The Lucknow & District Sports Complex is the hub of the Lucknow & District Recreation Department. The facility consists of an activity/meeting room on the main level, a hall with a kitchenette and viewing area on the upper level, an NHL regulation size ice surface, and Moffitness Health & Fitness Centre.
The old arena facility was demolished and renovated in 1995. The renovation included the 200’ x 85’ NHL regulation size ice surface, the Lucknow Tourism Office, and the activity/meeting room on the main level. In 2010 the upstairs room was renovated by adding a viewing area of the ice surface. The upstairs area was renamed the Paul Henderson Hall at that time. In 2016, the downstairs activity/meeting room was renamed the Dave Farrish Champions Chamber. At the same time the front entrance area of the facility was named the Dave Farrish Foyer.
Paul Henderson and Dave Farrish are local hockey legends from Lucknow that had lengthy careers in the National Hockey League. Paul Henderson starred for Team Canada at the 1972 Summit Series and scored 3 game winning goals in the series vs. Russia including the series clinching goal. Dave Farrish went on to become a Coach in Professional Hockey and won the Stanley Cup as an Assistant Coach with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. Dave brought the Stanley Cup to Lucknow in August of 2007 to celebrate with the community as part of his day with the cup. Both of the rooms in the facility named after them include memorabilia and pictures from their professional hockey careers.
In 2017, a lighted entry sign was installed above the main entry doors of the facility. This sign honours and recognizes “Fina Bill” William R. Hunter. Bill will always be remembered for his dedication to the Lucknow & District Recreation Department and his name is renowned with minor sports teams and programs in Lucknow. Funds for the welcoming sign were used from the reserve account in the name of William R. Hunter with the balance being paid by the Lucknow & District Joint Recreation Board.
The ice is installed each year in late September directly following the conclusion of the Lucknow Agricultural Society Fall Fair. The hockey/ice season wraps up at the end of March. The facility plays hosts to many hockey teams and organization including the Huron Bruce Blizzard Minor Hockey Association, the Lucknow Lancers Senior Hockey Team, and the Lucknow Legends Senior Women’s Hockey Team. Hockey Tournament and special events are held at the Lucknow & District Sports Complex annually.
The arena floor is used for many non-hockey events and activities in the spring and summer months including Stag & Does, Shuffleboard, Pickleball, Lucknow Strawberry Summerfest (4th Weekend in June), 4-H Dairy Club Cattle Show (Civic Holiday Monday), Youth Ball Hockey, Lucknow Agricultural Society Fall Fair (3rd Weekend in September), and other special events.