Paramount Ice shooting to build three-rink campus in Aurora

Concept will provide private developmental centre for education, hockey

Yorkregion.com
February 28, 2019
John Cudmore

A private hockey enterprise is eager to construct a three-rink complex in Aurora.

The north-east corner of Leslie Street and St. John’s Sideroad is the targeted location for the complex, and the goal is to be operational for September 2020.

But before ice rental groups get too excited about additional options, the facility is aiming to be almost entirely self-sufficient as a hockey-oriented school operated by Paramount Ice Inc.

Paramount North -- as the facility will be known -- will blend an education curriculum for students from first grade through high school with hockey development.

“We are a school which runs our own programs,” said Paramount managing partner Jeff Amaral. “It will be a pure development centre and the education aspect is huge.

“Times are changing, and parents want more for their money.”

Attempts to contact the Town of Aurora for comment during the past week have been unsuccessful.

The campus is similar to sports-themed schools such as Everest Academy in Thornhill and The Hill Academy in King Township, where students combine academics with sport training in a prep school environment.

The eventual target is for 400 to 500 students attending the school.

The centre will house Paramount’s second educational centre; the company opened a school in North York in 2015.

The Aurora facility is expected to contain a 500-seat arena bowl and two practice rinks, plus a 6,000-square-foot fitness centre.

Amaral said that some hours may be made available to community users, but the bulk of prime and daytime hours will be filled by training programs directed at Paramount students and community programs.

“We are always going to offer ice time, although we have ready-developed programs,” said Amaral. “We will work with organizations in Aurora and Newmarket. They are calling to ask what we are all about.

“We are willing to help them develop their programs. As a development centre, we are willing to take them by the hand. We want to be an elite centre.”

Aurora currently has five municipally-owned rinks -- including two each at the Aurora Community Centre and Stronach Aurora Recreational Centre. In addition to a single pad at the Aurora Leisure Complex, St. Andrew’s College operates its own rink.

Amaral said that the centre is capable of hosting events such as the OHL player combine as well as concerts, shows and other community events.

Amaral is confident that the concept has already proven itself. A major point is the fact that the facility will be used throughout the day; many municipal rinks sit idle until rentals start in the early evening hours.

“We’re not worried about filing it,” he said. “The athletes are there. And everybody is moving to towns in the area. It’s a different model, so we’re confident we can fill the time.

“It’s always been on the radar to do something in the north (end of York Region), so Aurora was on my list and I’m happy to jump on it.”

He said the target date is for the start of the 2020-21 school year.