Ontario Construction News staff writer
As the Kitchener Rangers prepare for their first regular-season game Friday, players and staff are getting used to their new surroundings at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, following a five-month, $2-million renovation project led by the Woodhouse Group.
The upgrades, the first major overhaul of the team’s core facilities in more than a decade, included work on the players’ dressing room, lounge, gym, and athletic therapy areas. Staff offices have been moved to the third floor, and a new media lounge has been added. Former players and previous team achievements are displayed on revamped walls.
“We had a tremendous amount of work that happened in a short period of time,” said Joe Birch, the Rangers’ chief operating officer.
Goaltender Jason Schaubel said he is adjusting to the new layout. “It’s unbelievable! A bit of a maze at first to try and get used to the new layout, but it’s so nice.”
Officials hope the updates will help attract and retain talented players. “I think that’s part of the whole OHL experience,” Birch said. “We’re treating them as close as we can to National Hockey League players and our culture and environment are really important to us.”
Mike McKenzie, the team’s general manager, emphasized the importance of tradition. “There’s tradition and there’s legacy,” he said. “You’re almost manifesting this as a winning environment, so we need to carry that torch with our team.”
Schaubel said the renovations are already helping motivate the players. “If the organization is willing to put in this much time, effort and money to us, the least we can do is go on the ice and work our hardest, compete, battle, and give back to them in the way we can.”
Work is still underway to transform the former Subscriber’s Lounge into a new restaurant for fans.
