This was one of 3 arenas you would play or practice in if you grew up in Richmond Hill in their minor hockey league system. Typically Ed Sackfield was reserved for practices and the odd Select level team game against visiting teams.
It has ample parking, lots of enclosed, heated viewing spaces for parents, and a fair amount of stands. I recall in the 90s that Ed Sackfield was kind of like the fancy arena, it was newer, slicker, had automatic doors (fancy fancy).
The issues here were ventilation and figure skaters. Due to the larger ice surface here, it was prime training space for Figure Skaters and there was seldom a game where you didn't go ass over tea kettle from hitting a divot in the ice caused by a pair of figure skate toe picks. As for ventilation, there were many many instances where I developed severe headaches and asthma like symptoms within the first 20-30 minutes of stepping on the ice here after the Zamboni had cleaned the ice. Either the machine had issues or the exhaust was not being properly ventilated, and at the time I wasn't alone, others I played with exhibited similar symptoms.
It's been a long time since I've been back so I'm sure those issues are all but remedied at this point. Would love to bring my kid here for skating one day read more