Game on: Dale Hawerchuk Park opens with a faceoff

The new Dale Hawerchuk Park officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, where Oshawa City Council and the late legend’s family and friends honoured him with a friendly game of street hockey.

In 2020, City Council unanimously approved naming the park in honour of Dale Hawerchuk, a decorated hockey hero who grew up in Oshawa before drawing the attention of Junior and National Hockey League (NHL) scouts.

Fittingly, the park is situated in the new Symphony Towns development on Harmony Road South, the former site of Donevan High School where Mr. Hawerchuk attended while excelling in local hockey as a leading member of the Oshawa Minor Hockey Association, Oshawa Legionaires and Oshawa Kinsmen teams.

Naming the park after Mr. Hawerchuck underscores Oshawa’s strong connections to hockey and its core values of discipline, teamwork, respect, communication and humility, all reflected in Mr. Hawerchuk’s legacy.

In the 1979 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (Q.M.J.H.L.) Draft, Mr. Hawerchuk was the first round pick of the Cornwall Royals. In two seasons with the Royals, Mr. Hawerchuk was named Rookie of the Year, Playoff M.V.P., Most Sportsmanlike Player, a Q.M.J.H.L. First Team All-Star, Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year and brought home two Memorial Cups.

Not surprisingly, Mr. Hawerchuk was the first overall pick of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. During his 16-season professional career, Mr. Hawerchuk played for the Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues and the Philadelphia Flyers before retiring after the 1996-1997 season. During his tenure, Mr. Hawerchuck was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy in his first season as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year and participated in five NHL All-Star Games. Despite hanging up his skates over 20 years ago, Mr. Hawerchuk still holds a place in the top 20 NHL Career Point Leaders.

No stranger to international ice, Mr. Hawerchuk represented Canada five times at the World Junior Hockey Championships, three times at the World Championships and twice at the Canada Cup, first in 1987 where he was named the team’s M.V.P. in the deciding game over Russia and once again in 1991.

Mr. Hawerchuk was inducted into the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame in 1999, the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Durham District School Board’s Definitely Durham Hall of Fame in 2020. He continued his passion for the game by sharing his knowledge and strategy as the longest-serving Head Coach of the Barrie Colts Junior A team, spending nine years behind the bench, six of which included playoff runs.

Family members have shared that naming the park in his honour was a great source of pride for Mr. Hawerchuk, who learned about the tribute before his death in 2020. The park features a vibrant playground with shaded seating areas and wide accessible paved pathways.

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Quotes:

“Dale Hawerchuk personified the spirit of the great city of Oshawa and naming this park in his honour is a fitting tribute to his legacy. He made our city proud, not just as a hockey town, but as a caring community that values dedication and perseverance,” said Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter. “It warms my heart to think of the future generations of kids who will come to this park and be inspired to dream big and work hard to succeed, just like Dale did.”

Born and raised in Oshawa - Watching the legendary Dale Hawerchuk’s illustrious hockey career, I can sincerely say that I am immensely proud to have introduced the motion to name Dale Hawerchuk Park and see it brought to life,” said Councillor Tito-Dante Marimpietri, Chair of the Economic and Development Services Committee. “It’s fitting that this park honours Dale, whose own hopes and dreams began while playing hockey in his neighbourhood park. Now, it will serve as a beacon, encouraging others to purse their own aspirations, enjoy neighbourhood friendships, and be as proud as he was of our hometown, Oshawa!”

“The Dale Hawerchuk Park not only honours a true hometown hero whose legacy embodies the values of teamwork, sportsmanship and respect but will also provide more green space for families in the area,” said Councillor Bob Chapman, Vice-Chair of the Economic and Development Services Committee and Ward 3 Regional & City Councillor. “Dale’s example continues to inspire our young people and we are grateful for his enduring contribution to the sport and to our community.”  

“It is a privilege to dedicate this park posthumously to Dale Hawerchuk, a pro hockey legend, said Councillor Bradley Marks, Ward 3 City Councillor. “Oshawa will be forever linked to Dale’s life and career, and he will now be memorialized here in Ward 3 with an inviting space for families to gather.” 

Photo caption:

Members of Oshawa Council were joined by family of the late Dale Hawerchuk to celebrate the official opening of Dale Hawerchuk Park situated in the new Symphony Towns development on Harmony Road South, the former site of Donevan High School.