The people of Madawaska Valley have a long history of involvement with ice — more specifically with hockey, rinks, and arenas. A photo of the St. Joseph’s High School 1960 championship hockey team taken in the arena of the time was spotted by a reader of The Current, who requested a picture of the building’s exterior. We consulted local historians and you will see the result above. Exterior of old arena. Photos Barry’s Bay This Week, courtesy David Kelley.
The building was located where Yuill’s ValuMart is today on the Opeongo Line (Hwy.60) and was used from its completion in 1950 until the new facility on Arena Road opened in 1980. The cement block section on the left side of the building was formerly occupied by an OPP detachment.
By all accounts, it could be pretty chilly for spectators watching a hockey game there in the 60s and 70s! For more information about local hockey history, look no further than the Heritage Walk plaque opposite the Barry’s Bay Tim Hortons at 19414 Opeongo Line. It overlooks what was commonly called Plebon’s Pond. The plaque reads: “The first known rink in Barry’s Bay was made in 1910 behind John Omanique’s house, on the creek below present day St. Lawrence O’Toole Church. There was both a girls’ and boys’ hockey team. In 1919 the house was sold to the Plebon family so the rink became the ‘Plebon Rink’, but fell into disuse after the family moved. By January 1940, a new rink was erected on church property below St. Hedwig’s Church. Construction of a covered rink on the west side of town was finished in 1950, where present day Valumart is. However, fire damaged the building in 1951. The Sherwood-Bay Arena on the east side of town was opened in October 1980. It was officially renamed the Paul J. Yakabuski Community Centre in August 2000.”
Many thanks to regular contributor, Bob Corrigan, and to David Kelley who, as curator at Combermere’s former Mission House Museum and Gallery, worked hard to establishing Heritage Walks in Madawaska Valley. Hats off as well to Theresa Prince whose research about the history of Barry’s Bay and region is often quoted on the Heritage Walk plaques throughout the Madawaska Valley.
To find Heritage Walk plaques about this area while you’re out for your next walk, please visit: https://www.heritagewalk.ca/ and choose from Barry’s Bay, Combermere, Rockingham or Wilno.
I remember watching so many tournaments there right from minor hockey to “river rat ” leagues. Met so many wonderful people there. Really really enjoyed watching one of my best friend’s 3 boys playing/practicing hockey from the second they were of age to play. (One time they let the youngest put goalie equipment on for a practice. He was too young for the league but let him try. He would fall and his older brother would help him stand up because the equipment was too big.) Lol. Great memories
When I first moved to the Bay in the winter of 1978/79 I recall taking my 8 year old daughter to her regular skating lessons at that old arena. I was so very glad to have an arena with good ice within safe walking distance and the lessons were an added treat.
I remember this great old ‘barn’ well. When we moved to BB in ’79, we rented a place across from the rink, and our sons began playing hockey on this natural ice surface, under the watchful eye of coach Ernie P. Coulas. We would sit on the wooden slats and watch. Great memories !!!
Yes! I remember!
The Bozak boys would come from Killaloe. The Lindahl boys from Whitney.
Ask us to skate! Bliss on the ice! ⛸️⛸️
That was a WONDERFUL arena!! When I first came to Barry’s Bay, Johnnie took me there to skate and I met a ton of friends we have now! I remember the wonderful canteen that Minor Hockey mothers would volunteer in. I’m not sure but I think there was even a bathroom!!