Sens Arenas of Yesteryear [Updated]

This is the companion piece to my Apartment613 story, Senators' Downtown Arenas Past (& Future?), in which I share all the images & clippings that didn’t fit into the primary article. Here we go!

Update (2026): This post has been updated with all new colourizations (i.e. all previous/original colourizations have been upgraded, plus I've added some new ones.) Enjoy!

After practicing at the Royal Rink (later renamed Royal Roller Rink) 1883-84, then playing at the first Dey’s rink on the east side of the canal 1884-87, the Ottawa Hockey Club (later & better known as the Senators) played at the Rideau Rink between 1889-95, and also apparently in 1898. The rink was located on Theodore St. (now Laurier Ave.) at Waller St., on the present-day site of the University of Ottawa’s Hamelin Hall.

“Fire reels in front of Laurier Avenue Station, Ottawa, 1914.” Rideau Rink in background. [Orig. image via Library & Archives – colourized by Ashley Newall]

"Fire Station at Theodore St. (Laurier Ave. East)," March 1904. Rideau Rink on left. [Orig. image via Library & Archives – colourized by Ashley Newall]

Rideau Skating Rink. (Present-day Laurier Ave. east of Waller used to be called Theodore St.) [Via Goad Fire Insurance map, 1901]

Governor General Lord Stanley also had a hand in the Rideau Rink, sponsoring the build (opened 1889) and taking shares in the project.

Ottawa Hockey Club, 1891 Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) champions. [Orig. photo by William Topley – colourization based on Canadian Colour version]

It was at the Ottawa Hockey Club’s 1892 Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) championship celebration dinner – held at Ottawa's Russell House Hotel – that Lord Stanley donated his now-famous challenge cup.

Lord Stanley of Preston, Governor General of Canada, 1889. [Orig. photo by William Topley via Library & Archives – colourized by Ashley Newall]

The second Dey’s rink was built in 1896 on present-day Gladstone Ave. at Bay St. (The site was chosen due to its proximity to Dey family residences nearby.)

(Ann St. later renamed Gladstone Ave.) [Ottawa Journal – May 8, 1896]

Investing in hockey arenas was not a sound economic investment, however the Deys did so due to their passion for the sport.

There is no architect of record for Dey’s Skating Rink on Gladstone, however I suspect it was designed by the leading architect in Ottawa at that time, E.L. Horwood. (After the barn blew down in a windstorm in 1902, I can see why no architect wanted to put their name on it in the first place.)

Ottawa Citizen – Aug. 4, 1896

“Sun Life Building, corner of Bank and Sparks Streets,” ca. 1938. Designed by E.L. Horwood in 1896. [Orig. photo via Library & Archives - colourized]

(Horwood may also have subsequently designed the next rink, Dey’s Arena, on the site of present-day Confederation Park.)

Player-coach Alf Smith was one of the club's stars and a main cog during the second and 'third' Dey's rink years (alas, the blown over Gladstone barn was quickly rebuilt), a period which also encompassed the 1903-06 Silver Seven Stanley Cup dynasty.

Hockey hall of famer Alf Smith, Ottawa Capitals, 1899-1900. (During this period the team used plain sweaters with an 'O' on the front.) The legendary Silver Seven player-coach won three Stanley Cups as a player, 1904-06 (and one more as a coach in 1903). [Via Library & Archives - colourized by Ashley Newall]

The next rink in line, Dey’s Arena, hosted it’s first Ottawa Senators game in 1908. With a capacity of 7,000 (2,500 of which was standing room), it was the largest arena in Canada at the time.

Dey’s Arena, 1927, just prior to being demolished – now site of Confederation Park. (Exact phone number could not be read on photo, & so approximated.) [Orig. image via Library & Archives – colourized by Ashley Newall]

Ottawa, 1925. Arrow points to Dey’s Arena. [Orig. image via Quebec Archives – colourized by Ashley Newall]

1911 Stanley Cup champion Ottawa Senators. [Colourization based on Giving Colour to History version]

The Ottawa Alerts women’s hockey team also played at Dey’s Arena.

The Ottawa Alerts: Ladies Ontario Hockey Association Champions (ca. 1923-24). [Colourized by Ashley Newall] 

Dey’s Arena demolition, 1927. [Orig. image via Library & Archives – colourized by Ashley Newall]

Dey’s Arena demolition, 1927. [Orig. image via Library & Archives – colourized by Ashley Newall]

In 1923, their last year playing at Dey's Arena, the Senators won the Stanley Cup, travelling to British Columbia to defeat the Vancouver Millionaires in the Cup final.

Ottawa Senators & co. arrive in Vancouver on their way to winning the Stanley Cup, 1923. From left; Baz O’Meara (Montreal Star), Ed Baker (Ottawa Citizen), co-owner Ted Dey, co-owner & manager (& stand-in coach) Tommy Gorman, Cy Denneny, Clint Benedict, Punch Broadbent, Harry Helman, Lionel Hitchman, King Clancy, captain Eddie Gerard, Billy Boucher, Buck Boucher, Frank Nighbor, & trainer Cozy Dolan. [Photo via puckstruck.com – colourized by Ashley Newall]

The Ottawa Auditorium opened in autumn 1923, on the heels of that spring’s Stanley Cup championship. The Sens played there until 1934, when the franchise moved to St. Louis.

Ottawa Auditorium, home of the Ottawa Senators from 1923-34. (Pic undated, but looks ca. early-1950s.) [Orig. image via Ottawa Archives – colourized by Ashley Newall]

Ottawa Auditorium, ca. 1953. (Car on right added to photo for balance.) [Colourized by Ashley Newall]

Ottawa Auditorium (Jan. 5, 1955). [Orig. image via Urbsite – colourized by Ashley Newall]

After the Senators left town, the Auditorium continued to be the home rink for various local hockey teams, plus hosted concerts by the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley.

Elvis Presley, Ottawa Auditorium, April 3, 1957. This was one of only two shows Elvis ever played outside of U.S. [Orig. image via Ottawa Archives – colourized by Ashley Newall]

Elvis Presley with Gord Atkinson of CFRA, Ottawa Auditorium, 1957. [Colourized by Ashley Newall]

Hull-Ottawa Canadiens (Montreal farm team, coached by Scotty Bowman) vs. Sudbury Wolves, Ottawa Auditorium (Jan. 4, 1963). [Via Quebec Archives– colourized by Ashley Newall]

In 1967 the Auditorium was torn down, and was replaced by the Ottawa Civic Centre (now TD Place Arena) at Lansdowne Park, current home of the 67s and Ottawa Charge. The modern-day Sens also played there 1992-96.

Montreal Jr. Canadiens vs. Ottawa 67s, Ottawa Civic Centre (Nov. 6, 1969). [Orig. image via Quebec Archives – colourized by Ashley Newall]

Original/primary Apartment613 article here: Senators’ Downtown Arenas, Past (and Future?)

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