Ice hockey may be Canada’s national winter sport, but it can be surprisingly difficult to find an outdoor ice rink in Toronto for a casual game of shinny.
Despite having plenty of skating arenas and trails, many popular rinks in the city actually ban hockey sticks and pucks during public skates for safety reasons, including Nathan Phillips Square and The Bentway.
However, fret not, as there are still a number of outdoor rinks for an informal game of shinny. While wearing full equipment isn’t mandatory, the city recommends participants wear their own hockey gloves and a neck guard. They must also bring their own skates, sticks, and pucks.
Shinny games at city-run rinks are not supervised unless otherwise noted, and players must follow the following rules: no body contact, no goalies, the puck must stay on the ice, no slap shots are allowed, and only one puck is allowed on the ice during a game.
Here are five outdoor rinks to play shinny hockey at in Toronto:
1. Trinity Bellwoods Park
This popular Toronto park off Queen West has dedicated ice times for shinny hockey. You can find their schedule of drop-in programs on the City of Toronto website here, with morning, afternoon and evening slots for youth, women-specific, adult, and unsupervised games.
Where: 790 Queen St. W, Toronto
2. Dufferin Grove
Dufferin Grove Park spans 5.3 hectares, located just south of Bloor Street West. The artificial outdoor rink is at the park’s north end, along with a clubhouse. Visit their page here for times for shinny, which includes youth, adult, and women-only times.
Where: 875 Dufferin St, Toronto
3. Christie Pitts
Conveniently located across from the Christie subway station, Christie Pitts Park is a favourite for shinny hockey enthusiasts. The skating rink was named in 2017 after Toronto local and NHL player Sidney James Smith, who served as left-winger with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1946-58. You can find their shinny schedule on the City of Toronto website here.
Where: 750 Bloor St W, Toronto
4. Kew Gardens
Enjoy a game of shinny at these beautiful little park, Kew Gardens, which runs from Queen Street East to Lakeshore. The artificial skating rink is prime for shinny hockey during the winter months, and you can find their schedule for shinny times here. After, stroll along the waterfront via the park’s south end.
Where: 2075 Queen St E, Toronto
5. Cedarvale Park
Home to both an artificial outdoor rink as well as the indoor Phil White Arena, Cedarvale Park is a hub for outdoor activity. Here’s where you can find their shinny schedule, with availability for women-only, youth, adult, unsupervised, and more.
Where: 443 Arlington Ave., Toronto
6. Greenwood Park
North of Dundas East in the Toronto and East York District is Greenwood Park, another community space perfect for playing a game of shinny hockey. Greenwood Park also has the city’s first covered outdoor ice skating rink, plus, it has a pleasure skating trail located beside the rink, one of a growing number of skating trails in the city. Check out their shinny schedule here.
Where: 150 Greenwood Ave, Toronto
7. Ramsden Park
Ramsden Park in Toronto’s East York neighbourhood is home to a large outdoor rink, which also doubles as a tennis court in the summer months. See their complete shinny schedule here on the city website.
Where: 1020 Yonge St, Toronto
8. Riverdale Park East
Known for its iconic skyline views, Riverdale Park East may be famous for its tobogganing hill, but it also has an outdoor ice rink for a game of shinny. Click here for their schedule!
Where: 550 Broadview Ave, Toronto