Golden Bears and Pandas Hockey to play 2026–27 season in Nisku

For the first time in more than 60 years, the Golden Bears and Pandas will play their home games somewhere other than Clare Drake Arena.

The two teams are heading south to Nisku for the 2026–27 season while Clare Drake Arena gets some unavoidable repairs. The building’s aging drainage and sewage systems are being replaced, a job expected to take most of a year.

It’s hard to overstate what Clare Drake means to the University of Alberta. Since the late 1950s, generations of students have packed the stands, first named Varsity Arena, and later under its current name, honouring legendary hockey coach Clare Drake.

His record of six national titles, 17 conference championships, and 697 career wins turned that small, yellow, noisy rink into one of the most iconic arenas in U Sports hockey.

The move isn’t permanent, but it still stings. The arena sits right on North Campus, walking distance for students and alumni who’ve filled it for decades. Next season, fans will have to make the 25-minute trip to Nisku’s Silent Ice Center instead.

Although the new rink is far away from campus, it has much nicer facilities. Silent Ice Center is a modern, high-end facility built for serious hockey. Two full NHL-sized rinks, 1,800 seats, private suites, a restaurant, a bar, even a sauna and cold tubs for players. It’s clean, bright, and professional — a sharp contrast to Clare Drake’s old-school charm.

The Bears and Pandas will use the rink for both games and practices next year, giving the players a sense of consistency. It’s hosted big events before, from curling tour stops to Junior Prospects League games, so capacity won’t be an issue.

Clare Drake Arena will stay quiet through the 2026 off-season as crews work on the upgrades. When the lights flick back on, it’ll be ready for another generation of hockey at the U of A, and hopefully, it will still feel like home.