Oulton-Stanish Centre opens its doors
New arena features an NHL-sized ice surface, over 900 seats
It’s the start of a new era for ice sports at Dalhousie University.
For the first time since 2012, the university’s Studley Campus has an on-campus rink.
Construction of the Oulton-Stanish Centre started in 2022 but was delayed by labour shortages, resuming in August 2023. The centre, built on the site of the former Dalhousie Memorial Arena, will officially open on March 12.
“Athletic and recreational facilities are critical components to universities and communities,” said Tim Maloney, Dalhousie’s assistant vice-president of athletics and ancillary services. “I hope the thing is busy from dawn till dusk.”
Since the demolition of the former arena, Dal’s hockey players, figure skaters, ringette players and intramural participants had to walk 40 minutes from campus to the Halifax Forum.
Maloney said Dal has a “great amount of gratitude” for the Forum serving as a temporary home. But since the closure of the former on-campus rink, intramural participation has dropped by 50 per cent.
“That’s not good for Dal. That’s not good for our students,” Maloney said. “The opportunity to engage through physical activity is critical to a student’s experience here.”
Intramurals aren’t the only sports program that’s lost engagement since the move to the Forum. The men’s hockey team has averaged 168 spectators at their home games since 2021. In the final three years the Memorial Arena was open, the team averaged 354 attendees at home games.
The women’s team hasn’t seen the same discrepancy. They’ve averaged 83 spectators at their home games since 2021, compared to 90 during the final three years at the Memorial Arena.
Brody Fournier, the leading point getter for the men’s hockey team, said the team is “really excited” for the move.
“It’s going to be quite the atmosphere being on campus and not being at the Forum anymore,” he said.
The Dalhousie/King’s Figure Skating Club will also benefit from a move closer to home. Jacqueline Fenton, the competition co-ordinator for the club and a second-year science student, said the club’s move to the Oulton-Stanish Centre will increase attendance and participation.
“The commute has been a big turn-off for a lot of individuals,” Fenton said. “I definitely think we’ll see an increase in numbers.”
Beyond participation, Fenton hopes the ice surface will be smoother for the skaters than at the Forum, which she said can have divots and ruts.
The new facility holds more than 900 spectators, features a massive black-and-gold Tiger at the centre of its NHL-sized ice and will also provide a larger home for the Dalhousie Physiotherapy Clinic.
While the rink doesn’t officially open until March 12, some student athletes have already gotten a sneak peek, including Fournier.
“It’s probably one of the nicest rinks in the HRM for sure,” he said. “It’s got everything in there for us.”
Though the 2025-26 Atlantic University Sport hockey seasons have concluded, Maloney says there is a demand for ice in Halifax, and Dal will rent the ice out to minor hockey teams and community members.
