has probably changed ownership and names about 8 or 9 times in the past decade. Every season and sometimes when I go for pickup games I see a new name/sign. The last time I went it wasn't open.Haha - gotta love Canlan Vic Park!-- especially when the sand starts coming through the ice...Did that happen to you too or are you just recalling the playoff game story I told you at the MSH Summer Jam ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Law Goalie 147 Report post Posted August 26, 2010 We were commiserating about it, IIRC. In my case, it wasn't a playoff game, but the bald spot was right in the middle of the goddamned crease. I honestly can't say whether I was more worried for my skate blades or my pads getting ripped up from sliding across it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
althoma1 574 Report post Posted August 26, 2010 We were commiserating about it, IIRC. In my case, it wasn't a playoff game, but the bald spot was right in the middle of the goddamned crease. I honestly can't say whether I was more worried for my skate blades or my pads getting ripped up from sliding across it.Yes, I remember now. I think the best guidelines for that place are to stay away when it's hot out if you don't want to deal with cement or sand and don't sign up for the Thursday night leagues there unless you want to play on off nights a few times and either get early or late times. If you have a day/afternoon off and it's not too warm out it's an OK place for cheap shinny. Hopefully the new 4 pad stacked rink is built well, on time and on budget, but I won't hold my breath. When it's finished, it'll be nice to have another rink that's a reasonable driving distance and may have some shinny and men's league hockey available. I was really hoping for a 4 pad facility to be built when they tear down the old Don Mills Civitan arena, but it looks like they're only planning on 2 pads and are possibly thinking of sharing parking with the Don Mills Centre. It also looks like it may not be completed until 2020: http://www.insidetor...s-civitan-arenaSince I live just south of there I would've loved to have a 4 pad facility with a men's league in the neighbourhood, but if it's only two pads it'll probably just have some public skating and be used for youth hockey like it is now. Who nows if I'll still be in the area in 10 years anyway...when I first heard rumours of them rebuilding the Don Mills arena I thought it was going to be within the next couple years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bostonjuniorblackhawks 1 Report post Posted August 27, 2010 LOL!!!! my 2 favourite things. Chinese food and hockey in 1 roof!Chinese is probably my favorite after hockey snack lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shotty 7 Report post Posted August 27, 2010 ugh, the thought of Chinese food and hockey makes me sick.I crave peanut butter after hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cptjeff 0 Report post Posted August 27, 2010 Haha - gotta love Canlan Vic Park!-- especially when the sand starts coming through the ice...So rinks in Canada do that too? I thought it was just a cheapo thing we did in crappy rinks in the states. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shotty 7 Report post Posted August 27, 2010 I have never seen that before Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
