East York Memorial Arena

Toronto, ON · Public skating times & prices

East York's 1951 memorial arena, home ice of the Lyndhursts, the first Canadian team to play the Soviet Union.

Public skating at East York Memorial Arena: the next 7 days

Thursday, October 15

  • · Leisure Skate – Older Adult (60+) · free

Sunday, October 18

  • · Leisure Skate (0+) · free
Address
888 Cosburn Ave, Toronto, ON M4C 2W6
Phone
416-396-2869
Website
toronto.ca
Main entrance of East York Memorial Arena, a curved-roof brick building seen across the lawn with the blue arena sign in front. — East York Memorial Arena
Main entrance of East York Memorial Arena, a curved-roof brick building seen across the lawn with the blue arena sign in front. Photo: City of Toronto · Source
Full ice sheet seen from the elevated grandstand, glass and boards in the foreground, a youth hockey practice underway on the far half; "EAST YORK HOCKEY ASSOC" and "EAST YORK SKATING CLUB" banners and a Canadian flag hang on the end wall. — East York Memorial Arena
Full ice sheet seen from the elevated grandstand, glass and boards in the foreground, a youth hockey practice underway on the far half; "EAST YORK HOCKEY ASSOC" and "EAST YORK SKATING CLUB" banners and a Canadian flag hang on the end wall. Photo: Google Maps listing · Source

The arena Team Canada 1954 called home

East York Memorial Arena opened in October 1951 and has an undersized ice surface, smaller than 185 by 85 feet. Its most famous tenants were the East York Lyndhursts, a B-level senior team in the Ontario Hockey Association, sponsored from 1952 by Harry Crowder, who owned Lyndhurst Motors on Danforth Avenue and expected a winner.

The Lyndhursts finished first in 1952–53. In October 1953, after losing in the senior B semifinals, they were announced as Canada's representative at the 1954 World Championships, the first team to accept the invitation, and there they became the first Canadian hockey team to play the Soviet Union national team.

The selection did little for crowds at home, where one game drew 20 spectators and another about 100. The team has been mostly forgotten since, and former East York mayor Alan Redway has lobbied for a local memorial to it.

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.