Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57
STMHA Rink @ Joe Thornton Community CentreJumbo’s House
St. Thomas, Ontario, is mainly known for two things. First, it’s where the unfortunate death of Jumbo The Elephant took place. A member of Barnum and Bailey’s Travelling Circus, Jumbo was an African elephant who met a tragic end when he was hit by a train in September 1885. The town honors this event with a large statue of Jumbo. St. Thomas is also recognized as the hometown of NHL Hall of Famer Joe Thornton. It’s home to the Junior B St. Thomas Stars of the GOHL as well. With a population of 42,000, St. Thomas sits south of London. The Stars were founded in 1961 as the Barons and have had a long history in Junior B hockey, including a season where local hero Thornton played for them. The team spent some time in both Junior A and Junior C leagues but primarily played at the Junior B level over their existence. They adopted the name Stars in 1984 and are currently owned by Joe Daniels. Other notable alumni include Gregory Campbell, Dan Cloutier, John Cullen, Logan Couture, Brian Willsie, and Bo Horvat. The Stars call the Joe Thornton Community Centre home. Built in 2005 and originally named Timken Community Centre, it serves as a community hub featuring two NHL-sized rinks, a walking track, and various community rooms. The team plays its games at the STMHA Rink which is named after the St. Thomas Minor Hockey Association. In 2018, following Timken Canada closing their manufacturing plant in St. Thomas four years prior, the city renamed the community centre to honor Joe Thornton.Food & Beverage 3
In the upper lobby is where you’ll find the main concession stand offering fries , chicken fingers , poutine , onion rings , hot dogs , and burgers. Drinks available include soda , coffee , tea , and hot chocolate. Inside STMHA Rink’s northwest corner is where you can find Ice Box serving alcoholic drinks with a small beer selection along with some snacks.Atmosphere 3 The Joe Thornton Community Centre boasts an appealing exterior featuring brown brick accentuated with lighter bricks. Visitors are welcomed under a peaked canopy with large windows that let in natural light into the lobby. Upon entering , fans first encounter a permanent ticket window before stairs leading up to an upper lobby. Once you reach that upper lobby , it’s clear who this venue pays tribute to as there are images of Joe Thornton everywhere. A complete set of framed jerseys hangs above the staircase. You can also find St. Thomas Wall of Fame here featuring Toronto Maple Leafs legend “Hap” Day alongside actress Rachel Mc Adams with Thornton. There are several trophy cases on this level too , one dedicated specifically to Stars achievements. Entry into STMHA Rink showcases NHL action shots featuring locals like Thornton alongside Cory Emmerton , Greg Mc Kegg , and Rumun Ndur displayed above windows around there. Within STMHA Rink itself, the ice runs west-to-east surrounded by seating and protective netting all around it. The walking track lies just behind these seats. The best spot for seeing centre ice logo comes from directly south. Nine rows offer plastic arena seating while standing room backs up against those seats supported by drink rails. In northwest corner hang banners showcasing Star’s accolades including one celebrating their winning Sutherland Cup championship back in ’87 within Ontario’s Junior B division.
Banners honoring careers Dan Clouitier Logan Couture Brian Wilsie plus another commemorating recent induction (2025) into Hockey Hall Of Fame alongside him proudly decorate wall space while multiple stars markings colors enhance overall ambiance throughout rink!
The game day experience at any given Stars match resembles what you’d expect from other teams competing within same league; promotions take form via program raffles alongside regular fifty-fifty draws! Speakers installed work quite well allowing easy comprehension thanks PA announcer conducting announcements without issue!
Neighborhood Rating :/ P >
Joe Thornton Community Centerlieseastof Downtown St Thomas Manybarandrestaurantchoicesexistprimarilychainoptions. Boston Pizza Chuck’s Roadhouseareamongthembutlocalfavoritesinclude Legends Tavernand Harry’s Charcoal Broiled.”
The Starsrepresentonlyoptionavailableforfanslookingforotherathleticentertainment, aquickdriveoverto Londonwillleadto London Knightsduringseasonforyourfix! Otherattractionsaroundincludethe Elgin County Railway Museum, CASORailway Station St Thomas Elevated Park Elgin Military Museumandofcourse Jumbo Elephantmemorial Foraccommodationoptionslike Holiday Inn Comfort Innarenotfarawayfromhere!
Fans Rating : Four
The Starshaveanexcellentfanfollowing. For20242025seasonaveraging640attendancespermatchranked5th GOHLwhilecurrentrankingwhenwritingwassixthtotal537sawgamebeingreviewed. Typicalfanpresence Ontarioquietreservedenjoystheexperiencewithoutmakingmuchnoise!
<PCLASS=Dfn POWLJN Swgt ZQlm36Di R=AUTOIDVIEWEREJTWI48204Joe Thornton Community Centerislocatedeastof Downtown St Thomas Aboutkmsouth Highway12km SEHighway401Gettingthereisnotdifficultwithplentyoffreeparkingavailable Onsite Publictransitstopslocated Caso Crossing Talbotshouldbeconsultedvia Local Motionwebsiteforfareschedulesmaps Makingyourwayaroundthearenaissimplewashroomfacilitiesadequateforthevenue/<PCLASS=Dfn POWLJN Swgt ZQlm36Di R=AUTOIDVIEWE488143230Anextramarkgoestothe Joe Thornton Community Centreascommunityhub.
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