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'One of our own': Greater Sudbury renames Garson arena in honour of George Armstrong

The Garson Community Centre and Arena has been renamed the George Armstrong Community Centre and Arena in honour of the hockey legend.

‘We'll always be able to come here and see him’

Rajpreet Sahota · CBC News ·
A building with a sign that reads "George Armstrong Community Centre and Arena"
New signs have been put up outside the arena. (Rajpreet Sahota/CBC)

In a tribute to a local hockey legend, the Garson Community Centre and Arena has been renamed the George Armstrong Community Centre and Arena.

The mayor of Greater Sudbury, along with Armstrong's family and former Maple Leafs captains, gathered at the arena for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon.

A man stands at a podium
Joe Bowen is a Canadian sportscaster. He is known as 'The Voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs.' (Rajpreet Sahota/CBC)

Armstrong was born in Skead and resided in Falconbridge. The Hall of Famer played 21 seasons in the NHL and helped win four Stanley Cups with the Maple Leafs, including the last one in 1967. He was one of the first Indigenous players in the NHL.

A man in a grey suit stands at a podium
Craig Nootchtai is the Chief of Atikameksheng. City council members, local hockey associations, and Nootchtai gathered Thursday for a ribbon-cutting event. (Rajpreet Sahota/CBC)

The renamed arena now features a new sign outside the building on Church Street. Inside, a trophy case houses photos and memorabilia of George Armstrong, and a mural of the Hall of Famer has also been added.

A group of women sit on stairs watching something
George Armstrong's family was also in attendance. 'Our dad would be proud and thankful, but at the same time he would feel embarrassed and unworthy of such a phenomenal and important gesture...But those closest to him, his family, his teammates, his close friends, the Toronto Maple Leafs and anyone who knew him would say there is no one more deserving,' said the McCourt and Armstrong families in a statement. (Rajpreet Sahota/CBC)

"We'll always be able to come here and see him," said his daughter, Betty Ann Armstrong. "I didn't realize how much people loved him."

She added that he would be humbled by the commemoration but "didn't want to be in the limelight."

A man speaks at a podium in front of a large mural
Inside the George Armstrong Community Centre and Arena, there is a trophy case displaying photos and memorabilia of George Armstrong, along with a newly added mural of the Hall of Famer. (Rajpreet Sahota/CBC)

Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre says the city is honoured to recognize Armstrong's legacy to ensure future generations remember him and celebrate "one of our own."

A man in a Maple Leafs jacket and hat stands at a podium
Former Toronto Maple Leafs Wendel Clark, at the podium, Darryl Sittler and Rick Vaive will participate in the annual Celebrity Hockey Classic and afterwards they will attend a Sudbury Wolves game. (Rajpreet Sahota/CBC)

"George Armstrong was a hockey legend, always proud of his roots here in the great City of Greater Sudbury, Falconbridge and Skead... Four Stanley Cups… We have somebody of that stature who is accomplished. We have to be proud of that. And we are," Lefebvre said.

A group of people stand behind a blue ribbon
A sea of blue jerseys filled the Garson arena for the renaming ceremony honoring Maple Leafs legend George Armstrong. (Rajpreet Sahota/CBC)

Darryl Sittler, a former captain of the Maple Leafs who has also been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, described Armstrong's legacy similarly.

"He's won four Stanley Cups. He's the last captain to hold the Stanley Cup as a Maple Leaf… he's the guy, he did it so many times and he's been respected for that," said Sittler.

A woman holds a large pair of scissors
His daughter, Betty Ann Armstrong, expressed she had no idea how much people admired him. (Rajpreet Sahota/CBC)

Sittler, along with Wendel Clark and Rick Vaive, will be playing in the annual Celebrity Hockey Classic for Easter Seals on Friday at Countryside Arena. They will then attend the OHL game between the Sudbury Wolves and the Sarnia Sting that evening in honour of Armstrong.

"He had a great sense of humour. He worked hard at his profession, didn't get caught up, didn't have a big ego, which is important…. He was a humble guy, a good family guy and a good teammate. So he had all the qualities and that's obviously a big role model for people here in the community," Sittler said.

A bunch of people are gathered watching the stage
Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre said, 'It’s wonderful that we can come together today to showcase his achievements and recognize his extraordinary journey.' (Rajpreet Sahota/CBC)

The official renaming comes after the Nickel Centre Minor Hockey Association submitted a formal request to rename the facility in January 2023. The application was then reviewed by the city council.

Brian George Armstrong, the son of the hockey legend, called the newly renamed building "amazing."

A man in a Maple Leafs hat stands at a podium
Brian George Armstrong, the son of the hockey legend, also made a speech. 'We are all so proud of his accomplishments and to know that his name will live on through generations of young skaters, hockey players and people of all ages and backgrounds who enjoy all the benefits that a community rink provides, is a wonderful thing,' said the McCourt and Armstrong families. (Rajpreet Sahota/CBC)

"Thanks to the mayor and the people of Sudbury. Home meant a lot to him. He never forgot it," said Armstrong's son

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rajpreet Sahota

Reporter

Rajpreet Sahota is a CBC reporter based in Sudbury. She covers a wide range of stories about northern Ontario. News tips can be sent to rajpreet.sahota@cbc.ca

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