A total of 31 entries told the story of the Victoria Cougars winning the Stanley Cup in 1925
It’s an old story that has tremendous meaning for our region. The 1925 Championship put Greater Victoria at the pinnacle of the hockey world, and has now become a fruitful muse for singers and songwriters from across Vancouver Island. A total of 31 entries were received for the Century Celebration songwriting competition, which asked artists to submit an original composition honouring the Victoria Cougars winning the Stanley Cup in 1925.
“We were overwhelmed by the reception to this contest and so impressed by the quality of submissions,” said Rose Arsenault, who organized the contest. “These are good songs, catchy songs, that will be amazing to hear the three finalists with a live audience cheering them on.”
The finalists for the Century Celebration Songwriting Contest are:
· The Standing Twins
· Stan Davis
· and Paul Gatien and Gareth Hurwood.
The submissions were judged by an independent panel of music experts. The three finalists will be featured on Music Night at the Bard & Banker, March 27 starting at 7:30 p.m. The winner will be selected by the audience, and receive the grand prize of $5,000. The runners up will each get $500.
“We’re thrilled to host Music Night during the Century Celebration and support Greater Victoria’s music scene,” Victoria Pub Company owner Matt MacNeil said. “This is going to be a fun evening, and the Bard & Banker is a perfect venue to hear these artists pay tribute to a legendary championship that continues to shape our hockey community.”
The Century Celebration of the Cougars’ historic win over the National Hockey League’s Montreal Canadians begins Thursday, March 27, with Music Night at the Bard & Banker. Festivities continue March 29-30, with family friendly events and the highly anticipated return of the Cup for public viewing on March 30. Century Celebration festivities will centre around the Oak Bay Recreation Centre, near the old location of Patrick Arena — a former stadium on the corner of Cadboro Bay Road and Epworth Street where the 1925 Cougars clinched the cup championship.
