BRACEBRIDGE’S MUSKOKA LUMBER COMMUNITY CENTRE CLOSE TO OFFICIAL OPENING IN COMING WEEKS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — It’s game on … and the doors aren’t even officially open on the new Muskoka Lumber Community Centre.

The pros are already scrimmaging — and rumour is the Maple Leafs will make it their annual pre-season Muskoka cottage camp here next month.

Meanwhile finishing touches are underway in the days before next week’s kick-off.

This week’s soft opening of the at first blush impressive — if richly costly $60-million sports and arts extravaganza — is going smoothly save for a kid who lit up the rink today with one pull of the alarm.

An NHL practice Friday is already full with a “full waiting list” for the post autograph session.

A series of other events are available to welcome the public into the new community and rec space, which will also be anchored by a new library.

Meanwhile interior demolition of the former Bracebridge Memorial Community Centre continues after staring last week. The exterior is next to fall under the wreckers ball after 75 years of hockey supremacy.

See the Town of Bracebridge website for more details.

https://www.bracebridge.ca/news/posts/celebrating-the-opening-of-the-muskoka-lumber-community-centre/

Artist and welder Todd Thornley says he is happy with his pine cone centrepiece. The 1,850-pound metal hanging sculpture is a stunning focal point as you enter the MLCC.
But it’s the rink that most people will want to see as opening ceremonies and the first official puck drop and face off take place at the end of August.
Already there’s some scrimmaging and practising going on with the Muskoka Hockey Academy players christening the rink.
Among this week’s first to take the ice were a bunch of goalies going ga-ga in a game of ice volleyball.
It’ll be end to end action on this new slab of ice that’s holding up well under early play say the icemakers.
Artist Jim Bravo freehands his creation on a wall inside the lobby with just days to fill his white-walled canvas with a Muskoka lakeside scene. See his first one, a district IDEA, in Gravenhurst on Bethune Bistro.
MLCC’s field house includes what look like a couple of large indoor sports courts and fields with a running track on the floor around them.
A lot of equipment and acccoutrements like hoops and weights and other amenities are already installed throughout the facility that is destined to rival Bracebridge’s Sportsplex crsoss-town.
The lobby is coming together slowly, which will include a licensed snack bar in the centre right to be operated by Lake of Bays Brewing. It all looks out over the ice including as does a viewing venue from the second floor community room.

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