Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14
Sleeman Centre 50 Woolwich St Guelph, ON N1H 3V1
Year Opened: 2000
Capacity: 4,715
Storm City Hat Tricks
The Hat Trick was born in Guelph, Ontario. In the 1940s, the Guelph entry in the OHA was sponsored by the Biltmore Hat Company of Guelph. The team was known as the Guelph Biltmores, and eventually the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters. The Biltmore Hat Company rewarded any player scoring three or more goals in one game with their choice of hat from their factory and the term “Hat Trick” was born. Guelph was a hotbed for hockey with teams at the Junior A level, and eventually Major Junior, from the 1930s right through to 1989 when the Guelph Platers moved to Owen Sound. The current Guelph Storm franchise was originally the Toronto Marlboros who were founded in 1904. In 1989, the original Marlies moved to Hamilton for two horrible seasons as the Dukes before heading to Guelph to become the Storm in 1991.
Home for the Storm is the Sleeman Centre. Opened in 2000 as the Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre, the arena was deemed necessary after the departure of the Platers. The former Guelph Eaton’s Centre was chosen as the location after the closuring of the anchor tennant Eaton’s department store. The arena was built right where the store was located and remnants of the mall remain surrounding the arena. In 2007, local purveyor of fine beer, Sleeman Breweries purchased the naming rights for the arena and are contracted to remain the title sponsor of the arena until 2030.
Food & Beverage 4
There are a number of concession options in the Sleeman Centre. Pretzels, popcorn, hot dogs and pizza are all on the menu. Candy and ice cream can be found at a few of the stands also. Some more unique choices include the authentic Roman Pizza at the Penalty Box or some of the huge selection of confections at the Candy Counter. Coca-cola products are the soda of the Sleeman Centre and water, coffee, tea and hot chocolate are among the soft drinks available. Sleeman products are available at the beer stands. Draught Picks Tap House and Grill is a full service bar at the south side of the arena and is also an option for fans.
Atmosphere 4
The Sleeman Centre is a unique facility as it is built inside a shopping mall. As a result, the majority of fans will not enter through the main doors on Woolwich Street. Parking entrances off of Macdonell Street having fans enter through the south side or through the Old Quebec Shoppes, the remnants of the mall, is far more popular. That being said, the front exterior of the Sleeman Centre is attractive with light siding and tinted windows. It is not a hulking structure, and is almost inconspicuous from the front. Entering the front or through the mall will take fans to the main staircase, which is essentially under the arena. Fans will pass by the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame which offers a number of interesting entrants including George McPhee, Todd Hlushko, and John Cullen. Guelph also has a history of providing officials to the NHL including Bill McCreary, Ray Scapinello, Terry Gregson and Ron Asselstine.
Patrons will ascend the stairs to the second level, which is the main entry to the arena. The concourse around the seating bowl is not very wide, so getting there early for some exploring is the best idea. The ice at the Sleeman Centre is oriented from west to east with entry to the concourse coming from the south side. The north side is going to provide the perfect centre-ice logo picture. The concourses offer a few interesting tidbits worth checking out. Each of the section numbers offers a list of players who wore that number for the Storm over the years. For example, the sign for Section 105 offers a list of all Storm players who donned the number 5. There are pillars in the concourse listing Storm players who have played for Canada or other countries in the World Junior Hockey Championships and the debut date and team for all former Storm players who played in the NHL. These items were formerly listed on the second level, at the east end, which has been replaced by huge ads. Also of note in the concourse are Storm team pictures over the years and the retired jersey of Paul Fendley, who died in 1972 and was a member of the Guelph CMC’s, a Junior A precursor to the Storm in Guelph. Above the ice is a four-sided videoboard with top and bottom ribbon rings and a simple scoreclock. The fascia of the second level, which is home to the club seats and luxury boxes, has a full, 360 degree ribbon board. The rafters are littered with banners. The retired numbers of Jeff O’Neill, Todd Bertuzzi and Ryan Callahan hang with that of Paul Fendley. Among the many Division and Conference banners fans will find banners for the 1998, 2004, 2014 and 2019 J. Ross Robertson Cups as OHL Champions and the 1952 Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters Memorial Cup Championship and 1986 Guelph Platers Memorial Cup Championship.
The gameday production is not uncommon for an OHL franchise. DJ KToss runs the music selection from the Storm Stage, at the east end on the second level and he also participates in promotions. Mascots Spyke and Stormy aid in promotions and interact with the crowd.
Neighbourhood 4
The Sleeman Centre is located in Downtown Guelph. There are a number of spots for pre and post game food and drink in the area. Some choices include 1881 Steakhouse, McCabes, NV Kitchen, Royal Electric, La Cucina, Baker Street Station and The Wooly Pub. Fans looking for more sports in the area may want to consider heading to the University of Guelph where the Gryphons play football at Alumni Stadium, hockey at Gryphon Centre Arena and basketball at the Guelph Gryphons Athletic Centre. During the summer, the Guelph Royals compete in the IBL. Non sporting options may include seeing something at the River Run Centre, on the opposite side of Woolwich Street, or taking a tour at the Sleeman Brewery in Guelph.
For fans wishing to stay in Downtown Guelph, the Royal Inn and Suites and Western Hotel, may be of interest.
Fans 4
The Guelph Storm have a very strong following. At the time of writing, in the 2024-2025 season, the Storm are averaging over 4,500 fans per game. The previous season they averaged over 4,700 fans per game, which is near capacity. They normally rank 4th or 5th in the OHL in attendance. Fans are knowledgeable and supportive of the team, although not overly boisterous, common for Southern Ontario sports fans.
Access 4
Getting to the Sleeman Centre is not terribly difficult. The Sleeman Centre is located in Downtown Guelph between Woolwich Street and MaDonnell Street. The confluence of Highways 6 and 7 is less than four kilometers from the arena, and getting there should not be too difficult. Most fans are heading to the parking garages off of McDonnell Street, so the intersection of Woolwich and MacDonnell can be a challenge closer to puck drop. There are a few parking garages downtown, so finding a spot should not be an issue. For fans wishing to take public transit, the Guelph Transit Station is less than a block away. Fans should check out the Guelph Transit website for fares, maps and schedules. Security and Covid restrictions are constantly changing in Ontario. Stadium Journey encourages all fans to check with the Guelph Storm and Sleeman Centre websites for up to date security information.
Getting around the Sleeman Centre can be a bit of a challenge as the concourses are not huge. Intermission times are particularly bad and lines for the washrooms then can be long. The stairs from the Old Quebec Street Mall may present issues for those with mobility issues.
Stadium Journey acknowledges that security protocols are constantly changing. Stadium Journey encourages fans to consult the Guelph Storm and Sleeman Centre websites before heading out for the most up-to-date security protocols including prohibited items.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets for the Guelph Storm are $30 for a regular seat, with discounts for students, seniors and children. Club seats are $37 and come with seat service. Tickets are a little expensive compared to other teams in the OHL. Parking in the garages on site will cost $5 and concession prices are what one would expect. The product on the ice is very high quality and fans will definitely enjoy their trip to the Sleeman Centre
Extras 4
An extra mark for the Storm Chasers Booster Club.
An extra mark for the City of Guelph and their excellent use of a downtown structure to incorporate OHL hockey.
An extra mark for the Guelph tradition of honouring players who score a hat trick with a Biltmore hat.
An extra mark for the intense rivalry with the Kitchener Rangers.
Final Thoughts
The Guelph Storm are probably not the first team thought of when regaling others with tales of the Ontario Hockey League, however, the Storm have been a solid franchise throughout their duration and their home, the Sleeman Centre, is a solid hockey venue. Storm City is worth checking out and fans should definitely consider a trip to Guelph for some OHL hockey and maybe even a hat trick.
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