Celebrating Hockey History for Heritage Week

BELLEVILLE – The City of Belleville’s Glanmore National Historic Site, part of the Community Services Department, is celebrating Belleville’s hockey heritage with a special presentation on Feb. 21 about the history of hockey in Belleville and the story of the Belleville McFarlands hockey team.

In the 1950s, Belleville’s Memorial Arena was packed on game nights as rowdy crowds cheered on their hometown hockey team, the Belleville McFarlands (MACS). Owned by wealthy industrialist H.J. McFarland of Picton, the team was stocked with former NHL veterans, promising rookies and local “farm boys” who played a blend of hockey featuring speed, scoring skill and bruising play.

The mighty MACS were rough, tough and unstoppable.

In 1958, the McFarlands swept through successive series with Canadian teams to win the Allan Cup. Over 50,000 fans lined the streets of Belleville to welcome them home. The following year, they travelled to Prague, Czechoslovakia to play the best teams in the world. The MACS lost just one game and captured the world title, and Belleville went crazy again.

But within months the players were embroiled in a scandal involving payments to team members. It was not until 50 years later in April 2009 when Belleville honoured the team with a special anniversary night, launching a documentary and book about their remarkable achievement.

Re-live this moment of hockey history on Friday, Feb. 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre (265 Cannifton Rd.). The event will feature a discussion with author Richard Hughes about his new book, “Belleville Hockey Town, The Early Years 1865 – 1930”, as well as a screening of a documentary about the McFarlands hockey team and a presentation from Picton journalist Peter Lockyer.

The Celebrating Hockey History event is brought to you by Glanmore National Historic Site in partnership with History Lives Here. Tickets are $20/person which includes light refreshments and a complimentary pass to Glanmore for a future visit to the museum. Reserve tickets online  or call 613-962-2329 for more information.