Attention hockey fans! Looking for a fun way to celebrate your favourite sport and Black History Month at the same time? Don't miss the NHL Mobile Museum’s stop in Ottawa as part of the 14-city NHL and American Legacy Black Hockey History Truck Tour!
As the name indicates, this initiative, jointly presented by the NHL and American Legacy, showcases the contribution and legacy of Black athletes to the sport of hockey over a period of 200 years. This mobile exhibit, installed in a 525-square-foot truck, includes various audio/visual content chronicling the achievements of current Black hockey players, like Canada’s very own P.K. Subban, as well as the legacy of the pioneers and trailblazers who came before them like, Herb Carnegie and Willie O‘Ree, who helped shape the NHL, and the sport in general, into what it is today.
Speaking about the importance of the initiative, which is in its second season but visiting Ottawa for the first time, Kim Davis, NHL Executive Vice President, Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs, says, “The NHL has a rich history of black and other minority players who have helped shape the game and create memories for fans worldwide. We're proud to share and bring these stories of trailblazers, from Willie O'Ree to today's superstars, directly to fans in NHL cities coast-to-coast-to-coast.”
Highlights of mobile museum include:
• Firsts and milestones: an entire wall dedicated to celebrating achievements in black hockey history including the first black NHL player, first captain, and first inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
• Every black player in NHL history: every player in history will be represented throughout the museum, including via a uniquely designed 'Wall of Pucks.'
• Team locker room: every stop will have a customized NHL locker room giving fans the opportunity to sit in a stall to take a photo.
The mobile museum is free to visit and will be at the Aberdeen Plaza at Lansdowne Park as part of the “Breaking the Ice Black History Month Exhibits” event on Feb. 2nd from 5 p.m – 8 p.m, Feb. 3rd from 9 a.m – 8 p.m and Feb. 4th from 9 a.m – 3 p.m. You can also catch the museum outside of the Canadian Tire Centre on the evening of Feb. 4th preceding the Black Hockey History Night event.
Photos: NHL