BY SEAN McCONNELL
With the winter season approaching, positive moods are starting to drop along with the temperature. The days of sunny summer activities are gone, but the days of winter activities have come, specifically hockey. Oakville is known to have some of the best rinks in Ontario, providing the public with decades of ice time.
Take a look at the best rinks in Oakville, as well as their shinny times (public hockey) and free skate times. Don’t let the cold coop you up inside, get out there!
Sixteen Mile Sports Complex 3070 Neyagawa Boulevard
Sixteen Mile Sports Complex is one of the newer arenas in Oakville. It is home of the Oakville Blades junior hockey team, and has various facilities from a swimming pool to a gym. They also have a great pub overlooking the main arena.
Recreational Skate:
- Mon/Thur – 6:16-7:45 p.m
- Tues/Fri – 3-4:30 p.m
- Sat – 7:15-8:45 p.m
- Sun – 2:15-3:45 p.m
Shinny Hockey (18+):
- Mon/Tue – 12:30-2:20 p.m
Glen Abbey Community Centre 1415 Third Line
Hockey is just a fraction of the Glen Abbey Community Centre. You can find any activity here from swimming, to gymnastics, to reading in the library. Outside they provide tennis courts, basketball courts, and baseball diamonds.
Recreational Skate:
- Tue – 7-8:30 p.m
- Wed – 3:30-4:45 p.m
- Sat – 2-3:30 p.m/7:30-9p.m
- Sun – 2-3:30 p.m
Shinny Hockey (18+):
- Tue/Thur – 11-12:50 p.m
- Sat – 7-8:30 p.m
Joshua’s Creek 1663 North Service Road East
Along with Sixteen Mile, Joshua’s Creek is one of the newer facilities for hockey.
Recreational Skate:
- Mon – 10:30-11:50 a.m
- Tue/Thur – 2-3:20 p.m
- Wed/Fri – 1:30-2:50 a.m
Shinny Hockey (18+):
- Mon/Wed/Fri – 11:30-1:2o p.m
Kinoak Arena 363 Warminster Drive
Being one of the oldest arenas in Oakville, this rink has recently been touched up with an improved ice surface. The arena still manages to keep its classic feel though with a wooden roof, wooden benches, and numerous memorabilia from generations of hockey.
Recreational Skate:
- Mon/Thur – 3:30-4:45 p.m
- Sat – 3-4:30 p.m
Shinny Hockey (18+):
- 3-4:50 p.m
River Oaks Community Centre 2400 Sixth Line
Similar to Glen Abbey, River Oaks is a facility filled with activities. Outside are also baseball diamonds and soccer fields.
Recreational Skate:
- Mon/Thur – 3:30-4:45 p.m
- Wed – 7-8:30 p.m
- Fri – 2:30-4:15 p.m
- Sat/Sun – 1-2:30 p.m
Shinny Hockey (18+):
- Thur – 11-12:50 p.m
- Sat – 9-10:20 p.m
Not only is Oakville Arena of of Oakville’s best hockey facilities, it also is a landmark to the Oakville community. Built in 1951, Oakville Arena is one of four arenas in Ontario that still uses a wooden truss roof system. After over 50 years, the arena has taken some damage, but fortunately the town of Oakville has approved a redevelopment plan to renovate the arena. Construction began end of August 2016, and is scheduled to be completed September 2018. Renovations include expanding the rink to NHL regulation size, new crowd seating, an external gym, and even an outdoor skating rink for the winter.