2 weeks into demolition on the Listowel Memorial Arena, many look on with sadness but also carry on with memories of the arena from years past.
The Listowel Memorial Arena was opened in 1961 following the roof collapse of the Listowel Arena in February of 1959 which killed 7 young boys and their coach.
Ken McLeod, Ricky Kaufman, Jimmy Hastings, Brian Seehaver, Jackie Rheubottom, Kenny Hymers, Barry Smith and Keith Wight lost their lives in the collapse during a peewee hockey practice.
Survivors, like Ross Werth says all he heard was the sound of a crack and thud and then nothing, marking a day he’ll never forget.
The Memorial Arena was built with what remained of the original building which survived the collapse. The rink was home to the Listowel Cyclones until the move to the Steve Kerr Memorial Arena in 2017. The Cyclones won a Sutherland Cup in their last season in the old arena.
On the 30th anniversary of the collapse, a memorial plaque was placed dedicated to coach McLeod and the players lost. A banner honouring those who lost their lives hung from the arena until it was moved to the new arena as part of the opening ceremony.
