Toronto relaxes COVID-19 rink rules as winter activities move ‘toward normal’
The Toronto Red Wings practice. The franchise, which moved from Detroit for a new arena in 2000 and in turn forced the Maple Leaf Gardens to close, has gone through a lot of changes since it opened its temporary ice rink at city hall in the summer of 2016. (Brian Quinn/The Globe and Mail)
The Red Wings will be holding their annual game and training camp at Maple Leaf Gardens this fall. This will be the third year in a row that the franchise will be in Toronto.
The Leafs made official the Red Wings’ practice facility earlier this month at city hall, announcing it would be used by all three Red Wings affiliates: the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Detroit Red Wings and the Grand Rapids Griffins.
A long-time fan favourite, the Wings are looking to build on a promising season where they have been one of the NHL’s best for most of the past decade.
“We’re happy with the organization’s first step with that rink,” said Dave Lewis, who used to be general manager of the Blue Jays. “We have a full season to get this thing open, get this thing functioning and start to build it into the hockey market it’s going to be.”
The Toronto Red Wings have decided to stay at their temporary hockey rink at city hall. The Leafs are still in the process of opening their new arena, which will be in a building that is currently under construction in the east end of the downtown area.
The Red Wings want to give the Leafs a warm welcome before their new arena is ready in time for the 2019-20 NHL season.
The Red Wings have a lot of history here in Toronto, as one of the NHL’s original franchises and the home of the Maple Leafs from 1926 to 1996.
“We are certainly looking forward to returning to the City of Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens,” said Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman.
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