Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Peach King Centre
162 Livingston Avenue
Grimsby, ON L3M 5P7
Year Opened: 1984
Capacity: 400
A Peach of a Hockey Experience
One of the oldest hockey teams in Ontario is the Grimsby Peach Kings. Able to trace their history back all the way to 1922, the Peach Kings have serviced the Grimsby area in the Niagara Region, a bit of a hockey hotbed, for over 100 years. The Peach Kings were named for the area’s claim to the unique conditions required to grow the fruit normally associated with Georgia. The area was a training ground for such legendary teams as the Montreal Canadiens in the twenties. For the duration of their existence, the Peach Kings have predominantly played at the Junior C level and are currently in the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s North Bloomfield Division. The Peach Kings boast five consecutive Schmalz Cup appearances and Junior C Champions in Ontario. The Peach Kings success has culminated in 16 league titles and Schmalz Cup Championships in 1940, 2003, 2004, 2011, and 2012. The team has leaned into their history, embracing themselves as a cornerstone Junior C franchise.
The current home of the Peach Kings is Peach King Centre. Built in 1984, the original ice pad has a current capacity of approximately 400. A second ice pad was added in 2004 and the community hub is undertaking a massive construction project to add more indoor and outdoor facilities to serve the town of 28,000.
Food & Beverage 2
The Peach Kings offer a very simple concession. Pizza, water, soda, chips and chocolate are available. Vending machines can also be found in the halls at ice level. The southwest corner of the arena is where the cheekily named “Peach Pit” can be found. Fans of the nineties television show “Beverly Hills 90210” will recognize the handle. In Grimsby the Peach Pit sells a small selection of beer including products from local Bench Brewing.
Atmosphere 3
The game that was reviewed was in the middle of a massive construction project, so the normal gameday atmosphere may have been tempered. The Peach King Centre exterior is marred by temporary entrances and fenced off areas due to construction. The two arena pads run perpendicular to each other. The pad where the Peach Kings play has the ice oriented from south to north with the seating on the east side. Peach King Centre features youth hockey banners hanging on the west and north sides. The south side of the arena is where the Peach Kings lean into their history. At the top of the east wall is where four Schmalz Cup Championship banners hang. Beneath those, and the point where the eyeline is drawn, is the honoured numbers of the Peach Kings. These include NHL alumni like Dennis Ververgaert, Bill Berg and Steve Mason and other Peach King players including Scott Vanderburgh, Matt Hodges, Ryan Toth, Steve Foster and Brennan Smith. Builder Lyle Killins and former WHA Official Gene Kushan are also honoured. In the northeast corner, the Peach Kings also have three unique banners honouring longtime volunteers. Beneath the honoured player banners are a number of championship team pictures, which are great for pursuing.
The seating area consists of six rows of plastic arena seats, raised above ice level, with standing room behind. The arena has a slightly curved ceiling with light coloured support beams across the ice and silver insulation in between. The simple scoreboard is found on the east wall and there are plenty of local ads around the arena. Some temporary bleachers are at ice level on the west side by the Peach Pit and are popular.
The gameday atmosphere in Grimsby is unique. The PA system in Peach King Centre is very good and the team makes the most of it. Traditional Junior Hockey promotions are present including the 50/50 draw and Chuck-A-Puck. What puts the atmosphere over the top is in the southwest corner, where on a small stage Josh Coulter can be found. Josh deftly plays live music during stoppages in play, a totally unique situation for hockey.
Neighbourhood 4
Peach King Centre is located in Grimsby, south of the Queen Elizabeth Way. There are a number of local spots for pre or post game food and drink. Some options in the area include Diner Bistro, Bogeys Grillhouse, Lang On Water, Casa Toscana, Bitter & Twisted and J.J.’s On the Dock. There are also plenty of national chain restaurants in the area.
The Peach Kings are the only game in town sports-wise, but there are other teams not too far off. Grimsby is located in the Niagara Region, between Hamilton and St. Catharines. The Niagara IceDogs of the OHL as well as Brock Badgers hockey and basketball are found in St. Catharines. The St. Catharines Athletics play lacrosse in the OJLL in the summer. The other members of the Bloomfield Division are also very close. Other tourist options in the area include the waterfront, beaches, parks and trails. There are also plenty of Niagara wineries in the area. For fans wishing to stay in the area, the Casablanca Hotel and Quality Inn are good options.
Fans 4
The Grimsby Peach Kings are the only game in town and have been around a long time and they are the benefactors of solid fan support. In 2023 the Peach Kings drew over 440 fans per game and were one of the top drawing teams in the PJHL. They have had a bit of a slower start in the 2024-25 season at the turnstile, probably in part due to the massive construction project at Peach King Centre. Fans in attendance are not atypical of Ontario fans as they are fairly quiet and reserved.
Access 3
Peach King Centre is located in Grimsby about a ½ km north of the Queen Elizabeth Way. There is parking on site, however it is limited due to the construction project. Getting to Grimsby from out of town can be a bit of a chore as traffic on the QEW, especially when the weather is still nice early in the season, can be pretty heavy. Grimsby does not have a traditional public transit system, but there is an on demand ride-share program in the area.
The arena would not traditionally be that difficult to get around, but due to the construction project it is more challenging. There are plenty of stairs with the elevated seating area and the concessions at ice level, so it will be a bit challenging for those with mobility issues. The washroom facilities are on the small side. At the time of writing, the Peach Kings website was definitely lacking in providing fans with information. Plenty of sections on the standard PJHL website for the Peach Kings had no info at all.
Return on Investment 5
Catching a Peach Kings game, as any Junior C hockey team, is not an expensive ordeal. Tickets for the Peach Kings go for $10 and are purchased at the door. Parking is free and concession prices are not high. The return that fans can expect is very high. The Peach Kings provide a gameday experience that is among the best in the PJHL with some unique features that are not found anywhere else. In the end, a Peach Kings game provides value that is about as good as it can get.
Extras 3
An extra mark for the deep and rich Grimsby Peach King history.
An extra mark for Peach Kings embracing tradition. The printed history of the Peach Kings is the interesting “Once a Peach King” by Sarah Allington. The coaches also wear a specific melton jacket, similar to what you would find NHL coaches wearing in the Winter Classic.
An extra mark for the live music of Josh Coulter, especially at the beginning of the second intermission, when Josh plays “Peaches” by Presidents of the United States of America.
Final Thoughts
In Junior C hockey, the Grimsby Peach Kings are among the elite when it comes to the experience for the fan. Once fully completed, the Peach King Centre will be an even stronger hub for the Grimsby community. Getting out to a Peach Kings game will not break the bank and will leave fans happy to have been in attendance.
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