Windsor Arena has been home to the Windsor Lancers since the 2008-2009 OUA hockey season. (CBC News)

Chances to see elite hockey played at the nearly 100-year-old Windsor Arena are dwindling.

The University of Windsor Lancers men's hockey team will face the Waterloo Warriors at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. It will be the final regular season university game at The Barn.

'It's quite a thing to think that arena is not going to be The Barn anymore.'— University of Windsor athletic director Gord Grace

The Lancers will hold a ceremonial puck drop marking the importance of the game. They will also honour their senior players. The Lancers have called The Barn home since the 2008-2009 season. That's when the OHL's Windsor Spitfires moved into the new WFCU Centre.

"It’s quite a thing to think that arena is not going to be The Barn anymore," Windsor athletic director Gord Grace said.

The Lancers will play at least one playoff game at The Barn — more if they continue winning.

The ice will be removed from Windsor Arena for good at the end of this winter. An urban mall will eventually replace the arena built in 1924.

"Great players, great athletes and great teams have played in that facility. There’s quite a tradition there," Grace said. "We have a lot of local players. They grew up playing in the barn. I think they recognize its significance, for sure."

So does Grace.

"Heck, even a guy like me played in The Barn once before," said Grace, who skated there as a peewee hockey player in the 1970s. "It is quite a place. A lot of hockey was played on that corner for a long time."

Lancers soon to be on the move

The closure means the Lancers are homeless after the season ends. Grace said he's "had conversations with all communities" about the relocation of the Lancers.

The team has never operated outside Windsor but Grace said it must consider the possibility of playing outside the city limits.

Capacity, locker rooms and location all need to be consider when deciding on where next to call home.

"Ideally you want to make it easy for your student fans to come and watch your games," he said. "We’re keeping all our options open because we’re not sure it’s feasible to stay with the city of Windsor."