Special Events

Read about our events in 2025, recapping the details of the Carr-Harrris game, Historic Hockey and the Bill Fitsell and Red Barons award winners.

The Historic Hockey Series, was played on Saturday February 8, 2025 with Queen's University winning the title in record setting fashion.  Click on the link for details..

The Carr-Harris Challenge Cup, between Queen's University and the Royal Military College was played on Thursday February 6th 2025. Click on the link for details.

The Red Barons Award, handed out to the most deserving Queen's women's player on Friday February 7th, 2025. Click on the link for details. 

 

 

History of Historic Hockey, the Carr-Harris game and the annual awards presented by the Original Hockey Hall of Fame 

The Original Hockey Hall of Fame has three winter traditions that occur each February - that we are very proud to be associated with.

The Historic Hockey Series was created in 1969 to celebrate Kingston's first game that took place in 1886 between Queen's and R.M.C. The round robin series games are played between three teams from Queen's, R.M.C. and 2nd Regiment RCHA Petawawa using the rules from the 1886 contest to re-create the game from its earliest days. Of course, the two local schools are represented in these games but the military connection also runs deep in the early days of the sport, even pre-dating the game in 1886.  In 1843, a soldier stationed in Kingston, Arthur Freeling, wrote in his diary "fun playing hockey on the harbour".  This was the first documented reference to the word "hockey" and his diary remains at the National Archives in Ottawa. As a result of that history, a military team made perfect sense to be part of these games.  

The Carr-Harris game was created in 1986 by a small group of Hall of Fame pioneers, including Bill Fitsell.  In 1986, the game was to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first game played in Kingston between Queen's and RMC.  That still remains as the "worlds oldest hockey rivalry". The Carr-Harris family name is used to mark the event recognizing a rich family connection to both local schools as far back as the 1890's with several members of the Carr-Harris family playing varsity sports at either institutuion and excelling in academics.  Johnny Carr-Harris coached the RMC men's hockey team for one season and later coached the Queen's men's team for five seasons so it is clear to see why the family name is used for this local rivalry. The Original Hockey Hall of Fame hands out MVP awards to the top player in the game from each team.  In 2023, the Bill Fitsell Memorial Award was established for the Carr-Harris game and will be presented each year to one graduating player from both teams as chosen by each Head Coach. 

The inaugural Red Barons Award was established in 2023.  This award bares the name of the Red Barons women's hockey team that began in 1969 at a time when opportunities for girls or women to play competitive hockey were almost non-existent. The Red Barons were a ground breaking team that evolved over time and would eventually develop in to a squad of many accomplished Queen's University players that captured a North American championship in 1975. The Red Barons were certainly trail blazers in the evolution of competitive womens hockey in Kingston. In recognition of their contributions to the sport, the Red Barons award was presented for the first time in 2023 and will be presented each year to one graduating player from the Queen's Women's team as chosen by the Head Coach.  The same criteria for the selected winner is used for both the Red Barons and Fitsell awards with several factors being weighed including both on ice and off ice dedication, leadership, sportsmanship and academics. The Red Barons award is presented at one of the final regular season home games in the Queen's women's team schedule.