Art Frame: PAC 2017: Passion

Saturday, November 25, 2017

PAC 2017: Passion - Hockey

PASSION: HOCKEY
A Unifying Experience

November 25, 2017 - March 11, 2018

Pointe-à-Callière (PAC), the Montréal Archaeology and History Complex, is presenting a new exhibition Passion: Hockey.

Hockey is officially Canada’s National Sport. Canada is considered the birthplace of ice hockey, and Canadians generally regard the sport as their own. Though three locations: Montréal, Windsor (Nova Scotia), and Kingston (Ontario), have all claimed to be the birthplace of ice hockey, there is little clear evidence to pinpoint the exact place where a game played originally with balls and sticks has become a hockey game. What we do know, the first game of organized ice hockey, as we would recognize it today, in fact the first indoor game, was played in Montréal on March 3, 1875, where J.G.A. Creighton, a McGill student, established a set of formal rules. Hockey is therefore a part of Montreal and Quebec social history and is highlighted as such by the present PAC's exhibition that celebrates and explores the different dimensions of this sport, including its popular roots, and its evolution and influence. And it also celebrates the oldest and most legendary team in the NHL league, the Montréal Canadiens.

The exhibition also marks the centenary of the National Hockey League (NHL), and the 125th anniversary of the Stanley Cup. It was adapted by PAC from an exhibition developed by the Canadian Museum of History. It features over 500 unique items and even a collection of more than 1,200 hockey trading cards (see just below).

Last winter Pointe-à-Callière put out a call to collectors of hockey memorabilia. They received over one hundred offers from hockey fans, especially the supporters of the Montréal Canadiens. All kinds of rare items conserved over the years that recall key hockey events and players’ feats were loaned to the Museum and are now on display for visitors to see. A huge variety of objects: cards, hockey sticks, pucks, autographed photos, souvenir items, all symbols of fans’ devotion to the team and its history.

This exhibition will delight not only the ardent hockey lovers but also those who rarely watch hockey, or those who are not knowledgeable about the game but would like to learn more about it, its history and origins. The visitors will be amazed to see such rare items as a contract the great Quebec hockey player Maurice Richard, nicknamed "Rocket" Richard, signed just on an ordinary small sheet of paper (see below). This would be now quite unacceptable, in view of present day multi-paged, legally produced, long and detailed hockey players' contract documents.