MTS Iceplex

MTS Iceplex
Location	3969 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba
Broke ground	July 2009
Opened	August 2010
Owner	True North Sports & Entertainment Limited
Construction cost	$26.6 million CAD[1]
Capacity	Winnipeg Free Press Arena - 1,350[2] Assiniboine Credit Union Arena - 225[2] Red River Co-op Arena - 225[2] RE/MAX Arena - 225[2]
Website	mtsiceplex.ca
Tenants
Winnipeg Jets (NHL) Winnipeg Blues (MJHL) Winnipeg Wild (MMHL) St. Pauls Crusaders (WHSHL) Balmoral Hall Blazers (WWHSHL)

The MTS Iceplex and Hockey Canada Centre of Excellence is an ice hockey facility located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The 172,000-square-foot (16,000 m²) building, which opened in August 2010, is owned and operated by True North Sports and Entertainment, which also owns the MTS Centre in downtown Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League.^[1][3]

Construction

The MTS Iceplex, originally known as the True North MoosePlex Hockey Canada Centre, was built on time and within its budget, at a cost of $26.6 million Canadian. The federal and provincial governments contributed $11.7 million, while True North covered the remaining $14.9 million.^[1] In exchange for public funding, True North guaranteed use of the facility to local amateur and recreational hockey teams.^[3]

In April 2010, True North entered a naming rights agreement with MTS, and the facility was renamed the MTS Iceplex. MTS also owns the naming rights to True North's other major sports facility, the MTS Centre.^[4]

Facilities

The MTS Iceplex is open year round and consists of four arenas, each with a NHL regulation size ice surface. Each rink is sponsored by a local business: the Winnipeg Free Press Arena seats 1,350 spectators, while the RE/MAX, Assiniboine Credit Union, and Red River Co-op Arenas seat 225 each.^[4] The Iceplex also features dryland training facilities, 22 dressing rooms, a pro shop, a restaurant and bar, conference rooms, and office space for Hockey Manitoba, Hockey Canada, and True North.^[2][4][5] The complex is located just outside the west Perimeter Highway, next to Assiniboia Downs and the Pointe West AutoPark.

Tenants

The following teams and organizations are regular tenants:

• Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (practice and training facility)
• Winnipeg Blues of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League^[3]
• Local minor hockey teams affiliated with the Winnipeg Minor Hockey Association and Hockey Manitoba^[4]
• Hockey Canada (Centre of Excellence) and its local branch, Hockey Manitoba^[6]
• Winnipeg Wild of the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League
• St. Paul's Crusaders of the Winnipeg High School Hockey League^[3]
• Balmoral Hall Blazers of the Winnipeg Women's High School Hockey League^[3]
• Winnipeg Jets Hockey League (adult recreational house league)
• Sledge Hockey Manitoba

Former tenants

• Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (practice and training facility)^[6]

Major events

The MTS Iceplex was one of three venues that hosted the 2011 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge, a major international hockey tournament held by Hockey Canada each winter. It was slated to host the 2012 tournament as well, but Hockey Canada, at the request of True North, decided to relocate the tournament to Windsor, Ontario after True North acquired an NHL franchise in June 2011.^[7][8]

See also

• MTS Centre
• Winnipeg Jets
• True North Sports & Entertainment
• Hockey Canada
• Winnipeg Blues

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Iceplex opens". Winnipeg Sun. http://www.winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/2010/09/24/15466556.html. Retrieved 2011-01-05. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "MTS Iceplex - Quick Facts". MTSIceplex.ca. http://www.mtsiceplex.ca/page/show/268150-quick-facts. Retrieved 2011-01-06. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Grand opening for MTS Iceplex". Winnipeg Free Press. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/grand-opening-for-mts-iceplex-103776984.html. Retrieved 2011-01-05. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d} "Mooseplex renamed MTS Iceplex". CBC.ca. 2010-04-09. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/04/09/mb-mooseplex-mts-iceplex-winnipeg.html. Retrieved 2011-01-05. 
5. ^ "IF YOU BUILD IT… MANITOBA'S U17 HOSTS SHOWCASE NEW ARENAS". Hockey Canada. 2011-02-11. http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/156373/la_id/1.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-17. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Massive multiplex takes shape". Winnipeg Free Press. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/massive-multiplex-takes-shape-multi-rink-facility-a-huge-boost-to-ice-time-90460649.html. Retrieved 2011-01-05. 
7. ^ "Winnipeg to host World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2011 and 2012". HockeyManitoba.ca. http://www.hockeymanitoba.mb.ca/news.php?id=685. Retrieved 2011-01-05. 
8. ^ "Windsor, Ont., to host 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge". mjhlhockey.ca. http://www.mjhlhockey.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=343:windsor-ont-to-host-2012-world-under-17-hockey-challenge-&catid=5:news&Itemid=14. Retrieved 2011-11-04. 

External links

• MTS Iceplex Website