Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
Port Credit Memorial Arena
40 Stavebank Road
Mississauga, ON L5G 2T8
Year Opened: 1959
Capacity: 690
Charging In Port Credit
Port Credit is an affluent neighbourhood on the banks of Lake Ontario, which makes up the southernmost point of Mississauga, Ontario. In 1974, it was incorporated into Mississauga, yet it remains a unique community to this day. One of the features of the Port Credit neighbourhood is the fabulous Port Credit Memorial Arena. A heritage-protected, barrel-vaulted arena, the Port Credit Memorial Arena, after a significant renovation, is a gorgeous old-school hockey barn.
The most high-profile team to call the Port Credit Memorial Arena home is the Mississauga Chargers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. The Chargers were founded in 1980 as the Junior B Weston Dukes. After several moves throughout the Greater Toronto Area, the Dukes would settle in Mississauga as the Chargers in 1994.
The team moved up to the Junior A level in 1991 with the league that would eventually become the OJHL. The Chargers, who are owned by Heather Stockley, have not seen a ton of recent success, not qualifying for the OJHL playoffs since 2014.
Food & Beverage 2
Inside the Port Credit Memorial Arena on the north side, fans can find the Port Credit Cafe. The cafe offers a small variety of concession options while offering fans a view of the ice. Popcorn, chips, peanuts, Jamaican Patties, granola bars, cookies, and fruit bars are available. Coca-Cola products, coffee, tea, and bottled water are the soft drinks available. A limited selection of beer and coolers are available for consumption inside the cafe. Local options from Old Credit Brewing are also available. Debit and credit are accepted at the cafe.
Atmosphere 4
Port Credit Memorial Arena is gorgeous. With a significant renovation in 2009, this 1959 vintage arena was designated a Heritage Site under the Ontario Heritage Act. The vaulted barrel design is obvious from the exterior. A lobby addition of light grey brick and glass with appropriate landscaping gives the arena a clean and bright look from the outside. The main entry is from the parking lot side, which gives a different look with plenty of glass and grey and red brick.
Inside the lobby, the two story glass atrium allows plenty of natural light in and offers fans a picturesque view of the Port Credit Lighthouse on the opposite side of the Credit River and Port Credit Memorial Park. An interesting historical display on the industry of Ice Harvesting is worth spending a little time checking out. Upon entering the arena area, fans are met with a temporary table for ticket sales.
The barrel ceiling with hardwood is mesmerizing, and the hardwood accents around the arena give it a truly unique atmosphere. Some minor hockey photos can be found around the exterior, along with a collage of the 50th Anniversary of the arena, which is interesting and features the late “Hurricane” Hazel McCallion, the longtime mayor of Mississauga, and Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Johnny Bower.
Medals from the 2016 Ontario Summer Games, hosted by the City of Mississauga, are also framed and of note. The ice surface is oriented from west to east, with seating on the ends and south side. Above the Port Credit Cafe on the north side is a massive Port Credit sign.
A simple hockey score clock hangs on the east end of the arena. Minor hockey championship banners hang on the west end of the arena. Five rows of new plastic arena seats offer a comfortable seating option for fans, with standing room available along the walkway behind the seating. New LED lights and sound systems bring it all together.
Unfortunately, there are little to no indicators that this arena is the home of the Mississauga Chargers. The only hint of the Chargers was a lone sticker on the window of a seating box on the northeast corner of the arena. The gameday production is also as simple as possible. There are no promotions at all. Music between plays and goal and penalty announcements breaks up the silence.
Neighbourhood 4
Port Credit Memorial Arena is located on the banks of the Credit River, in the Port Credit neighbourhood of Mississauga. There are a number of spots close by for pre or post game fair. Some choices include Smug Harbour Seafood Bar & Grill, Papa Giuseppe’s, Rosie’s Burgers, The Crooked Cue, Habitat Social Modern Kitchen and Posta Italbar Cucina. There are also a number of fast food and chain restaurants in the area.
There are a few other sporting options in the area. Junior C hockey has returned to Mississauga with the Streetsville Derbys. The G-League’s Raptors 905 also play in Mississauga. Beginning in 2024, the Toronto Rock will temporarily call Mississauga home as their home arena undergoes major renovations.
Port Credit Lighthouse, Port Credit Memorial Park, the Port Credit Harbour and Mississauga Waterfront Festival are other tourist options in the area. Toronto’s Harbourfront is also just over 15 km away. For fans who wish to stay in the area, the Waterside Inn is an option.
Fans 2
The Mississauga Chargers attract basically a friends and family crowd. In the 2022-23 season the Chargers averaged 115 fans per game and 100 fans per game the following season. This puts them in the bottom end of the middle third of the OJHL. At the time of writing, the Chargers have not reported any attendance figures for the 2024-25 season. The fans in attendance are pretty quiet, however at the game that was reviewed some of the parents of both teams were involved in some verbal jousting that went beyond what would be considered normal.
Access 3
The Port Credit Memorial Arena is located on Stavebank Road surrounded by the railroad tracks and Port Credit Memorial Park. It is in the Port Credit neighbourhood of Mississauga at the south end of the city. The arena is ½ km from Hurontario Road, less than 2 km from the Queen Elizabeth Way and 5 km from Highway 403.
However, traffic to get to this end of Mississauga is significant. Hurontario runs from north to south and can be a very slow drive. There is plenty of parking on site. For fans wishing to take public transit to see the Chargers, the GO Transit station is very close and Mississauga Transit has stops at Lakeshore and Elizabeth. Fans should consult the GO Transit or Mississauga Transit websites for maps, schedules and fares.
Getting around the arena is not terribly difficult, however, walking the 360 degrees of the arena may be a little challenging with the play by play and video platform. The washrooms are adequate for the facility and crowd in attendance.
Return on Investment 3
Tickets for the Mississauga Chargers go for $15 with Senior tickets at $10 and Students and Children at $5. Fans will need to bring cash to purchase their tickets. Parking is free and concession prices are good. The Port Credit Memorial Arena is a beautiful venue, but the Chargers do not do enough to entice fans to come in the building and return. The gameday production needs some improvement.
Extras 2
An extra mark for the beautiful, historic, Port Credit Memorial Arena.
An extra mark for the gorgeous homes fans will probably drive by to get to the arena. Wow!
Final Thoughts
A trip to see the Mississauga Chargers will offer hockey fans the opportunity to see hockey in a facility that is under the radar, yet absolutely gorgeous. Port Credit is an interesting neighbourhood worth exploring. Hopefully, the Chargers will find more success on the ice and attract a few more fans in the process.
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