Hockey Hall of Fame

The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in downtown Toronto close to many major attractions such as the CN Tower and the Eaton Centre. This state of the art facility dedicated to the history of ice hockey is filled with everything from treasured memorabilia of the old time greats to revered NHL trophies such as the Lady Byng and the Stanley Cup. You can get into the game too- test your skills to see how you fare against the superstars of hockey in the Interactive Zone. With over 57,000 square feet to explore, everyone from the hardcore hockey lover to the most casual fan will be fascinated by the rich history, multi-media exhibits and virtual games showcased at this innovative museum.

History

The idea of an institution honouring the greats of hockey was sparked by Captain J ames T. Sutherland, who is often referred to as the “Father of Hockey”. A player and a coach, he was passionate about the game and was one of the main leaders behind the museum’s creation. The original Hockey Hall of Fame opened in 1943 in his hometown of Kingston, Ontario. The museum moved to Toronto in 1961 where Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker presided over the opening at the Canadian National Exhibition. After outgrowing the CNE location, it moved in 1993 to its current home in a restored nineteenth century heritage building in downtown Toronto.

Honoured Members

Each year new members are inducted with great ceremony into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and you will find the portraits of these Honoured Members in the Verizon Great Hall. Included in this esteemed list are players, on-ice officials, coaches and commentators. Read the biographies of legends such as Foster Hewitt, who broadcast the first hockey game on television in Canada, defenceman and businessman Tim Horton, who died tragically in a car crash at the age of 44, and superstar Wayne Gretzky, whose name is synonymous with hockey greatness.

Exhibits

The Hockey Hall of Fame has many exhibits showcasing the rich history of this international sport. From the artifacts in the NHL Zone to the archival film footage in the two state of the art theatres, this museum boasts the largest collection of hockey memorabilia in the world. In the center of the Great Hall you will find some of the most prestigious trophies in professional sports. NHL trophies such as the Conn Smythe, Lady Byng and Vezina are on display, and of course the trophy symbolic of the ultimate victory in professional hockey- the Stanley Cup, which you can take your picture with.

Interactive Zone

The hands-on games in the Be a Player Zone give you a chance to see how your own skills fare against the hockey greats! This area boasts a 2400 square foot simulated rink and multimedia scoreboard. Try to score against a computer-simulated Eddie “The Eagle” Belfour, or get in the net yourself and block the rapid fire shots of a virtual Mark Messier or Wayne Gretzky. And if you’d like to test your know-how on the air rather than on the ice, you can get behind a microphone and call the game yourself in one of TSN/RDS Broadcast Pods overlooking the rink.

Visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame

The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in downtown Toronto at the corner of Yonge and Front Streets in Brookfield Place (formerly BCE Place) on the lower concourse level. It is open every day of the year except for Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Induction Day which takes place in November.

Admission rates in Canadian dollars are $13.00 for adults, $9.00 for youth aged 4-13 years, and $9.00 for seniors 65 years and up. Admission is free for children 3 and under.

Location: 30 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Phone: (416) 360 - 7735
Email: info@hhof.com

Click here to visit Hockey Hall of Fame official website