Queenstown Ice Arena

While there is no Public Skating today, there is still a bunch of stuff happening on the Ice today!
Get down to the SIHL round to watch the U15's - it's free to watch and a lot of fun!

Then catch our Sunday Social League from 5.15p-10p, and why not enjoy a local craft beer on tap while you're here!!

Regular Schedule resumes Monday, so take in all the Hockey Action while it's here!

The Winning Formula:

Change is inevitable. Sometimes it can be abrupt and traumatic and other times slow and gradual pushed along gently by the passage of time. Change is now upon us. We live in unsettled times both in the global sense and locally as our town struggles with the many changes foisted on it. In such times we will often yearn for the comfort of consistency, hard won truths, community and heritage. I'd argue that nothing exemplifies this more than our hockey team the SKYCITY Stampede (formally Southern Stampede). On Sunday night, the Stampede capped off another Championship, an incredible nine Cups in the past twelve years and eleven titles in total. This one was particularly hard won as the Dunedin Thunder only fell at the very last hurdle after an epic cinderella run to the Finals. Clearly a team on the rise.

100 years from now I imagine someone will be pouring over the NZIHL statistics and they might ask how the Stampede were so dominant during this stretch. Wasn't Queenstown a small town back then they'd ask? I'd defer to Coach Cam Frear for an answer: 'complete buy in from each and every player'. The core of this group has been playing together for so long they are akin to family. A willingness to literally sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the team and for their teammates is a hallmark of any great hockey team and the Stampede have always had that trait in spades. Community, culture, sacrifice of the individual for something bigger. These universal values resonate as strongly now as they ever did.

As for the future, this victory may mark an ending of an era of sorts as a few core members and our coach Cam Frear step away from the game. I thought it was fitting that young and talented centre Jake Hutchins took the final face-off in the final game. A sign that change is upon us. Even the mighty Stampede is not immune to it. The team will look to the remaining core and a new generation of young men to fill those skates. It will be up to them to exemplify those winning values to ensure change does indeed equal progress.

Thank you to all the players, coaches, managers, officials Queenstown Ice Hockey Club volunteers and Ice Hockey New Zealand for managing the finals. For the Stampede players who are hanging up their skates for the last time and to Coach Cam we thank you for your service and sacrifices over these many years. You are all legends. As ever, it was our pleasure to host the Championship games. We will see you all next year!

Come down to the rink tomorrow night from 6:45pm–7:45pm for our Fan Appreciation Night.

Skate with the team, get signatures and photos, and hang out with the boys.

A massive thank you for all your support this season. We’d love to see you there!

Coach Cam has been the heart and soul of this team as long as we can remember; he had guided them through the toughest of times and got them to the top over and over again. It’s been a pleasure Coach Cam, thank you for everything! ❤️💙💛

Very limited spaces remaining in both age groups for the GPS power skating camp with expert coach Christian Grunnah, November 7-8. Secure your spot now: https://www.queenstownicearena.co.nz/grunnah-power-skating

🧊 🪒 ❄️ Find the Speed to Succeed GPSHockeySchool.com . #hockey #grunnahpowerskating #powerskating #hockeyskills #hockeydrills

ATTENTION !! OUR PUBLIC SESSION IS FULLY BOOKED TODAY - LIMITED WALK INS AVAILABLE!!