Construction crews with the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) demolished the much-beloved rink in Lot 106 last Wednesday to make room for a new-and-improved all-purpose rink.
Roiahtate Horn, Director of Sports and Recreation at the MCK, said the revamp will give kids a safe space to play and address neighbourhood concerns about noise.
“I’m really hoping that it’s just a better partnership between the kids playing and the [people] living there,” Horn said.
Travis McComber, who lives across the street from the Lot 106 rink, says it’s his son Cory Rice’s go to place to get active and socialize with his peers.
“I love nothing more than looking out the window and knowing exactly where my son is,” McComber said. “He’s there with his friends every day doing what he loves.”
Cory will have to wait to get back into the rink. Construction is expected to take four to six weeks. The new rink will be the same size as the old one, but will feature a concrete foundation, sports-complex-standard boards, and complete fencing and netting to keep balls and pucks in play and out of neighbours’ yards.
McComber recalls that his vehicle has been pummeled by its fair share of stray pucks over the years.
“But it’s part of having something like that close to you,” McComber added.
However, not all his neighbours share McComber’s perspective. For instance, Horn acknowledges that the SRU has received past complaints about noise and stray balls.
“It was causing some damage in the area,” Horn said. “So, we took the recommendations and concerns from neighbors.”
In response, the new rink will have a curfew, likely from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., where it will be off-limits. Mature trees will also be planted along the edge to act as a buffer against noise and improve curb-side appeal.
The redesign follows three years of planning and is part of the SRU’s ten-year master plan to improve recreation access in the New Development area.
“There is a park next to the rink there, that’s probably the only recreation area,” Horn said. “We’re trying to make sure that the kids you know do have something to do in that area pretty quickly.”
McComber added that the nearest rink to his house, other than the Lot 106 rink, is in the Clay Mountains area.
“It’s going to take a few minutes for my son to ride a bike there or walk with his friends,” McComber said. “More than likely, I’ll be taking him to the big rink by the old radio station.”
McComber hopes these improvements will breathe new life into “the most popular rink in town.”
“It’s important for daily life, for the kids,” McComber added.
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on May 07, 2026 at 09:08
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