Hockey Hall Of Fame, Toronto, September 2001

The Hockey Hall Of Fame, Toronto, September 2001

(Updated 08/18/02)

Our vacation to Niagara Falls included a day trip to Toronto. At first, our plan was to go on Tuesday. But that was 9/11 and, due to the events in New York and Washington, Toronto was pretty much closed down, including the Hall Of Fame. We decided we would go on Friday, our last day. We would get up, check out, head to Toronto and drive home from there.

To tell you the truth, I was a little disappointed in the Hall Of Fame. It was small and didn't seemed like it was laid out very well. I did enjoy the area showing all of the Wayne Gretzky stuff...that was neat. And they had an interactive game where you got to grab a stick and fire pucks at a movie screen type background with a computer controlled goalie. I scored once!! You also had to break targets on a net (like in the Skills Competition) and see how fast your slap shot was. I forget what mine was, but I think it was around 40 mph. But the major disappoinment was the Stanley Cup. They have a trophy room and that was neat..even got to see the original Stanley Cup. But then, as we were walking around the room leading up to the present day Stanley Cup, nature called!! I excused myself and Laurie stayed in the Trophy Room. When I came back, ready to see and touch the Stanley Cup, Laurie had some bad news. She heard the guard tell other people that it wasn't the real Stanley Cup!! WHAT!?!?!?! That's one of the main reasons I wanted to go to Toronto and the Hall Of Fame!! Seems the real Stanley Cup is out traveling the world and this was a replica!! The real Cup is only in Toronto during the Hall Of Fame inductions. I was really bummed out. Got my picture taken with the fake Cup anyway, but what a bummer. And if Laurie wouldn't have overheard the guard, we would have went our merry way thinking we saw the real Cup.

Despite the smallness of the Hall, and the fake Cup, I would recommend going to the Hall Of Fame if you're a big hockey fan. It was neat seeing some of the displays set up for some of the players, and they have a pretty big selection of hockey items from around the world, not just the National Hockey League. Just don't plan your whole vacation around The Hall. Below are some pictures.

Click on the thumbnail to see the larger picture.