The 67’s unveil plans for their 50th year
Legacy project celebrates half-century of history, famed general manager Kilrea
The Ottawa 67’s have so many key 50th-anniversary dates to celebrate in the 2017-18 regular season. In a way, almost too many.
Like this Oct. 6, the 50th anniversary of the first 67’s game in franchise history, predictably a 9-0 loss to the Niagara Falls Flyers, led by 50-goal scorer Tom Webster.
Or two nights later, the 50th anniversary of the first 67’s “home” game, which was actually played at the Hull Arena while construction continued on the Civic Centre. The 67’s lost 10-5 to a Brad Park-led Toronto Marlboros, with a 17-year-old Ottawa-bred Fred Barrett also on defence. The 67’s were never in the game, though the night might best be remembered for the first goal in 67’s history, scored by the late Steve Ostapyk, 3:28 into the second period with the 67’s down 5-0.
Or there’s always the 50th anniversary of the first game at the Civic Centre, where construction crews worked right up to game time to allow the 67’s to face the powerhouse Montreal Junior Canadiens with the likes of Marc Tardif, Rejean Houle and Gilbert Perreault.
Or try early in 2018, with the 50th anniversary of the “official” Civic Centre opening, when the soon-to-be Stanley Cup-champion Montreal Canadiens played the 67’s with a legend-filled lineup led by captain Jean Beliveau, still in his prime, and head coach Toe Blake.
They could even celebrate the 50th anniversary of each of their six wins that first season when goaltender Gary Doyle was the star most nights on a team that averaged fewer than two goals a night while surrendering more than six.
That is history. And the 67’s would need more than 34 home dates to cover it all.
So instead, the 67’s are going to celebrate the rich history by decade, while wearing an anniversary logo on their jerseys, periodically unveiling more and more details of a legacy project in the name of famed coach and general manager Brian Kilrea, and bringing back former 67’s from every era.
“We have much to celebrate and plenty to be excited for,” said Jeff Hunt, the 67’s governor. “The moments, memories and players over the past five decades will be remembered during this 50thanniversary season and we hope we’ll inspire the next generation of junior hockey talents to become our players of the future.”
With the countdown to the 2017-18 season opener at 50 days from Wednesday, the 67’s rolled out their 50th-anniversary logo that will adorn not just the players’ jerseys but also a new line of merchandise.
Hunt called it “a modern take on a classic anniversary logo.”
On five specified dates, the 67’s will pay tribute to each decade of their history, from that first team to the arrival of the 67’s all-time greatest in Denis Potvin, who almost single-handedly led the franchise to respectability in what was then the Ontario Hockey Association.
The half-century of history will also be commemorated through a legacy project inside the Arena at TD Place that will be unveiled over the course of the season paying tribute to Kilrea, in addition to the past, present and future of the franchise.
The first stage of the legacy project will be unveiled at the team’s Sept. 24 home opener against the Erie Otters, while also celebrating the first decade from 1967-77.
In October, a night has been earmarked for the 1977-87 era that included the 67’s first Memorial Cup win in 1984, while November will be for the 1987-97 period.
The 67’s do have a home game Dec. 29, so that will honour the Inaugural Game — without the construction workers from 1967.
Then Jan. 27, the 67’s honour 1997 to 2007, a decade marked by a second Memorial Cup win in 1999.
The last two big nights are a Feb. 10 celebration of the 2007-2017 period and a special event March 10: a Prospects Game — the next generation.
The 67’s will also renew their rivalry with the Gatineau Olympiques in regular-season action, with the first of the two games against their QMJHL neighbours slated for TD Place on Dec. 17.
We hope we’ll inspire the next generation of junior hockey talents to become our players of the future.