Jane Hobson, Centretown News
The Hockey Marching as to War exhibit will run until Jan. 22 at the Library and Archives Canada building on Wellington Street.Library and Archives Canada and The Hockey Hall of Fame have teamed up to launch a new exhibition: Hockey Marching as to War. The exhibition explains how the First World War impacted hockey history.
The exhibit opened Oct. 29 at LAC’s Wellington Street headquarters, and features photos, artifacts and trophies representing historic moments in the game and the war while highlighting hockey figures who fought. Detailed timelines of battles lined up with shifts in the game decorate the walls and interior of the exhibit.
“The exhibition illustrates the different ways Canadians can learn more about important periods in their history, in this case, by way of Canada’s favourite sport,” said Guy Berthiaume, Librarian and Archivist of Canada. “This partnership is an example of LAC’s continued efforts to make documentary heritage accessible and available to all Canadians.”
The partnership’s goal is to pay “tribute to all of those involved in the great game of hockey and who also served their country with this special exhibit,” said Craig Campbell, archives manager for the Hockey Hall of Fame. Many hockey leagues folded because many players were enlisted. The sport took a backseat to the war as citizens fought for their country.
Combined with the hall of fame’s historical hockey artifacts, the 1914-1918 war is shown from a different perspective. LAC has the country’s most extensive First World War archivale-collection, said Campbell.
The display includes a Victoria Cougars sweater that Frank Fredrickson wore during the 1924-1925 season of the Western Canada Hockey League. Many hockey jerseys changed during this time to honour the war. The Sens wore a Union Jack and Red Ensign on their jerseys to represent the two nations joining forces in the war.
There is also a mini Stanley Cup given to Conn Smythe, the owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs (1927-1961). Smythe renamed the St. Pats team to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1927, contributing to Canadian national identity after the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Soldiers wore a maple leaf badge on their uniforms with the leaf acting as a unifying symbol.
By connecting something as popular as hockey to the war it makes a meaningful connection, said Joel VanSnick the zone commander of the Royal Canadian Legion, who spoke at the formal opening of the exhibit.
“As soon as you bring out the poppy, it brings out a sense of awareness. And this is the point of this event, the act of remembrance,” said VanSnick. Linking the sport and the First World War together gives viewers the chance to reflect on hockey stars in a whole new light — as war heroes and the creators of historic moments.
“Our two collections have come together really well at this exhibition,” said LAC curator Carolyn Cook. “It’s a really nice way of tying the history of the First World War in with something so accessible like hockey.”
LAC officials say they want to create more traffic not only to increase awareness of Canada’s military and sporting history but also to increase public access to Canada’s documentary heritage. The hockey component is expected to draw more people because the sport is such a significant part of Canada’s national identity.
Berthiaume said hockey is in our “DNA”; it’s a “national pastime.”
On the opening weekend of the exhibit, the Memorial Cup, the Frank J. Selke Trophy and the Jack Adams Award were on display. The Memorial Cup, the top prize in junior hockey in North America, was named as a tribute to Canada’s war veterans.
The exhibit will run until Jan. 22.