NHL’s “United By Hockey” mobile museum a major attraction in Ottawa
by Ruth Aman
Saturday 10 June 2023
Hockey players and enthusiasts got the chance of a lifetime when the NHL’s United By Hockey Mobile Museum stopped by in Ottawa on June 10th. This marked their 31st out of 32 stops since the new year began, travelling throughout North America and presenting information and highlights on changemakers and trailblazers throughout hockey history. The Mobile Museum was stationed at the Bell Sensplex from 10 am to 4 pm and over 900 Ottawans journeyed there in hopes of taking part in the pop-up museum experience.
Organized by the NHL, this museum campaign is in its third season and is presented by Eric Knight who has travelled with the museum on all its stops this year. As an avid hockey lover, he claims that this opportunity is one of a lifetime. He’s been able to meet with hockey players, presenters, and hundreds of fans just like him.
This mobile museum is of extreme interest to many as it presents the diversity of hockey sport. When one typically thinks of hockey, one may limit it to one race and one gender, however, this museum shows the true nature of the sport as it includes people of all races, backgrounds, and genders. The museum highlighted individuals like Brigitte Lacquette, who was the first First Nations hockey player to be named to Canada’s National Women’s team, Harnarayan Singh, the first Sikh Canadian to announce an NHL game in Punjabi & English, and Willie O’Ree, the first Black Hockey player in the NHL.
Within the museum was also an assortment of Sports memorabilia, historic artifacts, videos and jerseys. A collection of hockey cards, with the oldest card from the 1930s was made available for viewing by the front of the museum. This was a collection given to the Museum by Dean Barnes, a Black Canadian who had collected cards from his youth after being inspired by the many Hockey Hall of Famers such as Jarome Ignia and Grant Fuhr. He gave this collection to the museum to motivate future generations towards a greater love of the sport and to remind all of the great achievements made within the last 100 years. Jerseys from the Ottawa Senators were also hung in the museum, as it is custom for the Hockey team of the city the tour is posted in shares a jersey to be hung. For children, the museum provided an interactive broadcast booth in which they could speak into the microphone and announce a game. This was a hit with the children as they all gathered around the booth grinning ear to ear, as one child would announce the players and shots made.
Overall, the museum was an inspiring sight to see. It accomplished its goal of celebrating the underrepresented communities and diversities within the sport and left a lasting mark on the hearts of those who attended. It also painted a beautiful image of the great legacies and paths built by those who have come before to those who are in the position now. That being said, the museum also gave those attending the opportunity to place themselves not only within the history of the past but also in future.
As this tour season comes to a close, make sure to stay connected to see the next time that the Museum is back in town!: https://www.nhl.com/fa
