If this is it, then my Arena pick shouldn't matter...
So I'm picking the place my favourite player of all time learned the game.
From Brantford Minor Hockey Association:
In 1960, he married Phyllis Hawkin and began a family. Wayne was born in 1961, followed by daughter Kim and sons Keith, Glen and Brent. Wayne showed great interest in hockey almost from the cradle. His grandmother would become his first goalie. Walter spent many cold nights watching Wayne at neighborhood rinks and finally decided to put a rink in the backyard. It would become affectionately known as the "Wally Coliseum". Walter coached Wayne in his first year of hockey and decided that was enough! He went on to coach Jr. B in Waterford and was instrumental in the development of Doug Jarvis, Stan Jonathan and Jim Turkiewicz.
From Wiki:
Born and raised in
Brantford,
Ontario,
Gretzky honed his skills at a backyard rink and regularly played
minor hockey at a level far above his peers. Despite his unimpressive stature, strength, and speed, Gretzky's intelligence and reading of the game were unrivaled. He was adept at dodging checks from opposing players, and he could consistently anticipate where the puck was going to be and execute the right move at the right time. Gretzky also became known for setting up behind the net, an area that was
nicknamed "Gretzky's office" because of his skills there.