Interview with Douglas Hunt

Partial Transcript: Yeah, I mean like, so I think my first impressions of it were when I was really young. I went to like a CanSkate program there, so I’m talking about like 5 years old…

Segment Synopsis: Doug recalls participating in the CanSkate program held at the Garden City Arena when he was five and that his father would actively watch the St. Catharines Falcon games every Friday night. Doug then discusses his most profound memory at the Garden City Arena, watching the box lacrosse and the Minto Cup championship and how packed the arena was for the Minto Cup in comparison to the Falcons games.

Keywords: Bill Burgoyne Arena; Brock University; Bruce Boudreau; CanSkate; Childhood; Hockey -- Fan; Junior A Athletics; Junior A Hockey; Minto Cup; Sport -- Hockey; Sport -- Lacrosse; St. Catharines Falcons

Subjects: Junior B Hockey; Lacrosse

Partial Transcript: Yeah, like just so now it's like, now they're the Junior B Athletics as well. Those are two rival organizations, so there's, there's a deep seated…

Segment Synopsis: Doug discusses the lacrosse culture within the city of St. Catharines and how that changed over time. He then recalls an Old Timers Hockey Challenge fundraiser with Maurice Richard and seeing a Niagara IceDogs game at the Garden City Arena.

Keywords: Junior A Athletics; Junior B Athletics; Junior B Spartans; Maurice Richard; Niagara IceDogs; Old Timers Hockey Challenge; Sport -- Hockey; Sport -- Lacrosse

Subjects: Fundraising; Lacrosse; OHL Hockey

Partial Transcript: Oh, it's, it doesn't even get, it's just different, right, cuz it's the central…

Segment Synopsis: Doug discusses the value of the Garden City Arena and compares it to the Meridian Centre. He then discusses his memory of the Queenston area while growing up. He talks about visiting the arena before its construction, what he observed waiting in line, and the distinct seats of the arena

Keywords: Bill Burgoyne Arena; Brock University; Haig Bowl Arena; Junior B Hockey; Meridian Centre; Merriton Arena; Niagara College; Niagara IceDogs; Queen Elizabeth II; Queenston; St. Catharines Falcons; St. Paul Street United Church; Winnipeg Jets

Subjects: Facilties

Partial Transcript: Yeah. I think. It's tough, right? Because I like, sentimentally it obviously holds a big piece of like my childhood and everything and I love going, still going, to watch A’s games there in the summer when it's really hot and there's no air conditioning…

Segment Synopsis: Doug discusses the importance of the Garden City Arena on his childhood and what he hopes for the state of the building moving forward. Doug then talks about his concern over support for the St. Catharines Falcons and how the closing of the Garden City Arena will affect lacrosse in St. Catharines.

Keywords: Bill Burgoyne Arena; Childhood; Junior A Athletics; Sport -- Hockey; Sport -- Lacrosse; St. Catharines Falcons

Subjects: Facilities; Junior B Hockey; Lacrosse

Partial Transcript: Okay, I can tell you it was on St. Patrick's Day, but I can't tell you a year it was because one of my friends was wearing a big obnoxious leprechaun hat…

Segment Synopsis: Doug talks about his experience seeing a Niagara IceDogs game towards the end of their tenure at the Garden City Arena. He discusses seeing the St. Catharines Falcons win the Sutherland Cup and the atmosphere when they play. Doug then shares a memory of a Junior Hockey player taking their own life. He also talks about watching Brad Morgan play at the Garden City Arena.

Keywords: Brad Morgan; Community; Hockey -- Fan; John Scott; Minto Cup; Niagara IceDogs; Sport -- Hockey; St. Catharines Falcons; St. Patrick's Day; Sutherland Cup

Subjects: Junior B Hockey; OHL Hockey

Partial Transcript: Yeah I wish they'd hang the Queen in the Meridian Centre, to be honest with you…

Segment Synopsis: Doug discusses his aspirations for the banners and décor from the Garden City Arena. He talks about wanting to preserve memorabilia including part of the arena’s seating. He compares the Garden City Arena to the Boston Garden and discusses the size of the arena. He also talks about the physicality of the hockey played at the Garden City Arena.

Keywords: Boston Bruins; Boston Garden; Memorabilia; Meridian Centre; Preservation; Queen Elizabeth II; St. Catharines Falcons

Subjects: Facilities; Junior B Hockey

Partial Transcript: No, I don't think so like it's, it's, you know, there were never security checks or anything going in…

Segment Synopsis: Doug talks about 9/11 as a shift in history for society and how it affected the general mood of the public. He compares the sentiment to the 2022 war in Ukraine.

Keywords: Ukraine

Subjects: Facilities; War and Peace

Partial Transcript: Yeah, he definitely would have gone to TeePees games, and he was a, like a Chicago Blackhawks fan because of it growing up because, like the farm team was here…

Segment Synopsis: Doug talks about the history of his father attending St. Catharines TeePees games and how he now attends St. Catharines Falcons games. He then discusses the closeness of the lacrosse community and compares the feel between lacrosse games at Bill Burgoyne Arena and Garden City Arena to St. Catharines Falcons games.

Keywords: Bill Burgoyne Arena; Chicago Blackhawks; Family; NHL; Sport -- Hockey; Sport -- Lacrosse; St. Catharines Black Hawks; St. Catharines Falcons; St. Catharines TeePees; Stan Mikita

Subjects: Facilities; Junior A Hockey; Junior B Hockey; Lacrosse