VOTING IS OVER, this is just the story
Let’s face it, I am an old woman that does not skate, and is not a rinkrat. But even though I’ll never dance on tables anymore on St. Patrick’s Day my enthusiasm and love for this town has never wavered since I moved here in 1981. My kids played hockey and Sky still plays hockey. His son Elia now plays and my late husband Angelo once owned the Carleton Place Kings. But, that’s neither here nor there is it?
This was my bottom line:
Every Saturday night I would see ads for Hockeyville and check the page to see if we were entered. We were not, and I was disappointed no one had taken up the hockey stick challenge. Would people think it was strange that the crazy old hat lady that lives on Lake Ave East with a rabbit and cow in her yard take up the charge?? LOLOL I have lived here long enough to know something would come up. LOLOL
So first things first, I spoke with Mayor Toby Randell and then Parks and Rec Joanne Henderson. Everyone said ‘go for it’ but the pain of losing 11 years ago in 2012 was still fresh and I get it, I really do. This is our town and we love it and think it’s the best! So even though it was getting late to enter I wrote the ” Submitted for Review” entry question 1 and 2. Parks and Rec Jessica Hansen wrote number three. I thought it was an amazing request. What’s the good of having an arena if kids cannot afford to play? Especially now, when every penny counts, this would be amazing to have a lending library at the arena.
You can only submit 1000 CHARACTERS.. do you know how hard that is? LOL But we did it.. But, at the bottom of blog I have included the first long one I wrote and had to condense it down to 1000 Characters. To preserve for history or something like that.
Amanda Blakeley I started loading up photos but you can only enter FIVE!!. So in they came slowly and all at once a tsunami of townsfolk and even former folks that lived here submitted photos. I love you guys and thank you from the bottom of my heart to all that helped and worked hard!! Now we wait…
Jane Churchill
1/5 is my late brother-in-law Donnie Churchill participating in the ground breaking ceremony for the new arena in Carleton Place
THE PHASES
- NOMINATE
& RALLYJAN. 1 – FEB. 19–DONE!! - JUDGING PERIOD-FEB. 20 – MAR. 11
- TOP 4 ANNOUNCEMENTMAR. 11
- VOTING OPEN-MAR 31 AT 9 AM ET
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APR 1 AT 5 PM ET - WINNER ANNOUNCEMENTAPR 1
Annik Lapensee is with Martin Puckett.
Carleton Place Atom A Team 1974.
From row left to right. Danny Jackson, John Gardener, Jeff Puckett, Mike Evoy, Herb Henderson, Paul Quinn, Andy Bryce, Kevin Quartermain.
Back row left to right. Terry Mast, Blair White, Blair Russell, Martin Puckett, Kevin Clark, Kevin Sweeney, Dale Lowe, Ross Puckett.
Our entry
1. Tell us about your community’s spirit as well as its passion for hockey. Can you describe or explain examples of how this came to life?
Years ago Carleton Place entered Hockeyville and wasn’t lucky in winning. But life says, “Sometimes you do the hard work, set the table and someone else eats the meal.”
In 1910 the first rink was to be built, but a fire broke out that nearly destroyed the whole town. So the new rink was delayed until everyone got back on their feet again. When the Beckwith Street arena was finally built, the town rejoiced. They played hockey there until the folks wore it out in 1965.
But they persevered and played on an outdoor rink at the ball diamond that was formerly the town dump. When the new arena on Neelin Street was built Doug Gibson took the lead in 1970 to install artificial ice and insisted the coach stop using Ottawa players and concentrate more on the local area boys.
Hockey raised us all. You might never become “the great one”, but you will always be the greatest in our town. Carleton Place has never given up and great moments are born out of great opportunities. Thank you Hockeyville!
Tell us about your Arena. Why is it important to you, your family, and your community?
Our arena is the beating heart in our town, and it’s where our community comes together as one family! It teaches young kids to stand on their own two feet and as one senior said: lots of friendly staff to rescue us old guys when we forget to bring something.
It still feels like home to those that come back to visit, and it’s the only time some will get out of bed on a Saturday morning to come for a 6:30 am practice. It’s where the Carleton Place Canadians play and our kids know that success is possible by knowing the past.
Hometown heroes: Roy Brown, who shot down the Red Baron played hockey here in his youth. James Cooper Smeaton, hockey player, referee and head coach served as the NHL’s referee-in-chief from 1917 until 1937. Leslie McFarlane, once a Carleton Place resident, ghost author of The Hardy Boys, contributed to our pride. Leslie’s son, Brian McFarlane became a Hockey Night in Canada commentator. Alone, we are one speck of ice. Together we are the Carleton Place arena.
Explain how your community will use the $250,000 to upgrade and improve your Arena.
Our ask is a little different than others for upgrading our arena facility. It is solely for our children. Residents of Carleton Place know the health & social benefits that children experience from participating in hockey programs. Our community will use the $250,000 to introduce a Hockey Skate & Equipment Loaning Program at the Carleton Place arena. This program will allow children ages 4-9 the opportunity to loan hockey skates & equipment, which will assist in making the sport of hockey more. (Thanks Jessica Hansen for this idea)
Carleton Place, Ont. hoping to be the next Kraft Hockeyville Thanks Dylan Dyson
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/carleton-place-ont-hoping-to-be-the-next-kraft-hockeyville-1.6277472
Carleton Place vying for 2023 Kraft Hockeyville title– Thanks Tara Gesner
https://www.insideottawavalley.com/news-story/10851557-carleton-place-vying-for-2023-kraft-hockeyville-title/
Annik Lapensee is with Martin Puckett.
Carleton Place Atom A Team 1974.
From row left to right. Danny Jackson, John Gardener, Jeff Puckett, Mike Evoy, Herb Henderson, Paul Quinn, Andy Bryce, Kevin Quartermain.
Back row left to right. Terry Mast, Blair White, Blair Russell, Martin Puckett, Kevin Clark, Kevin Sweeney, Dale Lowe, Ross Puckett.
The long winded version of our history.. NOT submitted
1. Tell us about your community’s spirit as well as its passion for hockey. Can you describe or explain examples of how this came to life?
Years ago Carleton Place entered Hockeyville and like many other towns and cities in Canada was not lucky in winning. This happens to everyone and life goes on, but sometimes it takes an emotional toll. As Brian Burke once said- “Sometimes you do the hard work and set the table and somebody else eats the meal.”
There was apprehension in entering again, and great moments come from great opportunities which Hockeyville is. But, once again, you get out there, pull up your hockey pants, and tell Canada that Carleton Place is hard to beat.
Back in the 1900s there was no hockey equipment and kids made do with thick rolls of newspaper as shin guards when they played hockey. Later they graduated to magazines when they played at an outdoor rink where the Carleton Place Library now stands. The first arena in Carleton Place didn’t come easily and in 1910-1911 the new rink was ready to be built. But, you see that never happened for another few years as in May of 1910 a fire broke out that nearly wiped out the whole town. A new rink was the last thing they needed, and it was pushed aside until the town got back on its feet again.
When the Beckwith Street arena was finally built it was right in the middle of town and practically in everyone’s backyards. They skated and played hockey there until the folks in Carleton Place wore it out, condemned it, and they closed the doors in 1965.
Once the arena was torn down the kids played Midget hockey on an outdoor rink at the ball diamond that was once the town dump. Nothing was going to stop them. Meanwhile several priests living on High Street realized how important hockey was to the town and provided an outdoor rink. Most kids played there until the new arena was built, some walking a long distance carrying their hockey bags and sticks over their shoulders in the dead of winter. If they were lucky the old barn they changed in would have a fire on in an old wood stove because usually there was no heat. But, that never stopped anyone. They did what they could to keep hockey alive even down to the times it snowed and they would have to stop the game to shovel the ice.
To keep the spirit of hockey alive Ted Shenfield also made a rink on Napoleon Street and the low part of a field off Lake Avenue that flooded in the fall and froze over in the winter became a rink also. Someone had an uncle that worked at the old Ottawa Auditorium in the days of the Ottawa Senators of the AHL. He used to provide his nephew with goalie sticks which meant that when they picked teams he invariably ended up in goal.
They finally built a new arena on Neelin Street and
In 1970 Carleton Place resident Doug Gibson was the chairman of a drive for funds to install artificial ice in the new arena, and his team found themselves raising only a total of $18,823. 30. They desperately needed another $25,000, so they offered each contributor of $25 or more a chance for a trip to Britain donated by Branch 192 of the Canadian Legion. They ended up raising the money and this is still our current arena that now consists of two ice rinks and home to the Carleton Place Kings and many minor hockey leagues.
Gibson also managed the team when the late Bill Griese Sr. was the head coach. Griese Sr. was said to be the most vocal coach the Kings ever had. Even though Doug wrote a letter to the editor of the Ottawa Journal in 1976 about no decency left in society, he put up with with the antics of Griese Sr. Yes, Doug could not handle profanity on television; but he would just sit back at the games and let Bill rant and scream while he coached. Doug also told Coach Griese to stop bringing in so many Ottawa players, and insisted they focus more on the local area boys.
Following a winning formula Carleton Place won five Valley championships in their Junior B history including back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009, their final two campaigns. It was important to Doug to
make sure that each player knew who they were representing– that would be the Town of Carleton Place.
Hockey raised us all– We are all here to rally the community and tell everyone in Canada that Carleton Place loves to see our kids smile, watch the lessons the hockey coaches are teaching- not only how to play hockey, but the value of life. You might never become “the great one”, but you will become the greatest in Carleton Place. These kids know that what you put into the game of hockey is just like who we are representing– that would be our amazing Town of Carleton Place. As they say ‘great moments are born out of great opportunities” Thank you Hockeyville!
Photo- Donna Mcfarlane
“im sure this is when the canadians won the Fred Page cup.. Rob and Ruthann volunteered..
#KraftHockeyville #carletonplace
Thanks to Amanda Blakeley Charania
Thanks to Tara Grigg Gesner for sending this. Seen at Starbucks today and I know that Sarah Loftus had something to do with this. God LOVE yah girl.
1971 –Carleton Place Minor Hockey League
Carol “Buzz” Williams – The CP Sniper — Carleton Place Hockey Hall ofFame
Who’s Who on the Carleton Place Midget HockeyTeam?
Your Carleton Place Trading Card–Meet Number 7 — BrianTrimble
You have to Paint the IceWhite?
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My condolences to the family.
. Well Ernie , you can now continue your special visits with ‘Uncle Kenny’ ! He will be so happy to chat with you again 
Hugs to the Trimbles 
to the family – such a kind man!
lindaseccaspina 