"I've always been a historian of the game and I enjoy learning about how the game has changed, evolved, and grown," said 100 Greatest NHL Player and Centennial ambassador
Wayne Gretzky
. "One of the greatest accomplishments for any NHL player is hoisting the Stanley Cup. What stood out the most to me in the Museum was seeing how one of the oldest trophies has evolved over 125 years, yet still maintained the essence that makes it so special."
"As a player, it was amazing to see the old hockey equipment; the sticks that look like paddles, the old sweaters were actual sweaters, and the leather skates, which look impossible to stand on," said
100 Greatest NHL Player Scott Niedermayer
. "The history of our great game is fascinating, there's something for everyone here."
"When I stepped inside the Museum, it brought me back to when I was a kid," said
100 Greatest NHL Player Joe Sakic
. "When you're playing in the NHL time goes by so fast that you forget to enjoy the special moments. But walking through the Museum and seeing the history and evolution of the game, it reminded me of how much fun I had - and how fortunate I was. Every fan is going to love this."
The NHL® Centennial Fan Arena has entertained hundreds of thousands of fans since launching on Jan. 1. To date, the footprint - which includes two 53-foot trucks - has visited 16 different locations across North America. The trucks have been on the road for more than 100 days, driving more than 33,000 miles across 28 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Through the NHL's Hockey Is For Everyone initiative $60,000 has been donated to various youth hockey organizations, and the Recycle the Game gear donation has recycled more than 3,000 lbs. of hockey equipment back into the community. The summer tour calendar includes the following stops:
June 2-3: Buffalo Sabres, 2017 NHL Scouting Combine presented by adidas
June 23-24: Chicago Blackhawks, 2017 NHL Draft
July 14-16: Honda Indy Toronto
July 28-30:Banff National Park, Banff, Alberta
August 4-6: Columbus Blue Jackets, Dublin Irish Festival
August 10-12: Tillsonburg Community Centre, Tillsonburg, Ontario
September 1-4: Minnesota Wild, Minnesota State Fair
More dates and NHL cities, including all Canadian markets and celebrations with the League's newest franchise the Vegas Golden Knights, will be announced at a later time. For the most up to date information, visit NHL.com/FanArena. To join the conversation, use the official hashtag #NHL100.
