Original Hockey Hall of Fame

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International Hockey Hall of Fame, 60th Anniversary Logo, Circa 2003

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Original International Hockey Hall of Fame, Logo, Circa 1943

The International Hockey Hall of Fame (IHHOF) and Museum located in Kingston, Ontario on the Kingston Memorial Centre grounds features many exhibits within their museum. In 2002 the IHHOF unveiled the “original six” collection, a tribute to the NHL’s original six teams and the stars of the NHL's golden era. Game-used sweaters and sticks as well as photographs of Hockey’s all-time greats are featured including Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, Gordie Howe and Johnny Bower. This collection is located on the main floor of the Hall. The Hall also features an international room devoted to highlights from some of the greatest moments in international hockey. Exhibits include an authentic gold medal won by Canada at the inaugural 1924 Winter Olympics, many game-used sweaters from international play, an autographed stick from the Soviet team that played Canada in the 1972 Summit Series, the 1980 USA’s “Miracle on Ice” exhibit and the 2002 Olympic games held in Salt Lake City exhibit, where Kingston’s Jayna Hefford scored the gold medal game winning goal for the Canadian Women's hockey team. Her sweater and photos from the team are on display. On the second floor of the museum there is a tribute to the NHL expansion teams and a collection related to the defunct World Hockey Association (WHA). This exhibit includes game-used sweaters from Wayne Gretzky’s rookie year in the WHA and his first sweater with the Edmonton Oilers from their inaugural season in the NHL in 1979-80 as well as three Howe game-used sweaters from the Houston Aeros (WHA) – Gordie, Mark and Marty.

Historic Hockey Series

^{[1] [2]} Each February since 1969 the IHHOF presents its annual Historic Hockey Series. The only event of its kind that any of the major sports can boast. The series is both a competition and demonstration of the first organized hockey game played on the Kingston Harbour in 1886 between Queen's University and the Royal Military College of Canada. These two teams make up the world’s oldest known hockey rivalry and the tradition continues 120 years later. The original style sticks and uniforms as well as the original rules of that era are used including a square puck, seven players per side and with no forward passing. Queen’s University and the Royal Military College of Canada compete along with the 2nd Regiment from the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery from Petawawa who represent the garrison soldiers stationed in Kingston in the 1880’s in a round-robin tournament.

The 38th Annual Historic Hockey Series took place on Sunday February 5 2006 on the new outdoor rink at Kingston’s downtown historic Market Square. The event was part of Feb Fest that included the 2nd annual Kirk Muller- Doug Gilmour Limestone Classic 3-on-3 tournament on Saturday February 4 2006. Many celebrities participated in the events including NHL alumni Kirk Muller, Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clark, Paul Coffey, Bob Probert, Steve Larmer. Marty McSorley, Dave Ellett, Mark Napier, Shayne Corson as well as actors Dan Aykroyd and Jason Priestley, members of The Tragically Hip, and many more.

History of the IHHOF

^[3] Founded on September 10 1943 and incorporated as a non-profit charity by the National Hockey League and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. The International Hockey Hall of Fame located in Kingston, Ontario is the world’s first Hockey Hall of Fame and the oldest sports Hall of Fame in Canada. In 1945 the NHL donated $7,500 followed by a $10,000 donation by the CAHA to the IHHOF. In 1947, the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs played exhibition games in Kingston to raise money for the IHHOF. On January 10 1952 the Montreal Canadiens defeated a team made up of Kingston and Montreal Junior players by the score of 16-4 in a fundraising game for the IHHOF in front of 3,562 fans at the Kingston Memorial Centre. By 1958, NHL President Clarence Campbell announced that the NHL is withdrawing their support for the International Hockey Hall of Fame in Kingston to establish the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Despite this major setback, the Board of Directors of the International Hockey Hall of Fame moved forward. In 1962, a grant was awarded by the City of Kingston for the construction of a new building. In 1965 the International Hockey Hall of Fame moved into their new building located on the Memorial Centre grounds in Kingston. In 1969, the NHL and the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto made unsuccessful overtures to obtain the IHHOF exhibits and the rights to the name “International Hockey Hall of Fame”. In August 1972 the IHHOF held Gordie Howe day at the museum where “Mr. Hockey” spent hours signing free autographs and meeting and greeting his fans. On August 7, 1976 over 2000 fans turned out to the IHHOF to meet Gordie Howe again at the unveiling of the WHA collection exhibit. In 1978 the IHHOF expanded and renovated, the first major renovation since 1965. Later in 1978 after the renovations were complete the IHHOF re-opened by none other than former NHL President Clarence Campbell who left the NHL in 1977. On July 25, 1990 the IHHOF held Bobby Hull day at the museum where the “Golden Jet” himself was on hand to unveil the Bobby Hull exhibit. In 1992 the IHHOF formed a five-year partnership with the International Ice Hockey Federation, which was not renewed in 1997. The IHHOF celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2003 and it turned out to be a very successful year for the Hall, they secured a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, launched their website and published a pictorial book called “Hockey’s Hub” on the history of hockey with proceeds going to further the IHHOF. On August 29 2005, they held Jean Beliveau day at the IHHOF which set an all-time one-day attendance record when thousands of hockey fans came to meet and greet Jean Beliveau who agreed to conduct a free autograph session at the Hall and display his collection of artifacts for the last time. Later in 2005 the IHHOF announced that there goal is to relocate to a new state of the art facility in downtown Kingston within the next 24 to 36 months.

Mandate of the IHHOF

The official mission statement of the International Hockey Hall of Fame is "The International Hockey Hall of Fame's mission is to present educational experiences through exhibits that preserve, explore and celebrate the history of hockey; to recognize and honour the excellence of hockey heroes in their era; and to connect each generations to their hockey heritage and to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the hockey culture and experiences around the world."

Future Expansion

According to the International Hockey Hall of Fame website the following are there future expansion plans "The International Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum is working with the City of Kingston and the Kingston Area Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) to develop a long-term strategic plan. A recent heritage study was initiated by the City of Kingston to examine museums in the area and it is recommended that the IHHOF relocate closer to the tourist area in the downtown core of the city to improve its visibility as a tourist destination. The IHHOF goal is to move into a new state of the art downtown facility within the next 24 to 36 months."

See also

• British Hockey Hall of Fame
• Czech Ice Hockey Hall of Fame
• Dutch Hockey Hall of Fame
• Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame
• German Ice Hockey Hall of Fame
• Hockey Hall of Fame
• Russian and Soviet Hockey Hall of Fame
• Slovak Hockey Hall of Fame
• United States Hockey Hall of Fame

External links

• The International Hockey Hall of Fame official website

Notes

1. ^ Historic Hockey Series
2. ^ History of the IHHOF
3. ^ IHHOF Board of Directors
4. ^ Historic Hockey Series & Limestone Classic