Feb. 24 is last chance to skate at old LCC rink

As such, not just West Enders, but Westmount residents and students alike have built many a great memory on the indoor/outdoor surface on Royal in NDG over the last half century.

Truly a local landmark, LCC’s rink was opened in 1955 and has been home to no less than six hockey championships for the school’s senior boys' team.

But after more than 50 years of hosting hockey, figure skating and more, the rink will be shut down permanently this spring as the school opens a new, modern, indoor facility.

“Two-to-three generations of local residents have learned to skate on this rink,” said LCC spokesperson Dawn Levy.

“(We) have the oldest alumni hockey league in the area, and it is special to them because they had an opportunity to play hockey during their prime years.

“The fact that it is an outdoor artificial ice surface makes it unique. Generations of people will tell you their "war stories" of surviving the cold and will speak with enthusiasm about the quality ice,” she added.

So why close it down?

“The new arena will operate 11 months a year instead of November to March with the old one. This will allow the school to expand its student ice activities program,” Levy explained.

“Although the first priority will be to accommodate LCC’s needs, there will be ample opportunity to open the rink up to the community as well. Although there is nothing definitive in place, we are considering rental opportunities, hockey camps & opening the ice up to special needs groups.“

The new arena is also a first of its kind in this city.

“To my knowledge, this is the first rink to be built in Montreal in over 40 years,” Levy said.

“We have endeavoured to make it as environmentally friendly as possible with things like eco-friendly lighting throughout, and an eco-chill system which recaptures the cold air and converts it into warmer air & pumps it back through the rest of the building.”

As for the current rink, LCC will host a last hurrah at the end of the month to celebrate the old and bring in the new.

“We fully expect the community to benefit from the new arena, but for now we invite everyone to come out for a free skate on Sunday, Feb. 24 from 2 to 4 p.m.”

— Noah Sidel