IN ONE OF CANADA’S MOST HISTORIC SCHOOLS LIES ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S MOST ICONIC ARENAS AND, WHEN INSIDE, YOU CAN FEEL THE HOCKEY HISTORY WAFTING FROM THE WALLS AND RAFTERS OF THIS LEGEND: DUTTON MEMORIAL ARENA.
Soon, however, the building will have a new look.
St. John’s-Ravenscourt School (SJR) is nearing completion of a massive renovation of Dutton Memorial Arena as part of its Tom Bredin Athletic Revitalization Project, which also includes improvements to the school’s Reimer Gymnasium and Riley Fitness Centre. At the heart of the project is the refurbishment of the historic arena to include a reconfigured NHL-sized rink, five new change rooms, a new ice plant and significant upgrades to the building’s exterior and interior. Spectators will enjoy superb views over the ice in a viewing area situated above the change rooms. In addition, a new front entrance located on the riverside will provide upgraded access to the entire athletics complex including an elevator and storage facilities.
RED DUTTON
Created in 1967 for the hockey teams of St. John’s-Ravenscourt School and as a practice home of Canada’s national team, Dutton Memorial Arena was made possible by the inspiration and generosity of Mervyn “Red” Dutton ’16 (SJCS), Max Bell ’29 (SJCS), former SJR board chair, James A. Richardson ’39 (Rav.) and other friends of the school and of hockey. Both Dutton and Bell attended St. John’s College School (SJCS), while Richardson attended Ravenscourt School (Rav). These two schools amalgamated in 1950 to become St. John’s-Ravenscourt School.
In the tradition of their father, Dutton’s sons, Joe ’36, Alex ’41 and Norman ’44 also attended St. John’s College School. Sadly, Joe and Alex were killed in action serving with the R.C.A.F. in World War II. The Dutton Memorial Arena was named in their memory.
Red played in the NHL, served as NHL president and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958. Red was also a successful businessman.
As such, he spearheaded a project to build Dutton Memorial Arena at his alma mater to assure the survival of the Canadian National Hockey Team and help them better compete against international competition by giving them an Olympic-sized ice surface on which to practice.
On Sept. 27, 1967, the Detroit Red Wings and the Canadian National Team played a pair of exhibition games in front of special guests to commemorate the grand opening. Since then, a multitude of hockey fans' cheers have filled the stands for almost six decades until the final game ever to be played on the Olympic-sized ice surface took place on March 2, 2023.
That day was memorable, too, as the SJR High School Boys team celebrated an 8-2 victory to reach the Winnipeg High School Hockey League’s Divisional Championship Finals.
A LONG HISTORY WITH DUTTON
One person connected to Dutton Memorial Arena during its six decades-long history is SJR alum and former teacher Dan Stanier ‘82. No one can match his connection to the arena’s storied history. Stanier attended SJR as a student and played hockey for the school. He was later a teacher, vice-principal, coach, parent to SJR students and even the school’s Zamboni driver at one point. Stanier retired in 2020 but continues to be an integral part of the school community.
When asked how special Dutton Memorial Arena was to him, Stanier beamed with elation and said: “Dutton is the heart of the school, pulling players and families together year after year. Seeing students learning to skate in physical education classes and taking part in hockey-specific activities on campus is something special. It is unique to SJR.”
Stanier has many fond memories of closely fought games, early morning practices, packed stands, alumni skates, skating lessons, family skates, community games and more.
“The new, improved facility will be so great for current student-athletes and those to come,” he said. “Dutton Memorial Arena will continue to play a vital role in the life of the school and the Winnipeg community for many decades to come.”
ARENA UPGRADES
In addition, the upgrades to Dutton Memorial Arena will allow the school to better serve its student-athletes thanks to an exciting and innovative design feature. From September to March, the arena will continue to be used as a hockey rink, but from April to August, the facility will be converted to a field house with artificial turf replacing the ice surface. As such, it will become a multi-purpose indoor athletic facility where students can play multiple sports, including soccer, rugby and Ultimate, as well as track and field. And, of course, they can participate, whatever the weather.
As the project nears completion, the SJR community recalls fond memories while eagerly anticipating new opportunities ahead. SJR parents Patti and Kristjan Backman have had the pleasure of watching their children, Abby and Charlie, play at Dutton Memorial Arena for over a decade.
“We have had so many great family memories in that building,” they said. “We have watched our kids learn new skills, challenge themselves and grow as teammates and leaders. Together we have celebrated the great victories and lived through the defeats, always proud to be cheering the SJR Eagles on. Dutton is truly a place where community is built and friendships are forged. We are excited to watch the kids from the new stands and enjoy yet more great seasons of community and high school hockey.”
Grade 9 student Charlie Backman plays for the school’s U15 A1 Hockey team and is excited for what is to come. He loves that school sports teach him valuable life skills such as teamwork and resilience.
“When I was younger, I played on a team that lost almost every single game of the season,” he recalled. “We kept working hard to improve and, two years later, that same team won the championship.”
Charlie’s sister, Abby, will graduate from SJR this year and is in her fourth year with the Girls High School Hockey team. Abby glowed when speaking about her favourite memory: “It was scoring the winning goal in a shootout in my first playoff game as part of the high school team,” she said.
She is also excited about the enhancements that the renovation will bring to spectators. Dutton Memorial Arena has been known as one of the colder arenas in the city, but Abby anticipates a warmer and much friendlier confine in which her mom, dad and grandparents can watch her play the game she loves.
“It will be great,” she said. “Better insulation and upgraded heaters will make it much more comfortable for all the fans to come watch the games.”
The re-opening of Dutton Memorial Arena is scheduled for the fall of 2023, and the school, indeed the entire SJR community, eagerly looks forward to cheering on the Eagles this season and for many more years to come.
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