Photo supplied by Stan Neufeld.

By Curtis Galbraith

Community

New Grande Prairie Hockey Legends display up at Bonnetts Energy Centre

Jul 30, 2025 | 6:00 AM

After several years of work, a revamped Hockey Legends display has been unveiled at the Bonnetts Energy Centre.

Grande Prairie Legends of Hockey Committee chair Ben Radke says there were several reasons for doing this.

“The old display, it was getting difficult to upkeep it and maintain (it).”

“It had a really good description with the plaques of all the members of the Hockey Legends, but we wanted to take it a little step further and display some of the great memorabilia that we have and just modernize some it and make it a just a little bit more user-friendly and nicer for everybody.”

Radke says his group has collected things like old sweaters and equipment.

“Over the years, the committee started in 2003, it’s been one of the things that we’ve worked really hard at is gathering some of those old things that might be hidden in a garage or somebody’s attic and then that part of it “

“(We are) just making sure those old, historic bits of memorabilia aren’t lost and now, this is the opportunity to showcase some of them.”

He adds the committee did a lot of the work. Sponsors from the community also helped.

“The final touches and last stages have definitely been a challenge with COVID, but the work started several years before that and well before my time with the committee.”

Radke says it is gratifying to have this in place.

He adds they are still fine tuning the displays. Memorabilia will be rotated in and out.

The display is still located inside the west main doors at the Bonnetts Energy Centre.

Radke says history can disappear as stories and memorabilia get lost over time.

“The committee is really aimed at trying to enhance and publicize the great hockey history that is there and the ways it has impacted everything from those of us that grew up playing here in Grande Prairie and the impact it has had on our lives all the way through to those that have gone on to have storied careers in the NHL.”

Besides this display, there is also the Grande Prairie Legends of Hockey Lounge located in the Design Works Centre.

Radke says this is where the pictures of all 25 inductees are displayed.

Photo supplied by Stan Neufeld.

Radke adds the website is also being redesigned. The hope is to have that done sometime this fall.

Radke says anyone who thinks they may have something worth donating can contact the members of the committee.