Over the next three months, Windsor-Essex hockey fans will be able to explore the nation’s favourite pastime without leaving the region.
Museum Windsor opened the doors to “Hockey,” a travelling exhibit on Saturday, displaying the game’s history and its significance in Canada.
Craig Capacchione, the coordinator responsible for exhibitions at Museum Windsor, told CTV News the temporary addition will help bolster their options through the tail end of winter.
“So it’s a great exhibition, mostly two-dimensional exhibit that chronicles a Windsor start from outdoor rinks to kind of the modern NHL industrial complex,” Capacchione said. “It kind of goes through early history of the league, some of the broadcasting features of the league and some of the major broadcasters from Canada, some of the team owners, and then some of the fandom that surrounds hockey in Canada.”
Along with artifacts and memorabilia, the exhibit features the opportunity to record your own commentary for some of the game’s most historic moments and listen to the calls of sportscaster Foster Hewitt.
Capacchione noted the museum often tries to find displays that play to the interests of those in the community.
“We’ve got the Spitfires here. We’re kind of a hockey town ourselves, and we’re so close to Detroit, which has its own great hockey history and culture there,” he explained. “So it’s kind of a great connection to, to have people who are interested in hockey, playing hockey, love the sport of hockey, to have this exhibition to kind of see and learn a bit more about the roots of hockey in Canada.”
The exhibit is developed by the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa.
In March, Capacchione said the museum hopes to open additional cases featuring aspects of Windsor-Essex hockey history.
“So, this exhibition kind of covers Canadian hockey history on a more broad spectrum. So we’re hoping to supplement that with some more local artifacts, information that we’re going to be using in one of our display cases,” Cappachione said.
On Feb. 15, the museum will be open free of admission for all displays in recognition of Heritage Day and Black History Month.
The exhibition will remain on display at Museum Windsor until May 11.
