Maple Leaf Gardens

Maple Leaf Gardens: the holy centre for hockey fans, not only for those in Toronto, but all across the globe. This national historic site of Canada held its first Maple Leafs game on November 12th, 1931 where the Leafs took a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. The Leafs would have the last laugh of the season however, as they would go on to win the Stanley Cup.

From 1931 to 1999, Canada’s premier hockey team would call Maple Leaf Gardens home. The Leafs would stamp their dominant presence in the National Hockey League by securing 11 Stanley Cup seasons. On February 12th, 1999, the Leafs would play their last game at the Gardens with an oddly comparable evening to that of the first game in 1931, as the Leafs would suffer a similar defeat to none other than the Chicago Blackhawks. The Toronto Maple Leafs would move 4 subway stops south to their new home at the then Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena), located in between York and Bay Streets just south of Union Station.

Even though it’s been more than 2 decades since the Leafs left Maple Leaf Gardens, the triumphant building still stands proud today. Those of you who have spent very much time in Toronto, know that the Gardens are now a multi-purposed piece of infrastructure. Ryerson University now uses a portion of the arena as an athletic facility for their students, whereas the East side of the building is now home to one of Toronto’s coolest and trendy Loblaws Supermarkets.

As the neighbouring Yonge Street (Toronto’s main north/south street) continues to grow exponentially with outlandish condo towers that seem to be proportionally endless, the area in which Maple Leaf Gardens inhabits is having a face lift like no other. However, the Gardens’ presence still takes one back to its gritty days where the city’s working class could enjoy their favourite past time during the hard and desperate times of the Great Depression.

With the modern aesthetics and interior of the Scotiabank Arena, a true Leafs fan of the 20th century will tell you it's missing some of the Gardens intangible character. However, a greater absence can be felt by Leafs fans, old and new. I speak of course of the absence of a Stanley Cup championship.