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Hockey History
Rosedale Arena When the Rosedale Arena was opened in December of 1973, the new facility in Hamilton’s east end was hailed as a great boon to the community. “Something was needed for the kids here in Rosedale,” said Rick Miller, then 13, in a news report. “Now we won’t have to go to other parts of the city to skate and play hockey.” After trying for about 10 years, plans were established for an arena in the area just below the east end of the Escarpment in the large King’s Forest land area. The proposal called for a $672,000 building, and then-Hamilton Alderman Aldo Poloniato echoed the words of many in the community when he said the arena was needed. “I know people who have to get up at 4:00 am to drive their kids to a practice in St. Catharines,” he said in a Hamilton Spectator interview. “We should have rinks all over. Anybody on the Mountain knows you have to get in a lineup about 4:00 am if you want your boy to play hockey in the Mountain arena.” When the 300-seat Rosedale Arena, situated on the south side of Greenhill Avenue, opened its doors, an estimated 400 to 600 young hockey players were ready to take to the ice. The official December 13, 1972 opening was a culmination of efforts by the Rosedale Community Council, formed in 1951, to push for more recreational facilities in Hamilton’s east end. After a year of operation, the Rosedale facility had made a difference in the community make-up and its former youth-related problems. “I think the area has improved tremendously,” noted Archie Altobelli, president of the Rosedale Community Council in 1974. “The children now have something to do, a place to go. The arena has become the cultural center of the area.” It was estimated then that 5000 people used the facility and its 185-foot by 85-foot rink, including 320 young hockey players from ages nine through 16. There was also a 100-girl ringette league
playing at Rosedale, plus weekly figure skating sessions run
by the Hamilton-Stoney Creek Figure Skating Club. Rosedale also
featured meeting rooms, game rooms, drop-in centers, as well as
tennis and lacrosse in the summer months.
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