New Outdoor Rink Coming Soon

Kahnawà:ke’s new outdoor lacrosse and hockey rink will be ready soon, according to Sports & Recreation Director Roiatate Horn. “Phase 1 of the rink is more or less complete, we’re just waiting on some final signoffs from engineers and project managers”, said Horn. The site of the rink is located just outside the Kahnawà:ke Sports Complex.

Horn hopes the first blades will hit the ice in time for Christmas, but he says the rink still needs some work before it’s ready to go. “The refrigeration part of it actually is not up and running this year- that’s part of Phase 2”, he said, adding that the equipment has already been installed, but isn’t operational just yet. The plan is to have the rink covered in time for Spring 2027.

Horn originally wanted the rink to be ready for lacrosse, but that plan didn’t materialize in time. “Minor Lacrosse […] sort of started the community fundraising initiative with this, and their goal was to put a roof over the outdoor rink by Orville Standup Park”, Horn said. “Our goal was to ensure that they were the first ones on it, but given the weather that we’re working with right now, it’s not ideal for lacrosse to be using that”.