Oshawa Civic Auditorium
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The Oshawa Civic Auditorium is a 4,025-seat multi-purpose arena in Oshawa, Ontario Canada. It was opened in 1964, and was home to the Oshawa Generals ice hockey team of the Ontario Hockey League from December 1964 to October 2006. It is located at 99 Thornton Road South in the city's west end, with close proximity to Highway 401.
The arena was built as a replacement home for the Oshawa Generals, when the Hambly Arena burned down on September 15, 1953. When the Generals returned to the Ontario Hockey League for the 1963-1964 season with a partnership with the Boston Bruins, the team played in nearby Bowmanville, Ontario for one season until construction on the new arena was finished.
During its early years, the arena was the showcase for future Bruins such as Bobby Orr, Wayne Cashman, and coach Harry Sinden.
On April 22, 1979, the Auditorium became a concert venue, as it hosted a benefit concert for the CNIB by the Rolling Stones, after Keith Richards was charged with possession of heroin. Ironically, concert emcee John Belushi died of a heroin overdose in 1982. In May 2006, Alice Cooper appeared in concert at the Auditorium, perhaps one of the final acts to appear before the new arena (see below) opens.
In June 2005 construction began on a new arena for the city. The General Motors Centre will become home to the Oshawa Generals. It will be operated by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs). The complex will cost $45 million (CAD) and opened November 3 2006. The last Generals game in the arena was held October 29, 2006, versus the Kingston Frontenacs, in which the Generals won 8-6. Fittingly, the Generals also won their first game ever at the Civic, December 15, 1964, a 6-4 over the St. Catharines Black Hawks. Bobby Orr, aged 16 at the time, scored in that first game, while John Tavares, the Generals current star prospect, also age 16, scored in the final game.
