Humboldt's hockey history is now open for exploration.
The Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery (HDMG) opened their Humboldt Area Hockey History exhibit last week, in honour of the community hosting the RBC Cup next week.
The exhibit explores many highlights of the game's history in Humboldt, including the very early hockey days - circa 1909 - in this area, the story of the Humboldt Indians, Humboldt's first junior hockey team.
The Indians, noted HDMG director Jennifer Hoesgen, were actually the first team in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. They were based in Humboldt from 1946 to 1957.
Glenn Hall, the Mr. Goalie of the National Hockey League, played for the Indians.
"We have original programs... and tickets from the Wigwam," said Hoesgen, pointing them out in the display.
The story of Humboldt's old arena, the Leo Parker, is also told, as is that of the Platzer Cup, and the teams in the Humboldt District Hockey League.
A tiny jacket, worn by the Burr Tigers' stick boy, is just one of the artifacts included in this part of the exhibit.
Of course, there is also the history of the Humboldt Broncos, the team founded in 1970, included in the exhibit.
They worked off a history of the team written by Aaron Lukan, a local sports enthusiast and historian, Hoesgen explained, to tell the story of the team.
As for artifacts, former Broncos have loaned items like a championship ring from 1972 to the HDMG for this part of the exhibit.
For example, Daryl Hushagen, who played for the Broncos in the 1970s, has loaned his hockey shirt and pants, and Dan Torwalt of Humboldt has loaned a variety of clothing items, including team jackets.
A jacket worn by Dr. Gerry Rooney, one of the founders of the club, is part of the display, as is the first puck dropped in the Uniplex in 1982.
Fan jackets have also been loaned to the HDMG for the exhibit, along with other memorabilia.
"We've had people bring in scrapbooks, programs, season tickets," Hoesgen said, and they found photos of the team from every year.
The exhibit goes right up to the present day Humboldt Broncos - there's a jersey from Leo Lacourciere, worn in 2009, and the stick of goalie Andrew Bodnarchuk, who graduated from the team just last year.
Right next to the Broncos memorabilia is a large television which houses the Humboldt and District Sports Hall of Fame interactive exhibit.
By using a touch screen, viewers can explore all the information the hall of fame has on players, builders, and artifacts in the Sports Hall of Fame, Hoesgen explained.
Also part of the hockey history exhibit is an extensive collection of hockey cards of players that have a connection to the Humboldt area - such as Mr. Goalie, Glenn Hall - as well as original cards from many other Saskatchewan hockey players.
Those NHL players with a connection to the wider Humboldt area have been researched, Hoesgen explained, and the results of that research have been posted on the wall.
Statistics and stories about players like Brad Lauer and Brendan Witt of Humboldt, former Bronco Bill McDougall and even Kelly Chase of Porcupine Plain are up already.
Hoesgen suspects they will be informed about more NHLers with ties to this area while the exhibit is up - in fact, they are hoping many of those with information about hockey in the area will share it after taking in the exhibit.
"We're always learning," she said of the museum staff.
The exhibit, she added, is not meant to include every single hockey moment in the history of Humboldt - there have quite simply been too many - but it is meant to provide the viewer with the basics about our proud hockey past, and perhaps prompt new information to come to the fore.
An open house for the exhibit is taking place May 4.
