Maple Leafs, the stars of Toronto
Like every province in the country, Ontario has a passion for its ice hockey teams. Two clubs share the stage: the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs, eternal rivals of the Montreal team. Toronto is the League's second most Stanley Cup-winning team (13), behind Quebec's great rival and its 24 trophies. The Stanley Cup? It is the most prestigious trophy on the hockey planet, the one that rewards the winner of the North American championship of the famous NHL league. It must be said that in the first hours of the championship, only Canadian teams were on the starting line. The Toronto club was one of the founders of the NHL in 1917 at the Winsdor Hotel in Montreal with the Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Wanderers, the Quebec Bulldogs and the Ottawa Senators. The city's team, first called the Toronto Arenas between 1917 and 1919, would go on to be known as the St. Patricks from 1919 to 1926 before adopting its famous Maple Leafs name. In the early decades, up to ten teams participated in the new competition. But after the Great Depression of 1929, the number of franchises was reduced to six (Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks). Since then, their numbers have continued to grow to 32 franchises today.
The Maple Leafs made League history by winning the first Stanley Cup in 1918, after winning the first derby against rival Montreal Canadiens in the conference final. A year later, the Toronto franchise was dissolved for financial reasons before being re-formed as the St. Patricks in 1919. The St. Patricks won another Stanley Cup in 1922 and in 1927, they adopted the name that would become legendary: the Maple Leafs. Five years later, the Toronto team, which had abandoned green for its famous blue and white colours, would once again taste success in the Stanley Cup before losing five finals in seven seasons between 1933 and 1940. However, the Maple Leafs still managed to rebound and have great generations in the 1940s (five titles) and 1960s (five wins). In fact, it was in 1967 that the Torontonians won their last Stanley Cup against favourites and arch-rivals, the Montreal Canadiens. Considered to be an aging team, Toronto turned the odds around and won the precious trophy in the sixth game of the final. Since then, the number of league franchises has continued to grow, competition has become fiercer and the Maple Leafs have never played a final again, which has not prevented great players like Darryl Sittler from making their mark on the city's rink, Lanny McDonald and Börje Salming in the 1970s, Tie Domi, Rick Vaive and Doug Gilmour in the 1980s, Wendel Clark and Mats Sundin in the 1990s, Tomas Kaberle and Curtis Joseph in the 2000s and Mitch Marner today.
To get to the heart of the matter, a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto is a must. The Hockey Hall of Fame, in its original version, is a must for anyone with a keen interest in Canada's national sport. Housed in part in a former bank dating back to 1885, the Hall offers the world's most comprehensive collection of hockey memorabilia. The famous Stanley Cup - the very first version of which the museum owns - sits prominently among the interactive exhibits and other virtual games that allow you to compete against the greatest players. And to immortalize your day, you'll be sure to take a picture of yourself next to the legendary cup. And if you get the chance, go out and cheer for the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. The show is worth the trip and the atmosphere is always there!
In Ottawa, Senators' Place
Ice hockey fans are spoiled in Ontario, as the province hosts another NHL team, the Ottawa Senators. A franchise with a troubled history, as the Senators were among the League's founders in 1917 and fought in the league until 1934 before disappearing for financial reasons. A prosperous period that saw them win the Stanley Cup four times (1920, 1921, 1923 and 1927), adding to the seven times they won before the NHL was created. It was finally in 1992 that the Senators made their comeback on North American rinks, during one of the many extensions of the NHL. It didn't take long for the Sens - as they were nicknamed - to attract crowds again. It must be said that for their big comeback match, they're offering themselves the scalp of the Montreal Canadiens! A short-lived pleasure, since the first few seasons will be rather difficult for the rookies. It was during the 1996-1997 season that the Senators reached the playoffs for the first time in their modern history. In 1998, they even finished first in the northeast division before losing in the quarter-finals. Beaten regularly by the Maple Leafs in the early 2000s, the Senators still offer hot derbies to the Ontario public, and they will finally reach the NHL Grand Final in 2007. A final they finally lost to the Anaheim Ducks. If the last decade has been more complicated for the Ottawa team, attending an NHL game is always a unique experience. Since 1995, Ottawa's temple of hockey has been the Canadian Tire Centre, a 17,000-seat venue that loves to make noise for its stars. No excuse if a game is scheduled during your stay, find seats!
