The future of a community rink, which has seen several NHLers grow up on its ice, is now in jeopardy after a large storm tore the roof off the historic building.
Wind speeds up to 165 kilometres per hour were recorded by Environment Canada as the storm pummelled Foxwarren, Man. around 6:45 a.m. on Sunday.
#VICTOR, #SAINT-LAZARE, #FOXWARREN, NEED TO TAKE SHELTER NOW!!!
Violent damaging wind gusts detected on radar of 165km/h on this storm tracking to the northeast.
Get to your safe place immediately!
– Adam (6:46 AM – Sun, Aug 25, 2024) #mbstorm pic.twitter.com/DqayiCkR2J
— Instant Weather Manitoba ⚡️ (@IWeatherMB) August 25, 2024
Pictures and videos on social media show a large gaping hole down the length of the east side of the building.
The rink was built in 1949 and was home to 1991 Memorial Cup MVP and second-overall draft pick Pat Falloon, as well as former professional players Mark Wotton and Ron Low. The town’s senior team, the Foxwarren Falcons, also holds 11 North Central Hockey League championships and was a powerhouse for many years.
The community was once a bustling town but has dwindled in size over the years. It now has a population under 100 and residents expressed worry online about how they might recover.
Manitoba Infrastructure closed Highway 475 through the town yesterday due to debris from the rink on the road.
Foxwarren is on the Yellowhead Highway, approximately 280 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, near the Saskatchewan border.