The Honey and Barry Memorial Arena is on track to open in Vaughan in July 2025! Recently, organisers of the legacy project announced two new partnerships with past and present hockey stars that will help the arena engage with the community even further. Under the leadership of former NHL star Gary Roberts (who played 21 seasons in the NHL, including a stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2000 to 2004), his elite sports and executive training company, Gary Roberts Performance, will act as the new arena’s anchor tenant.
This partnership will further enhance the arena’s offerings, allowing locals to access one of hockey’s top physical training programs in the country. During the hockey off‐season, the 12,500-square-foot NHL-sized purpose‐built arena will be home to elite players from professional hockey leagues across North America. Throughout the year, Gary Roberts Performance will also offer executive fitness training, nutrition and lifestyle programs, and a world-class rehabilitation facility to the public.
“We are thrilled to call the Honey and Barry Memorial Arena our new home. This cutting‐edge facility will greatly enhance our offerings, and allow for seamless on‐ and off‐ice training for the hockey community and beyond,” Roberts said in a statement. “It’s especially meaningful to partner with such an incredible community institution that harnesses the power of community engagement through sport to build bridges and foster values among youth.”
Toronto-born Edmonton Oilers star Zach Hyman (who is a long-time Gary Roberts Performance athlete) will also be calling the arena his new summer home as part of the Hyman Hockey Camp, starting in 2025! This camp will give youth, regardless of financial circumstances, the ability to experience a world‐class hockey program.
“The Greater Toronto Jewish community is very special to me. It’s where I grew up, built lifelong friendships, and developed a passion for hockey,” Hyman said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to share that passion with the next generation of players through my hockey camp. It’s a privilege to do so at such an incredible facility serving the Greater Toronto Jewish community and residents of all faiths and cultures.”
The arena is a legacy project in memory of community leaders Honey and Barry Sherman. According to their son, Jonathan Sherman — who donated $52 million to build the arena — these new partnerships will help to elevate the arena’s reach “to capture the imagination of our youth,” and bring it down to a level that is reality. As accessibility is key to the arena’s founding principles, subsidies will also be provided for families who need support.
“When we set out on this ambitious project, I could only have dreamed of what it has become. I am now more confident than ever that the arena will stand as a lasting legacy to my late parents, and one they would be proud to see take shape,” Sherman said in a statement.
The arena is being built on the southwest corner of Lebovic Campus Drive and Bathurst St, connecting to the Schwartz/Reisman Centre. In addition to its world-class hockey programming, it will serve as a gateway for local Jewish families to build relationships with other community members and connect to other residents of all faiths and cultures over a shared love of sports.
