Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
Rock Rink @ Pyramid Recreation Centre
317 James St S
St. Marys, ON N4X 1B6
Year Opened: 1977
Capacity: 1,400
The Town Worth Living In
St. Marys, Ontario is probably best known for being the home of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, however, the hockey tradition in St. Marys is solid as well. The Junior B, St. Marys Lincolns were founded in 1956 and currently play in the GOJHL. The Lincolns team name does not come from an assassinated President of the United States famous for wearing a stovepipe hat, but from the automobile. To finance the entry fee into the Western Junior B Hockey League, a Lincoln Continental was raffled off. The Lincolns have enjoyed five league titles and two Sutherland Cups as the top Junior B team in Ontario. Some of the Lincolns alumni include J.P. Parise, Terry Crisp, Don Luce, Bob Boughner, Dan Bylsma and Steve Shields.
Home for the Lincolns is Rock Rink @ Pyramid Recreation Centre. The Rock Rink has a capacity of 1,400, was originally built in 1977 as St. Marys Arena and a larger community centre was eventually built around it. Rock Rink is named after the St. Marys Rock, who are the local minor hockey teams. The Pyramid Recreation Centre offers a second ice surface, meeting rooms and aquatics centre.
Food & Beverage 3
The main concession is found in the lobby of the Pyramid Recreation Centre. Popcorn, caramel corn, candy, chocolat, chips, pizza, hot dogs, pretzels and nachos are on the menu. Water, soda, iced tea, Powerade, slushies, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and cappuccino are the soft drinks available. The Blueline Club is located above the lobby at the east end and beer and other alcoholic beverages are available.
Atmosphere 3
The St. Marys Arena was built in 1977 while the Pyramid Recreation Centre was built around the arena in 2008 creating a dichotomy that is not totally uncommon in lower level junior hockey in Ontario. There are multiple entry points into the Rec Centre but the main one is probably on the east side of the building. Light coloured brick gives the exterior a modern look to it. Entry into the centre brings fans to temporary tables selling tickets in a large lobby. The St. Marys Sports Wall of Fame is right there to greet fans and features former NHL player, Mark Bell. Wooden plaques listing Lincoln players who have played in the NHL and Coaches and Management.
Upstairs is the entry to the seating area in the arena. The arena is definitely a throwback to seventies era arenas. The ice is oriented from west to east and the main seating area is on the north side. Eight rows of wooden benches comprise the seating with the middle sections featuring arena seas as well as three rows on the south side. The north side seating area is elevated with the bottom row basically the same height as the glass. Dark brown brick outlining the top perimeter of the arena drives the seventies vibe. The rectangular arena has orange truss supports across the ice and a flat, silver insulated roof. The south side wall is littered with minor hockey banners. Lincolns banners, including the 1965 and 1976 Sutherland Cups, listed as Ontario Champions, hang to the left of the scoreclock on the west wall. The Lincolns have further embraced their history with a number of retired number banners for Gerry Seguin, Paul Vanderspank, Glen Coghlin, John Rowland, Jeff Shipley, Tyler Bryson, Brett Petrie and Dan Schiedel. The Blueline Club is found in a room looking out to the ice above the lobby on the east side of the arena.
The gameday production at a Lincs game is fairly simple and not that different from other teams in the GOJHL. The presentation is classic with a traditional announcer. The team mascot, Linc, spends time at ice level greeting the players as they take the ice and interacting with ice level fans. Promotions include a 50/50 draw and chuck-a-puck. One unique aspect of the Lincolns experience is the use of car horns to celebrate everything. There is one that is part of the official productions and probably a couple brought by fans.
Neighbourhood 3
St. Marys is a small town of just over 7,200 people. The Pyramid Recreation Centre is located just south of city centre. There are a few places fans can go to get pre and post game food and drink. Sunset Diner, Grilly’s Public House and Social 31 are good options. Fans should be aware that places like Tim Hortons and McDonald’s, which in most cities are open 24 hours, do close nightly in St. Marys. The Lincolns are pretty much the only team in town, however they do have close rivalries with the Stratford Warriors and London Nationals. Taking a tour of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame is a good idea. Make sure to check when it is open, as regular hours are generally reserved for the summer. Other tourist options include the St. Marys Museum. For fans wishing to stay in the area, the Westover Inn and Stone Willow Inn are options.
Fans 5
The St. Marys Lincolns enjoy fan support that is near the top of the GOJHL. For the 2023-2024 season the Lincolns averaged over 700 fans per game, which was the second best in the league. At the time of writing, in the 2024-2025 season, the Lincs were averaging over 850 fans per game, again ranking second in the league. The fans in attendance are loud and supportive of the Lincs, louder than many other fanbases in the league.
Access 4
The Pyramid Recreation Centre is located in St. Marys, south of city centre. It is close to the intersection of Highway 7 and 119. Getting to the arena from out of town will involve plenty of rural driving through Ontario’s snow belt, so caution on game night is a good plan. There is plenty of parking on site. For fans interested in public transit, there is a Perth County Connect route that joins Kitchener-Waterloo, Stratford and St. Marys, however, it may not help on gameday. Fans should consult the Perth County Connect website for fares, schedules and maps. Getting around Pyramid Recreation Centre is not difficult and the washroom facilities are adequate.
Return on Investment 5
GOJHL hockey is amongst the most affordable sports experiences in Ontario. Tickets for the Lincolns are $12 with $10 for students, seniors and children. Cash, credit and debit are available and tickets are only sold at the door. There is plenty of free parking on site and concession prices are decent. The product on the ice is solid and the Lincolns are normally a competitive team. The environment for hockey is excellent in a unique facility with a very strong fanbase. A great return for the investment.
Extras 4
An extra mark for the unique penalty boxes in St. Marys, which are just at the end of the bench, with a low divider wall for separation.
An extra mark for the unique and historic Lincolns name.
An extra mark for the Pyramid Recreation Centre as a community hub.
An extra mark for the longevity of the Lincolns franchise.
Final Thoughts
The St. Marys Lincolns are amongst the best supported teams in the GOJHL and the Rock Rink is a unique throwback venue to the 1970s. The Lincolns lean into their history and St. Marys celebrates their roots in the Pyramid Recreation Centre. Taking in a Lincs game in “The Town Worth Living In” is a great plan.
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