Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
MacLauchlan Arena @ Bell Aliant Centre
University of Prince Edward Island
560 University Avenue
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Year Opened: 2003
Capacity: 1.160
Hockey Island
One of the most unique provinces in Canada has to be Prince Edward Island. The entire island is only 224 km long and has a population of approximately 180,000 but is politically on equal footing with the other 9 provinces. The capital city of PEI is Charlottetown and it is the centre of commerce for the province. The city has a population of 38,000 which lends to its small town, friendly feel. It is definitely a summer tourist destination, but hockey is still present on the island. The University of Prince Edward Island is found in Charlottetown and boasts 5,500 students. UPEI was established in 1969 as the amalgamation of St. Dunstan’s University and Prince of Wales College, established in 1855 and 1860 respectively, which created the new institution designed to integrate the Catholic and Protestant communities of Charlottetown. The UPEI Panthers hockey team is currently part of the Atlantic University Sport conference in USports. Taking the ice in 1969 with the establishment of UPEI, the Panthers trace their history back to 1935 when St. Dunstan’s University Saints first took the ice.
Home for the Panthers is MacLauchlan Arena @ Bell Aliant Centre. The on-campus sports complex houses the two ice rinks, which comprise the arena as well as a swimming pool and other community and athletic facilities. Although Bell Aliant Centre is located on the UPEI campus, it truly is an area facility. The arena is named after Harry MacLauchlan, a PEI businessman.
Food & Beverage 2
Concessions options are fairly limited at MacLauchlan Arena. The Lone Oak Lounge is essentially the only concussion option that is within the arena. Lone Oak Brewing products are available. There are also a couple of vending machines in the arena. Outside the arena, in the greater Bell Aliant Centre, fans will be able to find a Subway as well as more vending machines in the lobby of the complex. Although it could be argued that a full service Subway does offer a set of options wider than a typical snack bar, the Subway is enclosed and services the entire centre, making lines long and slow.
Atmosphere 3
The Bell Aliant Centre has an exterior that fits the rest of the UPEI campus. Brown brick and green roofs are found throughout the campus and the brown brick exterior of Bell Aliant Centre fits right in. The Bell Aliant Centre is a large, community complex that houses the two rinks of the MacLauchlan Arena as well as a pool and other community facilities while being attached to UPEI’s Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. Inside the Bell Aliant Centre is a huge lobby which brings all of the facilities together. The ticket kiosk is at the southeast end of the arena. Just beyond that is a display of note highlighting the history of the Panthers’ predecessor, St. Dunstan’s Saints.
Entry to MacLauchlan Arena is on the opposite side with a breezeway that connects the two ice rinks. Rink 1 is the bigger of the two and home to the Panthers. Inside the rink, the ice is oriented from northwest to southeast with seating only on the southwest side. Seating is separated into an upper and lower section with seven rows of plastic, arena seats each. MacLauchlan Arena is very cold, so selecting a seat in the lower level, under one of the gas heaters may be the best choice. Lower rows in the upper level may have partially obstructed views by railings. On the wall in the north corner hang the banners for the five conference championships that the Panthers have earned. There are also retired numbers from both the Panthers and Saints including Wilfred MacDonald, Mike Kelly, George Trainor, Dennis Clough, Mike O’Brien, Vince Mulligan, Billy Mulligan, Dave Shellington and former NHL player, Joel Ward. Closer to the eastern corner hangs a banner commemorating Hockey Day in Canada which was hosted from Prince Edward Island in 2012. There are simple scoreclocks on both ends of the rink and in the middle, on the northeast wall is a decent videoboard, also unique for USports hockey. The Lone Oak Lounge is a seating option in the southeast end and offers a place to consume alcoholic beverages and escape the cold of the arena.
The gameday production at Panthers games is fairly simple. The sound system is good and the PA announcer does a good job. The 50/50 draw is the highlight of limited promotions.
Neighbourhood 4
Bell Aliant Centre is located on the campus of the University of Prince Edward Island in the Spring Park neighbourhood of Charlottetown. It is fair to say that Charlottetown and PEI in general are summer destinations, however there are still things to see and do during hockey season. That being said, probably an early season matchup for the Panthers would be the best medicine. There are a number of spots for pre and post game food and beverage close by. Some choices included Fox & Crow, Living Grace Cafe, Smitty’s Family Restaurant, and PEI Brewing Company. There are a couple of other sports options in town. The Panthers also field other athletic teams including basketball at the attached Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. The main draw would be the Charlottetown Islanders of the QMJHL. Red Shores Racetrack is right next door to the home of the Islanders and runs right through January before picking up again in May. Other tourist options should be researched based on the time in PEI as many are seasonal. PEI is the home of Anne of Green Gables, a Canadian literary classic, and there are a number of tourist options surrounding the character. The Confederation Centre for the Arts, and St. Dunstan’s Cathedral are also good tourist options. For fans wishing to stay near campus, the Holiday Inn is a good option.
Fans 4
USports hockey fans can be a bit difficult to assess as the AUS, and other conferences, do not congregate attendance statistics. That being said, UPEI has a fairly strong following. For the 2024-25 season, the Panthers averaged over 500 fans per game, which ranked them 5th in the conference. The previous season they ranked 3rd and averaged over 700 fans per game. The game reviewed saw 350 fans in attendance, however, the 2024-25 season was not a strong one for the Panthers and the game reviewed was the final game of the season with no meaning to the standings. It was also the Friday night before classes were closed for Reading Week and many students were gone. The fans in attendance are supportive and decently loud.
Access 5
The Bell Aliant Centre is located on the campus of the University of Prince Edward Island in the Spring Park neighbourhood of Charlottetown. Traversing Charlottetown is not difficult at all and Islanders are notoriously polite when it comes to motoring. Bell Aliant Centre is less than 2 km south of the Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1), and getting to campus is very easy. There is plenty of parking on site that is free during game time. For fans who wish to take public transit, there are bus stops on University Avenue. Fans should consult the T3 Transit website for fares, schedules and maps. Inside Bell Aliant Centre, the atrium is huge and easy to get around. It is also not difficult to maneuver through MacLauchlan Arena. The washrooms are more than adequate to support the hockey crowd.
Return on Investment 5
USports hockey offers tremendous value for the sporting dollar and the UPEI Panthers are no exception. Panthers tickets start at $15 for adults and there are discounts for seniors and youth. Kids 3 and under are free as well as UPEI students. Seating is reserved at MacLauchlan Arena which is not common for USports hockey, so pre purchasing tickets online might be the best option. Parking is free on site for games, and concession prices are decent. The environment for Panthers games is solid and they are supported well by the community, making a Panthers game a great experience.
Extras 3
An extra mark for the preservation of St. Dunstan’s Saints hockey history with retired numbers and a history display in the atrium.
An extra mark for the Bell Aliant Centre as a community hub for Charlottetown.
An extra mark for the attractive UPEI campus.
Final Thoughts
Hockey is probably not the first thing tourists think of when it comes to PEI, but the UPEI Panthers are a good experience and can definitely be part of a visit to the Island. Charlottetown is an excellent location for a vacation. MacLauchlan Arena is a good spot for university hockey and fans will definitely enjoy their time at the Panthers game.
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