Town bids arena fond farewell
By Brent Davis, THE RECORD, Tuesday April 14, 2009
ELMIRA
It has been a part of Darcy Campbell's life since he was little.
Lacing up his skates in its dressing rooms at the age of five or six, resurfacing its ice in his college years, refereeing games in its chilly confines.
"The generations, from old to young, it's something that they've all got in common," Campbell says.
An arena has stood on Elmira's Snyder Avenue, in one form or another, for nearly six decades.
Physically, it's changed over the years -- a new roof, new stands, new cooling systems. But it has kept its footprint, some of its walls and all of its memories.
"It's become more than just a spot for hockey. It's sort of become a heartbeat of the community."
Now, as the new twin-pad Woolwich Memorial Centre takes shape next door, Campbell and the rest of the community are preparing to say goodbye.
Before it is torn down, the old arena will throw the doors open Saturday, April 25, for a farewell bash featuring family activities, a video dance and displays highlighting a sports heritage that includes hockey, curling, figure skating and ringette.
Two area Lions Clubs -- the Elmira club, of which Campbell is president, and the Woolwich Community Lions CLub -- are joining forces to present the event.
"It is an end of an era," said Denise Witmer, president of the Woolwich Community club. "It's just kind of nice to say goodbye to something that's been there for so long."
Money raised at the event will go toward the new multi-use complex.
More than $5 million has been raised by the community for the $23-million facility.
And although the hockey-mad town is eagerly awaiting the start of the Junior B Sugar Kings' first season in the new complex this fall, sports fans know it will take some time for the Memorial Centre to establish its own legacy.
After all, a lot of NHL names honed their skills in the old barn: Darryl Sittler, Ric and Rod Seiling, Cam Stewart, Dennis Wideman, Dan Snyder.
"There's a rich history in that arena," Campbell says.
No one knows that better than Regional Chair Ken Seiling.
He isn't as sentimental about the building as some -- his fondest memories are of the arena in its original form, before all the changes were made.
But his connections to it, on both the personal and professional level, are extensive.
His grandfather Albert served on the committees that raised the money and saw the arena built. His family lived next door and sent four sons -- Ken, Ric, Rod and Don Jr. -- onto its ice.
His own children played hockey and ringette there and saw their father return to the arena to coach and play old-timers' hockey.
He sat on an arena-improvement committee in the early 1970s, and was mayor of Woolwich Township, less than a decade later, when the rink received one of its biggest makeovers.
"I guess I was in the arena from day one," Seiling says.
The April 25 event will have refreshments and family activities from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets will be sold for food, drinks and games,
but admission is free.
The memorabilia displays will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., when Memory Lane will be licensed.
The dance for adults 19 and older starts at 8 p.m.; $12 tickets are available in Elmira at Pampered & Polished and Brown's Menswear.
"It's going to be sad . . . but at the same time, it's going to be pretty exciting to have the puck drop in a new facility," Campbell says.
"We're looking forward to making new memories there."
http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/520092