Scott Cressman
Independent staff
A new project to celebrate the past and future glories of New Hamburg junior hockey is getting underway this week.
A large display area will hold banners to honour each league championships won by New Hamburg?s Junior C and Junior D teams from decades past. Wilmot Township has granted permission to mount the banner displays on the wall behind the player benches at the Wilmot Recreation Complex.
New Hamburg?s junior hockey ? which includes the Legion Juniors, the CL Roths, the Hahns, the Spirit ?83 and the Firebirds ? have played a big part in the town?s history. Long-time hockey fans and former players often have fond memories of these teams, said Bryan Pfaff, who is planning and organizing the new display. It?s a way that many people feel connected to New Hamburg, he said.
The display?s first banner dates from 1954, with room for future championships until at least 2030. Work on the 14-by-64-foot project is starting this week, said Pfaff, and he hopes the hockey tribute can be assembled and up on the WRC wall by the end of this month.
Some banners are currently hanging on the rec complex wall, but some are in bad repair and not every championship is represented, Pfaff said. He is raising money to create new, matching banners with each team?s colours that will hang in the new display. He needs around $1,500 for those new banners. Many people have already pledged money, but Pfaff is still hoping more donors come forward.
The rest of the project costs are being paid by private sponsorship from the New Hamburg Tim Hortons.
The Firebirds have given their approval to the project, but aren?t directly involved, Pfaff added.
The project has received great reactions so far, he said. ?Everybody?s thought this is a great idea,? he said.
?We?re being optimistic that they?ll win more championships.?
The plan to honour New Hamburg?s hockey heritage with a banner display has been brewing in Pfaff?s mind for some years, he said.
The idea was born in 2007, during the ceremonial closing of the New Hamburg arena. People were eager to preserve the junior hockey history at that time, said Pfaff.
?I?ve been kicking it around for a few years,? he said. ?Now is the time to get this in place and get the banners in place.?
The project is designed to recognized and remember the five different eras of New Hamburg junior hockey. The project is run by the Junior Hockey Alumni Association, a new group Pfaff created to handle the organizing.
Pfaff himself has a long history with New Hamburg junior hockey. As a boy, he watched the town?s Legion Juniors play in a Junior D league and win that championship in 1953-54. As a young man, he joined the CL Roths and helped them win their own Junior D league championship in 1960-61.
Soon the Hahns were created to play Junior C hockey as New Hamburg?s top team, winning six league titles from 1963 to 1975. The Spirit ?83 added two of their own in 1990 and 1991, then the Firebirds also captured a championship in 2012 (with sights set on a repeat in this year?s playoffs).
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