The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) returned to the storied ice of the Ed Lumley Arena at the Cornwall Civic Complex on Friday, for the first time since extensive renovations were completed last year. <\/p>\n
The building that was once home to the beloved Cornwall Royals has been undergoing an extensive refit program over the past year designed to extend the life of the facility. <\/p>\n
![\"Hockey](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/0908-co-ohl07.co_.jpg\")
The Kingston Frontenacs Adam Kelly moves to check Ottawa 67\u2019s Brayden Jaravata during an exhibition game held in the Ed Lumley Arena on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Cornwall, Ont. The Frontenacs won 4-3. Robert Lefebvre \/ Special to the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder<\/p>\n
Over the summer of 2025, the arena received new rink boards, glass and the refrigerated ice floor was also replaced<\/a>. While the Cornwall Colts of the Central Canada Hockey League played at the arena during the 2025-26 season, this is the first time the OHL has returned to the facility since Sept. 21, 2024. <\/p>\n Talked to a couple of boys pre-game and they were saying how nice the facilities looked and it was better than we expected, to be honest<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tAndrew Laurin Facing off on Friday night in an exhibition game were the Kingston Frontenacs and the Ottawa 67\u2019s. The Frontenacs won 4-3<\/a>, after Adam Kelly scored the go-ahead goal with just under four minutes left in the game. <\/p>\n Kingston had jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the halfway point of the second period, off goals from Landon Wright, Alex McLean, and Robin Kuzma. <\/p>\n At about the 14-minute mark of the second, the 67\u2019s Andrew Laurin scored an unassisted goal to get Ottawa on the board. Zach Houben would net his own unassisted goal to open the third period, and eight minutes later Teddy Spitznagel would tie the game 3-3, until Kelly\u2019s marker sealed the win for Kingston. <\/p>\n Cornwall Tourism\u2019s coordinator of events, marketing, and rentals Justine Viray-Levac said the civic complex and Ed Lumley Arena were ready to welcome back the OHL and hockey fans. <\/p>\n \u201cI feel the energy is really great in the arena. We have a lot of families and locals and people from Ottawa and Kingston coming down too,\u201d said Viray-Levac. \u201cPeople can see everything is brighter and newer and what we can offer.\u201d <\/p>\n \t\tEditor\u2019s Picks\t<\/p>\n There were 1,013 fans in the stands to watch Friday night\u2019s game, which is under a quarter of the arena\u2019s capacity. <\/p>\n Thomas Meek, an OHL fan that was at the game on Friday night, was wearing his Cornwall Royals<\/a> jersey, and said it reminded him of fond memories and of the history that the OHL has in that building. <\/p>\n He said that if Cornwall were to host an OHL team again, he\u2019d be a regular at those games. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d be coming and my brother too,\u201d he said. \u201cHe used to take me to Royals games when I was younger, so I\u2019d come when we had the team. We went to out-of-town games too.\u201d <\/p>\n Meek said that he would be a season-ticket holder if the OHL returned to Cornwall on a permanent basis. <\/p>\n The players were impressed with the quality of the renovations at the arena. <\/p>\n Ottawa 67\u2019s goaltender Jayden Nelson<\/a> is from Ottawa, and grew up playing hockey in and around the area, including against the Cornwall Colts when he played for the Navan Grads. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always great playing here,\u201d he said. \u201cThe ice was great.\u201d <\/p>\n 67\u2019s right-winger Andrew Laurin said this was his first time playing in Cornwall. <\/p>\n \u201cIt looked great. Ice is great. Talked to a couple of boys pre-game and they were saying how nice the facilities looked and it was better than we expected, to be honest,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n During the first period of the game, a few of the glass panels above the rink boards popped loose after a hard hit into the boards. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was a big hit,\u201d said Laurin. \u201cTwo big boys going at it. It is going to happen once in a while, especially with real glass instead of the practice stuff.\u201d <\/p>\n Civic complex facilities staff members quickly repaired the glass and boards so play could resume. <\/p>\n Friday night\u2019s game was just a taste of what was in store for the rest of the season. <\/p>\n Next month on Oct. 16-17, the Seaway Shootout will be taking place at the Ed Lumley Arena<\/a>. <\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOttawa 67\u2019s player<\/p>\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/0908-co-ohl02.co_.jpg\")
These two spectators got into the fun of making themselves seen during the exhibition game between the Kingston Frontenacs and Ottawa 67\u2019s at the Ed Lumley Arena on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Cornwall, Ont. The Frontenacs won 4-3. Robert Lefebvre \/ Special to the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder<\/p>\n![\"View](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/0908-co-ohl05.co_.jpg\")
A view from behind Kingston Frontenacs goaltender Matthew Minchak\u2019s crease as he\u2019s ready for a shot from an Ottawa 67\u2019s player, during an exhibition game held in the Ed Lumley Arena on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Cornwall, Ont. The Frontenacs won 4-3. Robert Lefebvre \/ Special to the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder<\/p>\n![\"Ottawa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/0908-co-ohl03.co_.jpg\")
Ottawa 67\u2019s Brock Chitaroni (No. 17) comes in to congratulate Tedd Spitznagel after he scored a tying goal against the Kingston Frontenacs, during an exhibition game held in the Ed Lumley Arena on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Cornwall, Ont. The Frontenacs won 4-3. Robert Lefebvre \/ Special to the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder<\/p>\n![\"Hockey](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/0908-co-ohl06.co_.jpg\")
Ottawa 67\u2019s Nolan Jackson grabs the puck from behind the net during an exhibition game against the Kingston Frontenacs held in the Ed Lumley Arena on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Cornwall, Ont. The Frontenacs won 4-3. Robert Lefebvre \/ Special to the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder<\/p>\n