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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-04-27, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27,1994. 2 Blyth hockey teams aim for Hall of Fame status By Rusty Blades The Blyth Lions Club and the Auburn and District Lions Club have joined forces to induct two local teams into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Not that they’ve been given immortal status just yet, but their team photos have been sent to the Hall for permanent inclusion in the team photo section. One section of the recently opened Hockey Hall of Fame is the Ford North American Zone which is dedicated to organized hockey throughout North America. Touch­ screen terminals in front of a large map of North American allow visitors to access information from the many places where hockey is played on this continent. For a $25 fee, teams from across North America are welcome to add their team photo to the computer database, so when a town's name is accessed the team and the photo will come up on a computer video screen, adding a grassroots element to the Hall as most inductees got their start in minor hockey associations throughout North America. The two Lions Clubs felt this was an excellent way to honour, and preserve, Blyth's two OMHA All­ Ontario Championship teams - the 1971-72 Pee Wees and the 1992-93 Bantams, so sent team photos of both teams for inclusion. Auburn and District Lions Club President Doug Chamney said, "Our club was thrilled to become involved in this endeavor as both of these championship teams had a strong Aubum presence with both players and team management." Blyth Lions Club President John Stewart, "The Blyth Lions Club realizes the commitment needed to win a championship such as this, and we felt this would be an appropriate way to show our thanks to these two teams for the recognition that they have brought to our village." The Hockey Hall of Fame was created as a home for the game's artifacts and a shrine to its honoured members. It has perpetuated the memory of the great men of hockey and has worked to advance the game while preserving its past. For many years the Hall of Fame was situated on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. Then in June 1993, after years of planning, the Hall moved to BCE Place at the corner of Yonge and Front Streets in downtown Toronto. The new Hall of Fame has been expanded and upgraded and incorporates all of the modem technologies around a beautifully restored historic former bank building. Its founding principles are those of education, entertainment and excellence. Thanks to the vision and creativity of its Chairman, Ian "Scotty" Morrison, the displays are bright and easy to follow and those with a sense of hockey history will surely be impressed. The new Hall is divided into separate zones, with each blighting a different aspect of hockey history while also encouraging a hands-on policy for visitors. As you enter the Hall the Toronto Sun Great Moments Zone is a glorious introduction to the great achievements in the game of hockey and reminds you what hockey is all about and what awaits within. The History Zone follows the evolution of the game from its primitive beginnings in the mid 19th Century. The Marquee Zone highlights all the different aspects of every National Hockey League arena. The Dressing Room Zone consists of a full scale exact reproduction of the Montreal Canadien's dressing room in the Montreal Forum. The TSN Broadcast Zone shows you the behind-the-scenes making of a television broadcast and it also lets visitors call the play-by-play of an actual hockey game. The Hartland Molson Theatre lets you enjoy the best moving images hockey has to offer. The Arena Zone showcases hockey legends as they are remembered with displays composed of artifacts from the Hall's collection. The Coca-Cola Rink Zone follows an interactive approach as visitors can play shut out and showdown against a computer target system. Around this plastic "ice" surface visitors can sit in seats taken from some of the greatest historic arenas in the NHL. The Household Family Zone depicts many scenes of minor hockey families including a reproduction of a 1950s family gathered around a television set, an attic full of hockey souvenirs and a scene showing the arrival of the rink. As mentioned earlier, the Ford North American Zone depicts the community based history of organized hockey in Canada and ’ the United States. The International Zone features artifacts representing decades of international competitions from 32 different countries. Also monitors are set up showing games from several of these countries. The Esso Theatre offers programs featuring archival film footage. Special events and receptions are also held in the theatre. The highlight of any visit must be the Bell Great Hall. Built in 1885 and originally used as a bank, the bell Great Hall has been painstakingly restored to its original splendour. Measuring 55 feet by 55 feet, the room rises to a For posterity’s sake Members of the Blyth and Aubum Lions Club decided recently that two Blyth hockey teams deserve Hall of Fame recognition. The clubs are sending pictures of the 1971-72 PeeWees and the 1992-93 Bantams the only two Blyth teams to ever take the All-Ontario championship title. Pictured, from left: Auburn Lions President Doug Chamney, Ken Stewart, who played with the championship PeeWees, his son Chris, of the 1991-92 team, and John Stewart, Blyth Lions president. 45 foot high stained glass dome. The walls hold portraits and biographies of each of the 289 honoured members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. In the centre, flanked by cases containing trophies including the Vcnzina, Hart and Calder, stands the most famous and coveted trophy of them all - the Stanley Cup. The last stop on the tour is the Spirit of Hockey shop which affords visitors an opportunity to take home more than just great' memories. The store offers a complete selection of quality hockey merchandise, everything from books and videos to a full line of apparel. Deep within the Hall of Fame lies a department whose purpose is to collect, organize and preserve any type of documentation related to hockey. This is the Resource Library and Archives. Home to the world's largest collection of scrapbooks, books, programs and hockey guides, the centre even includes hockey cards, schedules and ticket stubs as well as 250,000 images in the photo library. This abundance of information is valuable to anyone with an interest in hockey's heritage and the public is invited to use these facilities by appointment. For 50 years the Hockey Hall of Fame has preserved the memory of the great people of hockey and has worked to advance the game while preserving its past. Now more than ever, the Hall is equipped to carry its mission into the next century. If you visit the Hall of Fame, an underground thoroughfare connects the Hall of Fame with the Union Station subway stop. Those driving downtown on the Gardiner Expressway should take the Yonge Street exit. There is public parking in BCE Place adjacent to the Hockey Hall of Fame or in other nearby lots. For more information regarding the Hockey Hall of Fame and/or information concerning the team photo display call the Hall at 1-416-360-7735. Municipal Enumeration '94 ® Ontario A 1994 Municipal Enumeration form has been sent to your household. With it is a brochure which tells you about the enumeration and how to complete the form. There is also a postage-paid return envelope. The information on the form will be used to prepare voters' lists for the November 14th municipal and school board elections, to direct your school taxes, and to help with municipal and school board planning. I l^lf the information on the form is about the people who live in your household, please make sure it is up-to-date...fill in any missing information...and correct any wrong information. Sign, date and return the form by May 10th. |l^If the information on the form is about a previous owner or tenant, please cross it out and provide the correct information. The illustration in the brochure shows how to do this. Sign, date and return the form by May 10th. 0if the information on the form is correct and you have no changes, please sign, date and return the form by May 10th. If you need help or further information, please call the number shown on your form.