Dey ' s Arena Dey ' s Arena , also known as Dey Brothers Rink , Dey ' s Skating Rink and The Arena were a series of ice rinks and arenas located in Ottawa , Ontario , that hold importance in the early development of the organized sport of ice hockey in Canada . It was the home arena of the Ottawa Hockey Club , variously known as the " Generals " , the " Silver Seven " and the " Senators " from the 1890s until 1923 , although it is known that games were also played at the Rideau Skating Rink in the 1890s and the Aberdeen Pavilion in 1904 . The rink and arenas were built by two generations of the Dey family , who were prominent in Ottawa at the time , with a thriving boat works business serving the lumber business . The Dey family also played hockey . Rink history . First rink . The first rink was opened on December 20 , 1884 , and was located on the Rideau Canal at Waller Street and Theodore Street ( today ' s Laurier Avenue ) , next to the Dey Family boat works . The ice rink surface was 150 feet by 60 feet . This location is just south of the location today of the Federal Government Conference Centre , the old Union Station railway station . This arena was torn down in 1895 to make way for the Canada Atlantic Railway , which opened a station at Rideau Street and the Canal and laid rail tracks alongside the eastern bank of the Canal . The boat works moved to Patterson Creek at Bank Street in Ottawa . Dey ' s Skating Rink : Second rink , first arena . The second rink , an arena , opened on December 17 , 1896 . ' Dey ' s Skating Rink ' , its proper name , held an estimated 3 , 500 spectators . The ice rink measured 200 feet by 81 feet , one of the largest indoor ice surfaces in Canada at the time . The arena featured a bandstand that could be used as a press box , and elevated seats . This was possibly the first arena designed for ice hockey in Canada , the second in North America after the St . Nicholas Rink , which opened in New York one month earlier . Dey ' s Skating Rink was located at Bay and Ann ( now Gladstone ) Streets , the location at the time being on the city outskirts , but served by city streetcars . The arena was the site of the first Stanley Cup win by the Ottawa Hockey Club , in 1903 , and the site of numerous Stanley Cup challenge matches during the ' Silver Seven ' s ' reign from 1903 – 1907 , including the famous 1905 challenge of Dawson City . The arena was also the site of the final game of the 1906 championship playoff between Ottawa and the Montreal Wanderers , a game labelled the " Greatest Hockey Game in History . " by The " Sporting News " . The " Toronto Globe " called it the " greatest game of hockey ever played on Canadian ice , or any other . " Although Ottawa entered the game nine goals down in a two - game playoff , fan interest was exceptional . For the game , the rink was modified to hold more spectators , including setting up temporary bleachers , removing the grandstand which had been used as a press box , and the installation of a press box attached to the rafters . Over 5 , 400 would attend the game and the top $ 2 tickets were being sold for $ 10 . Betting interest was high , including one $ 12 , 000 bet . The rink was destroyed " twice " . In 1902 , a violent summer windstorm flattened the building . It was rebuilt in time for the 1902 – 03 hockey season . The replacement rink followed the ice dimensions of the Montreal Arena and had semi - circular ends , rather than squared with rounded corners . In 1920 , fire destroyed the rink , after which it was not rebuilt . Today , the city block it occupied is mostly single - family houses . Nearby , the McNabb arena and community centre was built one block west at Percy and Gladstone and is operated by the City of Ottawa . In 1997 , a commemorative plaque was unveiled at the rink ' s location at the corner of Bay and Gladstone . The plaque was stolen on April 14 , 2008 and its pedestal destroyed . A new memorial marker was installed and dedicated on November 17 , 2008 . The Arena : Third rink , second arena . The third rink was built in 1907 and was built because audiences for hockey matches had out - grown the previous arena . The spectator capacity was 7 , 000 , of which 2 , 500 was standing room . At the time , it was Canada ' s largest arena . ' The Arena ' , as it was called , was built on leased land at Laurier Avenue at the Rideau Canal , on the location of today ' s Confederation Park , near the current Ottawa city hall . This is very close to the location of the first rink , on the opposite bank of the Canal . It was leased from Esther Sherwood for the rate of $ 166 . 66 per month , for twenty years . The Arena opened on January 11 , 1908 for a game between Ottawa and the Montreal Wanderers , the top rivalry of the day . The last Senators game at the arena was held on March 10 , 1923 , after which the team moved to the Ottawa Auditorium . The Ottawa Auditorium was also built by the Deys , who were part owners of the Ottawa Senators . This third rink was torn down by the federal government at the end of the lease in 1927 to make way for the Driveway along the Rideau Canal . The Arena was used for the sports of ice skating and figure skating as well as hockey . The 1912 Canadian Figure Skating Championships were held in February 1912 at the Arena . Stanley Cup history . The various arenas hosted the 1903 , 1904 , 1905 , 1906 , 1910 , 1911 Stanley Cup challenges and the 1920 Stanley Cup Finals . The January 1905 challenge is likely the most famous between Ottawa and the Dawson City Nuggets , in which Frank McGee scored a still - record 14 times in a 23 - 2 romp , the highest scoring Stanley Cup game ever . The Dawson City team had travelled for twenty four days to reach Ottawa . The Stanley Cup was famously drop - kicked by Harvey Pulford into the Rideau Canal , after a banquet following the game at the Ottawa Amateur Athletic Club which was located nearby at Laurier and Elgin .