Fort William Gardens

U SportsJunior A
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Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ontario is home to the Lakehead Thunderwolves (OUA, U Sports) and the Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL, Junior A). It opened in 1951, making it 75 years old in 2026 and seats 4,680 for hockey. That makes it the 3rd-largest rink in U Sports and the biggest in the OUA.

The closest NHL rink is Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, about 299 miles away.

Rink facts

Location
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Home of
Lakehead Thunderwolves (U Sports)
Thunder Bay North Stars (Junior A)
School
Lakehead University
League
OUA · West Division
SIJHL
Opened
1951
Capacity
4,680
Size rank in U Sports
3rd of 34

Plan your trip to Fort William Gardens

Hotels near Fort William GardensBook a stay for game night on ExpediaLakehead Thunderwolves ticketsFind seats for home gamesParkingLots and garages near the rinkDirectionsMap to Fort William GardensTours & things to do in Thunder BayArena tours, sightseeing and more on ExpediaFood & drinks nearbyPregame spots near the rink

Rinks near Fort William Gardens10

  1. 1Junior ANorWest Arena — Kam River Fighting Walleye (Oliver Paipoonge, Ontario)12 mi
  2. 2NCAAMacInnes Student Ice Arena — Michigan Tech Huskies (Houghton, Michigan)95 mi
  3. 3Junior ACochenour Arena — Red Lake Miners (Red Lake, Ontario)134 mi
  4. 4Junior APat O'Donnell Civic Center — Ironwood Lumberjacks (Ironwood, Michigan)140 mi
  5. 5NCAABerry Events Center — Northern Michigan Wildcats (Marquette, Michigan)152 mi
  6. 6Junior ASioux Lookout Memorial Arena — Sioux Lookout Bombers (Sioux Lookout, Ontario)166 mi
  7. 7NCAAAMSOIL Arena — Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (Duluth, Minnesota)174 mi
  8. 8Junior ADryden Memorial Arena — Dryden Ice Dogs (Dryden, Ontario)187 mi
  9. 9Junior AMemorial Sports Centre — Fort Frances Lakers (Fort Frances, Ontario)189 mi
  10. 10USHL/NAHLNorthwoods Credit Union Arena — Minnesota Wilderness (Cloquet, Minnesota)190 mi

Questions about Fort William Gardens

Where do the Lakehead Thunderwolves play home games?

The Lakehead Thunderwolves play at Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Where do the Thunder Bay North Stars play home games?

The Thunder Bay North Stars play at Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

How many people does Fort William Gardens hold?

Fort William Gardens seats 4,680 for hockey.

When did Fort William Gardens open?

Fort William Gardens opened in 1951.

What other rinks are near Fort William Gardens?

NorWest Arena in Oliver Paipoonge is about 12 miles away. See the full list of nearby rinks on this page.

Facts are for the 2026–27 season. Distances are straight-line miles between city centers. Capacity figures vary by source. See something wrong? Let us know. Is this your rink? Get the “Listed on RinkGuide.com” badge for your website.