Kitchener man shares memories of The Aud as complex celebrates 70th anniversary
Kitchener commemorates anniversary by virtually sharing community's memories
Tony Pihowich was 10 years old the first time he visited The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium in 1952.
He remembers the day well; at the time, it was just a hockey arena — with no private boxes or many of the amenities it has now.
"The Aud was just a naked building with standing room all around the top and wire mesh fencing, no glass," Pihowich told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.
"And I remember the huge portrait of King George VI hung at the end of the arena."
The Aud officially opened to the public on May 24, 1951 and its been home to the Kitchener Canucks, the Kitchener Dutchmen and the Kitchener Rangers.
Besides the games, the Aud also hosted a series of other events such as Memorial Cups, the Ontario Hockey League All-star games, as well as concerts that welcomed big stars such as KISS, Bob Dylan and Hillary Duff.
Today, the complex turns 70.
The City of Kitchener is commemorating the anniversary by virtually sharing some of the community's memories over the years.
For Pihowich — a longtime Kitchener resident who now lives in Woodstock — one of most memorable moments was an exhibition hockey game the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen played in 1953 in front of thousands of fans.
"My memory of it was it was a three to three game and there was a minute left in the game and I don't think Detroit wanted to lose to a senior A team," he said. "It was quite the crowd and quite the competition."
He recalls the final score was five to three against the Dutchmen.
Pihowich was a regular visitor to the Aud. He held season tickets to watch one of his favourite hockey teams, the Kitchener Rangers.
"I've attended games every year since 1963. A lot of great memories of the old Kitchener Rangers, some whom I met personally," he said.
Pihowich said he misses going to watch their games since the pandemic cut short the OHL's 2019-20 season. He said he had tickets to attend a Kitchener Rangers game that was scheduled for March 15, 2020.
Pihowich said if regular season returns this fall, he will "make a beeline to The Auditorium, for sure."
