Knapper Center Saint John
Opening in spring 2026, the Knapper Center Saint John will offer a modern, professional, and fully accessible sports experience — including premium indoor and outdoor ball hockey surfaces, youth development programs, adult leagues, and community-driven events.
Our mission is simple: build a dynamic, inclusive, and innovative hub for players, families, and the entire Saint John community.
Overview
Knapper is officially expanding into Atlantic Canada with the launch of the very first Knapper Center in New Brunswick, located in McAllister Industrial Park on Saint John’s east side.
This state-of-the-art facility represents a major milestone in Knapper’s nationwide growth strategy.
Construction is already underway, with the grand opening scheduled for spring 2026. This will be the first 100% dedicated ball hockey facility in the province, designed to elevate the sport and support long-term development for youth, adults, coaches, and high-performance players.
Why Saint John?
Saint John is a true hockey community with strong participation, a growing population, and exceptional development potential for ball hockey.
Knapper selected Saint John because:
- The region has a deep-rooted sports culture
- There is a fast-growing base of ball hockey players (over 1,500 players in Saint John, including 600 kids, and a few thousand more across New Brunswick)
- Local partners share our vision for community-driven sport development
- The east coast is ready for a modern, accessible, year-round ball hockey hub
“We chose Saint John because we see real energy here. We strongly believe in the development potential of players in this hockey city — especially in growing women’s participation. Saint John is ready to lead the way for ball hockey in Atlantic Canada.” — Patrick Bazinet, President, Knapper Partners Investment Fund
Economic & Community Impact
The Knapper Center Saint John represents the largest infrastructure investment in Knapper’s history.
The facility will serve as a long-term community anchor by offering:
- Recreational and competitive leagues
- Youth development programs
- School partnerships and camps
- Regional and provincial tournaments
- Corporate and community events
Knapper is actively collaborating with local schools, community leaders, and tournament organizers to build long-term sports programs that fuel growth across the region.
Job Creation
The new facility is expected to create 30–40 jobs, including:
- Facility Manager
- Assistant Manager
- Referees
- Scorekeepers
- Customer service & pub staff
- Event and seasonal support staff
These roles support year-round programming, development initiatives, and major events.
About the Sport: Ball hockey
Ball hockey is one of the fastest-growing sports in Canada, with:
- 150,000+ registered players nationwide
- Several thousand players in New Brunswick
- 1,500+ players already active in Saint John (including 600 kids)
Ball hockey is accessible, affordable, and inclusive — no ice time, no expensive equipment, and perfect for youth, adults – men and women – beginners, and competitive athletes.
The new Saint John league will operate fully aligned with recognized provincial and national governing bodies, ensuring structure, safety, and competitive integrity.
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About Knapper
Knapper is a Canadian leader in:
- High-performance ball hockey equipment
- Sports technology innovation
- Facility development & management
With deep roots in North American ball hockey, Knapper supports players of all genders and levels — from youth programs to elite international competition.