Tim Hortons Iceplex is a 180,000-square-foot (17,000 m2) non-profit indoor athletics facility in the Rochester, New York suburb of Brighton. Located on the campus of Monroe Community College, the arena was built in 1998. It is home to four regulation-size ice rinks for semi-professional, high school, and youth hockey teams' use. The Iceplex is home to youth hockey teams from Rochester Youth Hockey, Rochester Edge Girls Hockey, Rochester Coalition, Rochester Grizzlies Hockey, Perinton Youth Hockey, Spencerport High School Hockey, Roc City Roller Derby,[2] Girls Selects Academy at Bishop Kearney, St. John Fisher Club Hockey, Nazareth Golden Flyers Men's and Women's Division III NCAA Hockey, Rochester Ice Cats Special Hockey, and other local teams. The arena also serves as the Rochester Americans official practice facility, and the USA Paralympic Sled Hockey Team chose it as their official training site in 2010.
 | |
| Former names | Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex (2013–2023) SESL Sports Centre (1998–2009) Sports Centre at MCC (2009–2013) |
|---|---|
| Location | Brighton, New York |
| Coordinates | 43°05′53″N 77°36′10″W / 43.0980°N 77.6028°W |
| Owner | Monroe Community Sports Centre Corporation |
| Capacity | 1,750 (Chick-fil-A Arena)[1] |
| Acreage | 180,000-square-foot (17,000 m2) |
| Surface | Ice |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1998 |
| Construction cost | US$13 million |
| General contractor | Christa Development Corporation |
| Tenants | |
| Nazareth Golden Flyers men's ice hockey Rochester Raiders (GLIFL/AIF) (2006, 2014) Roc City Roller Derby (WFTDA) (2009–present) Rochester Jr. Americans (USPHL) (2010–2016) Rochester Americans (practice facility) Rochester Kings (AAL) (2017–2018) | |
| Website | |
| www | |
In 2008, 87 events were held at the facility, drawing nearly 33,000 players and spectators.[3] Prior to the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in nearby Buffalo, The Iceplex hosted some national teams and exhibition games leading up to that tournament.[4]
The naming agreement with Canadian fast food chain Tim Hortons was announced in October 2023.[5] The facility was known as Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex from 2013-2023 when Monroe Community Sports Centre Corporation cut ties from the local restaurant group. The facility was known as the ESL Sports Centre through 2009, when ESL Federal Credit Union dropped its sponsorship.[6] From that point until April 2013, when Bill Gray's picked up sponsorship (with a 30-year agreement), the facility was known as the Sports Centre at MCC. The facility underwent a 3,000-square-foot expansion in 2017 that cost $2.2 million and included a new fitness center as well as a physical therapy and sports rehab area.[7]
Ice resurfacer fire
editOn October 14, 2020, an Olympia ice resurfacer caught fire as it was resurfacing the ice after a youth hockey practice.[8] Video of the fire went viral over social media platforms. The driver of the ice resurfacer was not hurt and no other injuries were sustained. Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex released a statement on their social media accounts saying that the cause of the fire was a broken hose, which caused hydraulic fluid to leak onto a hot exhaust pipe, igniting the fluid and causing the flames.[9]
References
edit- ^ "About the Iceplex". Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
It is home to 4 NHL sized ice rinks, with the feature rink inside Chick-fil-A Arena, which is capable of seating 1,750 spectators.
- ^ "ROC City Roller Derby Moves Home to the Sports Centre at Monroe Community College" (Press release). The Sports Centre at MCC. 2013-01-15. Archived from the original on 2013-02-17. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
- ^ Andreatta, David (2009-11-29). "ESL Centre is on thin ice". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York: Gannett Company. Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
- ^ Roth, Leo (December 14, 2017). "Bill Gray's Iceplex to host World Junior teams and exhibition games". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ^ "Iceplex at MCC renamed 'Tim Horton's Iceplex'". 26 October 2023.
- ^ Andreatta, David (2011-01-07). "MCC files suit to collect back rent from Sports Centre group". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York: Gannett Company. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
- ^ Taddeo, Sarah (August 3, 2017). "What to know about Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex $2.2 million expansion". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ^ Fernandez, Gabriel (16 October 2020). "Zamboni catches fire following a local New York youth hockey practice". CBS News. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex on Facebook". Facebook. Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 16 October 2020.