Not all arenas are built the same, obviously. Some are bigger, some have character, some are cookie cutter. As a broadcaster, I feel like we look at rinks in a different lens than most people. That means we have our own opinions on which rinks are better than others. Now, quick disclaimer, this is purely my personal opinion. Just because your rink is lower on this list doesn't mean it's a bad arena. I know some people will defend their home rinks till the earth comes to an end. For me, this is how I rate the rinks in terms of my favorite to broadcast a game to the least, starting with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Stay tuned as I will also do one of the Alberta Junior Hockey League rinks.
**Couple quick notes. I know La Ronge is moving to the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Center, while the Notre Dame Hounds are relocating to Warman. For this list, I will be ranking the Mel Hegland Uniplex and Duncan McNeil Arena, respectively, as those are the rinks I've personally been to.
HM. Warman - Legends Center
I do want to give an honorable mention to Legends Center. Warman is the site of my very first broadcast. Doing color for an SJHL Showcase game between Humboldt and Yorkton with Notre Dame Hounds' broadcaster and SJHL guru Jamie Neugebauer. It was nerve racking, it's where a career started. I'm sure changes will come, as currently broadcasters are forced to call games from the concourse, which has its pros and cons. But, being located near Saskatoon and drawing a fan base from Warman and Martensville, this arena has the potential to be a gem in the SJHL.
#12. Nipawin - Centennial Arena
Nicknamed the bird cage. I'm sorry Nipawin, but this by far, was the worst rink to broadcast a game from. The building is old enough, that it wasn't built with a broadcaster in mind. You would either call a game from the corner booth and end up as a target for all flying pucks in the corner, as the netting only covered the fans below you. Or you end up on a platform among the crowd in the opposite corner of the rink, right under their earth shatteringly loud goal horn. The one thing I found made up for a poor broadcaster location was the atmosphere. Whether they were a championship caliber team or outside of the playoffs, Nipawin always found ways to get decent crowds in the Centennial Arena and they were loud. Underrated atmosphere, one of the best in the league, worst broadcast location.
#11. Notre Dame - Duncan McNeil Arena
Affectionately known as the Dunc Tank. Like most of the SJHL, the broadcast location is in an ideal spot. Over center ice. It's a little awkward getting into the press box. A shaky ladder with a 180 degree turn at the top, but once you're up there, it's spacious and right above the penalty box. The Olympic sized ice makes the action at the far end seem far away, leaving the broadcaster feeling isolated, but that's nit picking. Where the Dunc Tank loses points is atmosphere. Located on campus at the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, Hounds games are usually held at an unusually late time (8:30pm) and are attended mainly by a few students on campus. They can be vocal, but overall it can be difficult to get excited for a game in Wilcox. One massive plus, lots of history in the building and glimpses at who used to play there, like Rod Brind'Amour, Curtis Joseph and Jaden Schwartz.
#10. La Ronge - Mel Hegland Uniplex
The Mel has received its critics and its praises. At first glance, it looks like a Junior B rink. It has the lowest ceiling in the league. In the time it took me to type that sentence there was already ten stoppages for the puck in the roof. Its small ice surface led to an abnormal amount of shots on goal, and the massive benches meant the puck spent more time off the ice surface than on. The broadcast location, a platform directly above the bench that puts the announcer in clear earshot of everything said on the ice surface and player's bench below. Trust me, the platform is so close to the ice, I've had a backup goaltender playfully smack my hands with his goal stick during warm-ups, while I was sitting up there! The ladder feels like it's holding on by thread and when standing up your head is in the roof. That said, there is a charm to the building, you feel like you're part of the action, and every game feels intense. The move to the JRMCC will see the Ice Wolves play in a much better facility, but there is a chance of it losing the charm that Uniplex held.
#9. Battlefords - Access Communication Center
I've compared the broadcast booth in North Battleford as a mix between a shoe box and a prison cell. It is comically tiny and the bars in the windows on the visiting side along with the copious amounts of dust provide an unwelcoming feeling. The visiting team broadcaster is also jammed with the PA announcer in a tiny room, while the home broadcaster has a space that covers more than two thirds of the booth. Talk about home ice advantage! However, one massive plus for this booth is its prime location. A gondola over top of center ice puts the broadcaster in an ideal place to call the game. Not to mention, North Stars' fans do a tremendous job of coming to the rink in droves to cheer on their team. Success does that! It's a decent rink, just don't bring your best suit to it.
#8. Weyburn - Crescent Point Place
I enjoy calling games at Crescent Point Place. It's media booth is massive and you don't have to worry about the other team bleeding into your broadcast. You're located over the blue line near center ice which gives you equal views of every inch of the rink. Fans can be very vocal as they are passionate about their Red Wings, especially when Estevan is in town. Since this is a personal list, it drops because of the access the fans can have to the broadcaster through the window. Perfect example is one night where a disgruntled fan tried to rip my crowd mic out of my sound board heading into an intermission. Seriously, Terriers captain Logan Cyca, who was serving a suspension, was about to go after the fan and fight him. That said, Weyburn starts a section of SJHL rinks that are enjoyable to call games out of. A historic building, great broadcast location, just too many opportunities for some run ins with cranky fans.
#7. Yorkton - Westland Arena
The building I worked in for four seasons makes its appearance on the list and honestly, maybe higher than it should because of that. Westland Arena will always hold a special place in my heart. A great location over center ice and above the crowd. Both teams' broadcasters have to get a little cozy, which can lead to some comical competitions about who can bleed into the other person's broadcast more. Just, that stupid pipe. I am a broadcaster that prefers to stand when calling a game. You can't do that in Yorkton. A massive water pipe blocks your view when standing. When you're sitting, you can't see the score clock. I remember the current voice of the Edmonton Oil Kings, Mat Barrett, had to stack two chairs in order to get the optimal position to see the ice and the clock because of his height. So many amazing memories about being in Yorkton, an excellent broadcast location, but my neck doesn't miss that booth.
#6. Kindersley Klippers - West Central Events Center
The WCEC is probably one of the most underrated rinks in the SJHL. Fans don't enjoy the bench seating. Trust me, you'll want your best cushion for this rink. But the rink is spacious and it has a unique broadcasting set up. The home team is in a gondola over center ice. A dream for any broadcaster. But the road booth on the opposite side of the rink. It's a section among the crowd, separate enough to prevent unwanted interactions, but close enough to really feel the atmosphere of the building. Over center ice as well, it's a location that gives the broadcaster a perfect vantage point. Like I said, an underrated rink that can get loud when it's packed, with two excellent set ups for the broadcaster.
#5. Melville - CN Community Center
One of the newer arenas in the SJHL. It has lost some of its atmosphere compared to the old barn, but the Mils are trending in the right direction with Doug Johnson at the helm. For a broadcaster, it's a great location, even though it's only suited for one broadcaster (which happens more often than not thanks to broadcast rights with GX 94). It's a central location which is a plus, however with the running track, the booth is further back creating some blind spots along the near side boards. It's above the fans, but still close enough for the odd interaction. I know from the odd hello with then mayor Walter Streelasky and the one time someone threw a handful of quarters at me. It can be one of the louder rinks in the league when fans are there, and when it's a Yorkton vs Melville contest, nothing beats the atmosphere. Truly an enjoyable arena to be in.
#4. Melfort - Northern Lights Palace
Home of probably my favorite hockey memory. Game 7 of the SJHL Quarterfinals where the underdog Yorkton Terriers upset the number three seeded Melfort Mustangs. The two time defending champions have really turned this place into a formidable building. Fans are passionate, the horn is obnoxiously loud (it shakes the entire broadcast booth) and the broadcast booth is terrific despite being cramped. It is a very tight squeeze to get everyone up there, from both teams' broadcasters, to the statisticians, to a camera man. But a gondola over center ice that gives you elite views of the rink? Awesome! Talking to some players, they dislike how dark the rink can be. I've had some compare it to a dungeon. But it's a terrific arena that is turning into a building of champions. So long as the fans continue to come out and the broadcaster gets to keep their top notch location, it will be one of the best in the SJHL.
#3. Humboldt - Elgar Petersen Arena
I really debated over putting Humboldt or Estevan in third place. From a broadcaster's perspective, I settled on putting the EPA here, but it doesn't take away the shine of this terrific rink. Another building where the broadcast booth is a gondola over center ice giving you perfect views. A tight broadcast booth, sure, but Humboldt makes up for it in other ways. One is the history. Team photos are hung up around the concourse, the banners of everyone involved in the 2018 Broncos bus crash line the one end of the rink, and the numerous championship banners from every level of hockey in Humboldt. Then there's the fans! I don't think I've been to a game at the EPA where there were less than 1,200 passionate fans. They make for one of the best game day atmospheres in the league, pushing the Broncos into the elite category.
#2. Estevan - Affinity Place
This might be the crown jewel of the SJHL. Affinity Place is a massive rink that is a treat to call games in. Hosting the Centennial Cup in 2022 and a recent WHL preseason game, the building goes beyond its main tenant in the Bruins. This building is a broadcaster's dream. Two separate booths at opposite ends of the building, one for each team. Hovering over center ice, you get the feeling you're in a major junior arena. Sure, it's a hike to get anywhere in Affinity Place, but the views make it worth it. Throw in a new video scoreboard to replace the one seen in the photo and Estevan has all the bells and whistles you could ask for. The fans also make it enjoyable. While they don't sell out the arena, they still create an atmosphere that favors the home team. It almost doesn't get better than here.....
#1. Flin Flon - Whitney Forum
Until you see the Whitney Forum. Ask any broadcaster, player, coach or fan and they will say the Whit is the best rink in the SJHL. By far, my favorite Junior A rink. It's quirky with the majority of the seats in behind both ends, the platform that lifts for the Zamboni and both locker rooms located at the same end zone forcing one team to skate through the other at the end of warm-ups. It's historic being built in the 1950s, having the portrait of Queen Elizabeth, champion banners dating back to 1929 and of course retired numbers of legends like Bobby Clarke. It's loud! They don't call it the zoo for nothing! And the broadcaster gets the best seat in the house right above the ice. There is a reason diehard hockey fans say you have to visit the Whitney Forum at least once. It's worthy of being a bucket list item and easily slots into the best rink in the SJHL from a broadcaster's perspective.
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