Sens Arenas of Yesteryear

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!

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. [Via Library & Archives]

"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 – colourized by Canadian Colour]

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]

The second Dey’s rink was built in 1896 on present-day Gladstone Ave. at Bay St., and hosted Ottawa’s first Stanley Cup win in 1903 (vs. the Montreal Victorias). 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 Dey's rink/Dey's Skating Rink years, a period which also included the 1903-06 Silver Seven 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]

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 (on right), 1927. [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. [Colourized by Giving Colour to History]

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] (Jersey colour scheme may or may not be completely accurate – "Alerts" stripe might have been brighter yellow.)

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]

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]

The Ottawa Auditorium opened in autumn 1923, on the heels of that spring’s Stanley Cup championship.

A glimpse of the 1923 Stanley Cup Parade for the Senators through the streets of Ottawa. The first car belongs to Tommy Gorman, team owner and a founder of the NHL. #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/KEJ9CIeV6j

— The Hockey Samurai 侍 (@hockey_samurai) March 26, 2023

Ottawa Auditorium, home of the Senators 1923-34. [Via Heritage Sports Art]

Ottawa Auditorium, undated. [Orig. image via Urbsite – 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]

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 Alert(s?). The modern-day Sens also played there 1992-96.

Montreal Jr. Canadiens vs. Ottawa 67s, Ottawa Civic Centre (Nov. 6, 1969). [Via Quebec Archives]

Original/primary article here, on Apartment613.

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