Dignitaries and organizational representatives cut the ribbon to officially open the Cenovus Energy Hub in Lloydminster on Oct. 1, 2025. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

By Kenneth Cheung

INFRASTRUCTURE

‘A game changer’: $101.3M Cenovus Energy Hub now open in Lloydminster

Oct 2, 2025 | 10:19 AM

Lloydminster’s new $101.3 million Cenovus Energy Hub opened on Wednesday with speeches, a ribbon-cutting and a community barbecue.

But beyond the ceremony, it was a day when a group of young hockey players saw their dream of a more accessible rink take shape in steel and concrete.

The U13 Female Blazers, who won the 2022 Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup — the first female team to do so — donated $90,000 of their $100,000 prize to make the facility more inclusive.

Their campaign helped add features like barrier-free seating, accessible showers and penalty boxes designed for sledge hockey.

Members of the Lloydminster U13 Female Blazers pose inside the new Cenovus Energy Hub on Oct. 1, 2025. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

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Cenovus Energy Hub is located at 3905 – 39 Avenue in Lloydminster, Sask. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

“I think it’s really exciting that it’s finally opening up for the community, and I’m really excited to get to skate and play in the new ice,” said player Rose Tindall.

Head coach Justin Tindall said the push began after a player’s father, who’s in a wheelchair, couldn’t reach the penalty box at the old rink.

“That kind of got the ball rolling,” he said.

The team went on to host a sledge hockey night and tour other rinks in wheelchairs to point out barriers. Their efforts left a lasting mark on Lloydminster’s largest-ever sports and entertainment complex.

“You see between the ramp ways here, the accessibility in the penalty box, the benches being accessible for sledge hockey games,” Justin said.

“I think there’s going to be some big, big Paralympic tournaments held here in the future, and the girls are going to continue to see the fruits of their efforts.”

The 2,500-seat event arena that expands to 4,500 for concerts. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

Tracy Simpson, the city’s executive manager of community development and project manager for the Hub, said the Blazers’ advocacy set the tone.

“I would say early on, we were super, super interested in being an inclusive building, and that just grew exponentially when the U13 girls approached us and wanted to advocate for more accessibility than just kind of a standard design,” she said.

“We were really inspired by some of the advocacy and the priorities they wanted to set for the space.”

She added that the Hub was deliberately designed to exceed building codes. Washrooms have larger turning radiuses, railings around the event centre are adjustable, and there is wheelchair seating on every level.

“I would say that’s unique to this space,” she said, adding the Hub is “more accessible than some comparable centres.”

A $101.3 million facility

The Cenovus Energy Hub replaces the 58-year-old Centennial Civic Centre. The construction took 25 months to complete.

• Main arena: 2,500 seats, expandable to 4,500 for concerts
• Community arena: 500 seats
• Outdoor rink: Zamboni-maintained ice, doubles as a basketball court in summer
  The main lobby (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)
  (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

The Hub is expected to draw 170,000 visitors annually. It will serve as home ice for the Junior A Bobcats, Junior B Bandits, Lakeland College Rustlers and other community groups.

Mayor Gerald Aalbers said the focus was on functionality.

“Before we even started designing this facility, our city teams travelled Western Canada looking at recent construction of facilities similar to this to try and learn from that,” he noted.

“So the question was asked, ‘What was your best part of this and what did you regret not doing?’ And we’ve tried to take that into consideration in this building. So, that’s what’s led to a building that’s functional.”

“There’s not going to be gold-plated anywhere. It’s a functional facility that’s going to serve our community on multiple fronts for 364 days of the year.”

Lloydminster Bobcats’ changing room (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

The city has signed a partnership with the Vic Juba Community Theatre to help book acts. Simpson said two concerts are already being negotiated for 2026, with announcements expected later this year.

Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young, who also serves as Saskatchewan’s energy and resources minister, said she sees the Hub as both a sports and cultural venue.

“I have granddaughters that are playing hockey. They’ve already been here practicing and playing and watching Bobcat games,” she noted.

“I think as a gathering place, that’s how you create the success of a facility is the fact that you’re able to bring the community together for not just sports events, but, I’m hoping that as time goes, this is going to be an event center for concerts, for [other parts] of entertainment, for cultural events.”

One of the suites (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

Practical questions

– Parking: With 750 stalls and 4,500 seats, the city will promote carpooling and Park & Ride.

“If we were hosting a large event … we would highly encourage carpooling. We would encourage people getting dropped off. But we’re also going to be looking at Park and Ride opportunities so that we limit the number of cars coming to site,” Simpson said.

– Readiness: The building is about “98% complete.” The ice and concessions are open; only minor fixes and a liquor licence remain.

– Ticket pricing: Simpson said costs will vary by event, but affordability will be considered when booking shows.

(Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

Who paid for it

The Hub was financed by a mix of governments, business and the community:

• Government of Canada: $16,463,508
• Government of Saskatchewan: $16,665,000
• City of Lloydminster: $52,177,669 (cost-shared ICIP [Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program] contribution )
• RM of Wilton: $500,000
• Cenovus Energy: $5 million for 15-year naming rights
• Community fundraising: $6.35 million

John Soini, executive vice-president of upstream – thermal and conventional at Cenovus Energy, said the facility’s impact will be felt citywide.

“This facility … is actually going to bring people in from outside the community, to actually come and invest in the community. So I think that we’re going to see this benefit in restaurants. We’re going to see this benefit in gas stations, which is actually going to benefit the whole community in Lloydminster,” he said.

Looking ahead

For Aalbers, the Hub is about identity as much as economics.

“This hub is a game changer for our community, city, and greater area. It’s an investment in our economy, our identity, and our future that comes after us.”

For the Blazers, the excitement is simple.

“It will be different with all the changes that we made,” said Rose. “But I think it would all br just a fun time playing on the ice and doing what we love.”

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com