Sault Memorial Gardens The Sault Memorial Gardens was the focal point of ice hockey in Sault Ste . Marie , Ontario , for 57 years from 1949 to 2006 . It was located in the heart of the downtown district at 169 Queen Street . The Gardens was the first Northern Ontario arena to have artificial ice , and seated 3 , 990 spectators . The arena was built as a World War II war memorial , and hosted several teams over the years , but was primarily home to the Sault Ste . Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League . The Memorial Gardens was ultimately replaced by the Steelback Centre , built directly adjacent to where the Gardens once stood . After bankruptcy , Essar Steel had purchased the naming rights to the facility . Beginning of an era . On January 7 , 1946 , the City of Sault Ste . Marie voted to construct a new recreational facility with an arena . It was approved by city residents via questionnaire to replace the then existing Gouin Street Arena . Plans originally intended the facility to be multi - purpose , including an indoor pool , auditorium , and large outdoor fountains . Cost estimates at the outlook of the project were in the range of $ 400 , 000 . The official groundbreaking ceremony took place on September 18 , 1946 . Work on the massive structure would take two and a half years to complete . Once completed , total costs were approximately $ 765 , 000 . The Memorial Gardens officially opened February 20 , 1949 , with a crowd of 8 , 500 to mark the official dedication . About the Gardens . The design of the Gardens ' front facade was representative of Streamline Moderne architecture style , using straight lines and curved forms . The main entrance and lobby were on the first floor at street level , and the Greyhounds team offices were on the second floor above . Inside the front doors , the lobby featured cast iron gates through which spectators filed to have their tickets taken . Inside these gates were concessions and entrances to the seating areas . The seating area had main concourse around the top of arena , and an aisle around the boards at ice level for movement of spectators . The benches for hockey teams , and penalty boxes were located in these aisles . The seats were all wooden benches , painted light blue . The Gardens had more rows of seats at the ends of the arena , than along the sides . The concourse and seats along the sides , sloped downwards from the end sections , towards the middle sections . As a result of this there were four full sections in the Gardens in which every single seat was tilted on a diagonal angle . The upper concourse area was very narrow , along the sides , and it was also the standing room area . Memorial Tower . The Gardens ' most distinctive feature was the Memorial Tower and red - lighted beacon . The beacon was lit on nights the Greyhounds played home games . The tower was also in commemoration of soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II . At the base of the tower , inside the building , stands a list among wreaths , bearing the names of those of Sault Ste . Marie ' s bravest who did not return . The tower is all that remains from the demolished structure of the Gardens . Other features . Inside the Gardens , high above the ice at the south end was a memorial fresco featuring stained glass panels and a bronze angel , commemorating the war dead . The exterior of the south end of the arena had a large Greyhounds logo and a list of all the years that Sault teams have won league championships and the Memorial Cup . Underneath the stands on the east side , in the corridor beside the Greyhounds dressing room was the " Greyhounds alumni wall . " Every Greyhounds alumnus had his name painted on the wall under the year which he graduated from the team . The exact wording at the beginning of the list read : End of an era . The last Greyhounds game was played on March 28 , 2006 , a playoff game versus the London Knights . David Bolland of the London Knights scored the last goal , in game four of the first round playoff series . The building was officially decommissioned and closed to the public on April 9 , 2006 in much the same fashion that it was ceremonially opened . Royal Canadian Legion members and other dignitaries were on hand to bid farewell to an important piece of Northern Ontario , and Sault Ste . Marie ' s heritage . Demolition of the building ' s interior began on April 27 , 2006 , with final exterior demolition beginning May 27 , 2006 . At the time of demolition , the Sault Memorial Gardens was the second oldest operational arena in the Ontario Hockey League . Only the Windsor Arena was older . All that remains of the former building is the preserved Memorial Tower , and its beacon . The decision not to demolish the tower , shows its importance to local history , and to remember war veterans . The city block that contains the site of the tower , and the arena facility , is now known as " Memorial Square " . Events . The Memorial Gardens played host to the best of junior hockey in Canada , the Memorial Cup tournament in 1978 and 1993 . The 1979 OHL All - Star Game was also played here . The last big tournament played in the Gardens was the 2003 Canadian midget hockey championships , known as the Air Canada Cup . Aside from hockey , the 1990 Labatt Brier , the 1996 Canadian National Gymnastics Championship were hosted in the Gardens .