Bonus Features

Moncton -- The Memorial Cup

Valerie: Look what showed up in Moncton! This is the Memorial Cup, the Stanley Cup of Junior Hockey and the keeper of the Cup, Les, is here to talk a little bit about the history. You know what? I had no idea what they were actually memorializing with the Memorial Cup.

Historian: It started in March of 1919 when the Ontario Hockey Association donated the Cup to commemorate the memory of Canadians who died in World War I.

Valerie: Oh, so this is about the fallen of World War I

Historian: Exactly. And it has been now competed for for eighty-eight years.

Valerie: Well, the very first one was 1919?

Historian: 1919 at the old Toronto Arena Gardens, the Toronto University Schools played the Regina Pats (Patricias) in a two-game total goal series and whipped them 29-8. But what’s interesting is that the game was delayed for an hour and a half because they were waiting for a battalion of veterans to arrive by train.

Valerie: So there’s huge emotion attached with this because of the military connection.

Historian: Exactly and it is considered to be the most difficult trophy to win in hockey because there are 58 teams who compete for it on an annual basis.

Valerie: Well, there are a lot of famous names on it.

Historian: Oh, let me give you a few. Somebody named Guy Lafleur who starred with the Montreal Canadiens. Bobby Bond of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Andy Bathgate who played for the Rangers and the Leafs.

Valerie: Lionel Conacher.

Historian: Lionel Conacher.

Valerie: Scotty Bowman.

Historian: Exactly.

Valerie: Paul Henderson.

Historian: Paul Henderson. Interesting little tidbit about Henderson. He won the Memorial Cup with the Hamilton Red Wings in 1962, May 9th. And he claims that that was the highlight of his hockey career, not considering the big goal that he scored in the summer series of ’72.

Valerie: Gretzky’s name isn’t on there

Historian: Gretzky’s name is not on there. There are a lot of big name hockey players but there are thirty-one names on there Valerie who are in the hockey hall of fame.

Valerie: Wow. Wonderful thing to see. It’s a beautiful piece of silver from… made in Ontario, I guess.

Historian: Yes, this was the original Cup. The bases have been added as the tournament has progressed.

Valerie: Thank you, Les.

Historian: My pleasure.

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