Downsview Arena

Toronto, ON · Public skating times & prices

North York's regular-size city arena, once home of the junior Royals and of the injury behind the neck guard.

Public skating at Downsview Arena: the next 7 days

Wednesday, October 14

  • · Leisure Skate (0+) · free

Saturday, October 17

  • · Leisure Skate (0+) · free
Address
1633 Wilson Ave, Toronto, ON M3L 1A5
Phone
416-395-7831
Website
toronto.ca
The brick Downsview Arena with a white arched entrance canopy at the front, a car park and a few people queuing under a blue sky. — Downsview Arena
The brick Downsview Arena with a white arched entrance canopy at the front, a car park and a few people queuing under a blue sky. Photo: Google Maps listing · Source
Full ice sheet under a peaked wood-truss ceiling, a Zamboni resurfacing the ice mid-rink; "THE NORTH YORK HOCKEY LEAGUE" banner and a Toronto crest banner hang on the end wall, with a "HOME" sign over the boards. — Downsview Arena
Full ice sheet under a peaked wood-truss ceiling, a Zamboni resurfacing the ice mid-rink; "THE NORTH YORK HOCKEY LEAGUE" banner and a Toronto crest banner hang on the end wall, with a "HOME" sign over the boards. Photo: Google Maps listing · Source

Downsview Arena and the Kim Crouch collar

Downsview Arena is a City of Toronto rink with a regular 185-by-85-foot ice surface in the Downsview neighbourhood, and it has a notable place in junior hockey history.

A team based here started as the Downsview Bees in the Metro Junior B league in 1971. In 1972 it was one of six Metro teams to join the new Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League, renaming itself the Beavers, and in 1974 it became the Royal York Royals. The Royals spent four straight years near the top of the league, reached the finals for the Buckland Trophy in 1978 and folded in 1980.

In a 1975 game against the Markham Waxers, Royals goalkeeper Kim Crouch had his throat slashed open diving into a fray. The injury led to the Kim Crouch collar, a protective neck guard eventually adopted widely by hockey players.

Before you head out.

Admission, rentals and arrival details, researched from official rink information. Source checks stay current for 30 days.

Admission

City of Toronto drop-in skating programs are free.

Source checked · · Official source

Skates & rentals

The city Skate Lending Library is free, with no reservations needed, at select locations.

Source checked · · Official source

Booking & check-in

Registered programs can be booked by phone through Client Services at 416-396-7378.

Source checked · · Official source

Skating with children

Check the session’s age group before bringing children. During leisure skating, children six and under must wear a CSA-approved helmet that protects the back and sides of the head. Strollers are allowed during supervised sessions with staff guidance.

Source checked · · Official source

Parking & arrival

The City's location data lists the accessible parking spots at this facility as free.

Source checked · · Official source

Accessibility

Manual and powered wheelchairs are allowed on the ice during leisure skate; check with on-site staff first.

Source checked · · Official source

A source check records what the rink published on that date. Session-specific booking details take precedence.