28

Kirkland Lake High School Ladies Hockey Team
Circa 1931
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Hockey Heritage North Archives

29

To be offered a hockey scholarship at colleges and universities is as much a reality for the players of today as it was during the 1940's and 1950's. Players from Kirkland Lake have been given the chance to get their education and hockey experience in the United States includes Bob Thompson and Rudy Unis in the early 1960's. In more recent years Katherine Hannah attended Lindenwood University in Missouri, and Lindsay Vine was a student at Niagara University.

30

University level hockey - Thompson and Unis
1962-64

Credits:
Hockey Heritage North Archives

31

Katherine Hannah played minor hockey in Kirkland Lake, and later went on to play as a strong competitor and senior forward at the university level.

Several of her accomplishments include leading the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) in points from 2004 - 2006, becoming team captain while with the Lindenwood University Lions (located in St. Charles, Missouri), and winning MVP honours for her performance in the American National Championships.

Katherine Hannah was also presented the Zoe M. Harris Award in 2006 as the Women's Division Player of the Year.

32

Lindenwood Lions Sweater
Circa 2006

Credits:
Sweater donated by Katherine Hannah and Family
Hockey Heritage North Archives

33

Lindsay Vine Image
Circa 2005
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Hockey Heritage North Archives

34

In 2008, Lindsay was asked what hockey meant to her. Her reply was:

"I am 26 years old and hockey has been a part of my life for 23 years. I have been playing since I was 3 years old and it has been everything to me. I absolutely just love the game. Not only is it the game I love, but I am very lucky with the people I got to meet along the way.
From teammates on the many different teams I have played for, to the refs, to the parents, and opponents, I have met so many people and it's all because of hockey. My education was covered because of hockey and I got to see a lot of Ontario, Quebec, the East and Mid-US.
The best part is that through all of this I have had my family support me 100%. Without them, I don't know where I would be."
Lindsay Vine participated as a player for the Oakville Ice in the National Women's Hockey League games held in Kirkland Lake and New Liskeard, November 2005.

35

Oakville Ice Sweater
Circa 2005

Credits:
Sweater donated by Lindsay Vine and Family
Hockey Heritage North Archives

36

Ticket Stubs and Puck
Circa 2005

Credits:
Items loaned from Lindsay Vine and Family
Hockey Heritage North Archives

37

Bill Plager - Mom was a Big Influence in Their Early Hockey Career
5 September 2009
Hockey Heritage North, Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Bill Plager Interview
Hockey Heritage North Archives

38

Outdoor rinks have not changed in appearance over the decades. Central Public School is the only school in Kirkland Lake that maintains an outdoor rink in the winter months for use by its students.

Central School rink is across the street from the former location of the Kirkland Community Arena. An office building was constructed on the site of the former Arena, which can be seen in the image, beyond the treeline. In front of the building is a monument dedicated to the professional hockey players who came from Kirkland Lake.

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Outdoor Rink
Circa 2010
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Photograph by Nick Messier
Hockey Heritage North Archives

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As many former NHLers from Kirkland Lake will tell you, it was the experience of being on the outdoor rinks that made them into the players of today. When asked what training helped him most as he was growing up and resulted in his abilities to become a player skilled enough to make it to professional hockey, Bill Plager said the following in a 2009 interview:

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Bill Plager - Cleaning Off the Ice at the Rink
5 September 2009
Hockey Heritage North, Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Bill Plager Interview
Hockey Heritage North Archives