Tigers preparing for a new era as new Dalhousie hockey arena nears completion

Dalhousie University is set to open its new arena, the Oulton-Stanish Centre, in early 2026, bringing the university’s ice-sport teams closer to campus.

Dalhousie announced the 60,000-square-foot project in 2021, but faced delays in 2022 due to labour shortages,  resuming construction in August 2023. The NHL-sized arena will seat 900 fans, significantly less than the Halifax Forum — the current home of Dal’s hockey, figure skating and ringette teams — which holds over 4,600 seats.

The estimated cost of the new facility sits at $36.5 million, according to documents obtained by the Coast in 2022. Dalhousie has not provided an updated cost estimate, noting on the project’s webpage, “We will not have a definite figure until the project is complete.” The university says student fees have not been increased to pay for the centre’s construction.

The Forum, where Dal’s ice-sport teams currently practice, is a nearly 40-minute walk from campus, in the city’s North End. The Oulton-Stanish Centre is being built directly next to Wickwire Field on Dalhousie’s Studley Campus.

Kyra Uyeda, vice-president of the Dalhousie/King’s Figure Skating Club, says the Forum’s location makes it difficult for students to commute. She says the new on-campus rink will make practicing “more accessible” for skaters.

“We’ve been talking about this for years now,” she says. “I know the project’s been in the works, and we’re happy to see that it’s following through and hopefully opening soon.” 

Colin Parker, a second-year commerce student and forward for the Dalhousie men’s hockey team, is excited for the Tigers to move to a new home. He hopes the new facility will improve student attendance at the Tigers’ hockey games.

“I think we’re just super excited to get this new arena going, and we can’t wait to have a few home games in it to start the new year,” he says. 

The construction of the new facility drew criticism from the Dalhousie Faculty Association earlier this semester, because university administration said it was unable to raise faculty salaries due to financial constraints. 

“Faculty members are furious that a $37M (and counting) hockey arena is being built while the Board cries poor and calls for layoffs and concessions from academic staff,” said DFA President David Westwood in an August 11 statement to the Dalhousie Gazette. 

In response, Gitta Kulczycki, Dalhousie’s vice-president of finance and administration, wrote in a statement on the university’s website, “No ongoing operating funds are being used to build the new event centre, and none will be used to operate the event centre.” 

The statement also says the arena’s construction will be paid for by donors. 

Dalhousie will relocate its physiotherapy clinic, currently located in the Dalplex, to the new facility. The clinic will be accessible to the public, varsity athletes and students. On Oct. 14, Dalhousie University received a $2 million donation from Scott McCain and Leslie McLean to support the relocation.

Tim Maloney, Dalhousie’s assistant vice-president of athletics and ancillary services, says the move is expected to more than double patient visits to the centre. He said Dal has held fundraisers to raise money for the facility’s development, and the recent donation provided a “significant boost.”

Maloney says he’s confident the new arena will provide opportunities for both Dal and local community members to skate and play sports. 

“Whether that’s to go to an open skate, figure skating practice, ringette practice, or a varsity hockey game, we’re going to have something in the heart of campus that is completely accessible,” Maloney says. 

“I believe it will impact varsity recruitment, club recruitment, student recruitment and increase our attendance and create a whole new vibe in that building.”

The Oulton-Stanish Centre will open on the site of the former Dalhousie Memorial Arena, which was demolished in 2012. The board of governors approved the demolition in 2011 to make way for the LeMarchant Street mixed-use building, after estimates suggested renovating the old rink to accommodate the new building would have cost about as much as constructing a new facility.

“I hope people come and enjoy it, whether you’re a fan, a 6-year-old learning how to skate, or if you’re new to Canada and learning about hockey, or figure skating,” Maloney says.