Saturday night was Hockey Night in Orillia at the Orillia Museum of Art and History, where hundreds of hockey and history fans joined to celebrate the game that has defined our nation.
The focal point of the evening was the much-anticipated unveiling of Orillia’s Top 10 hockey players of all time. The players who made the final list read like a who's who of hockey royalty in Orillia, spanning generations of the sport in the Sunshine City. The Top 10 are: Stu Burnie, John French, Chuck Goddard, Ron Leef, Rick Ley, Craig Lutes, Ken Macnab, Bob Mears, Brett Parnham and Richard Scott. Several of the players were on hand for the announcement and were honoured by the recognition.
The Top 10 were selected by an independent jury “of local hockey experts” that included Bill Watters, Ken ‘Jiggs’ McDonald, Bill Cartmill and Dave Dawson, in addition to local historian Dave Town.
As part of Hockey Night in Orillia, the famed Allan Cup – won in 1973 by the Orillia Terriers – and the John Ross Robertson Cup – won by the Orillia Younkers – were at the museum, on loan from the Hockey Hall of Fame, and proved popular with shutterbugs.
The evening was also the official opening of two exhibits that run until March 31: Hometown Glory: Orillia's Winter Sports and Breakaway: How Hockey Built a Nation.
For photos and a full story from Saturday night's event, check back with OrilliaMatters Sunday!
