Victorias Day in November

The city’s newest piece of artwork brought Dave Benson to tears.

His grandfather, Robert Benson, and the three-time Stanley Cup-winning Winnipeg Victorias (1896, 1901, and 1902) have received a long overdue acknowledgement with a four-story mural on the south wall of the Palomino Club at 436 Main St.

It was installed over a week ago, but officially introduced by the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame & Museum (MHHOF) on Wednesday with a press conference featuring several speakers, including Mayor Scott Gillingham.

“You come down Main Street from the south, and you see it from three or four blocks back. Especially this morning when the sun was shining, it was just gorgeous. I just feel absolute pride,” said an emotional Benson, 72.

“I’ve got an original copy of the black and white (photo), and this is outstanding. It’s beyond imagination they can do this from a small little print.”

The MHHOF was determined to make a splash to celebrate its 40-year anniversary, and it’s safe to say they succeeded.

“And then also in February, it’s the 130-year anniversary of the Victorias winning the cup. So, when you marry those together, it’s like ‘OK, let’s make a statement,’” said Jordy Douglas, the president of the MHHOF.

“I don’t know if we can do artwork as big or as generous as this again, but we made a decision to do something significant. We chose a wonderful artist, the colours pop, and we left enough room on that wall so when the Jets win the cup, they can go right next to them.”

The mural was created by artist Jen Mosienko and her assistant Emmit McGregor.

Mosienko, who is married to the grandson of hockey legend Billy Mosienko, has done several murals throughout the city including the Pray for Ukraine piece in the Exchange District and the one of her husband’s grandfather on the side of Billy Mosienko Lanes.

The project — which had financial assistance from Take Pride Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba’s Arts, Culture and Sport in Community Fund as well as their Heritage Grant program, and Harvard Developments Corporation — was three years in the making. Several locations were considered before they led to the Pal, but since it’s a heritage building, they had some hoops to jump through. They couldn’t use the building as a canvas and instead had to paint on 24 separate panels that were hung up by SRS Signs & Services Inc.

“The ceiling was only 14 feet high in the space that we were working in. So, the very first time we saw it all together was when it was installed on the wall and it was kind of like ‘OK, does it actually look OK?’” Mosienko said with a laugh.

“I think as an artist, you’re always your worst critic. I have a bad tendency to pick it apart, but I think for me, the initial relief was ‘OK, it all matches up.’ I always find I like my projects a little bit more when I’ve been away from them. But I am very proud. It’s an incredibly special project here in Winnipeg and I’m very humbled.”

In the first 10 years of Stanley Cup competition, Winnipeg was the only city beside Montreal to hoist the top prize in hockey. The Vics stunned Montreal 2-0 on Feb. 14, 1896, in a single-game series and the news got back to Winnipeg via CPR Telegraph. When the team returned to Winnipeg 10 days later, thousands gathered for a parade on Main Street — which is considered the first Stanley Cup parade in history. They remained the world champs until Dec. 30, 1896, when Montreal travelled to the Manitoba capital for a rematch.

The Vics recaptured the silver mug from Montreal in two games in January of 1901, and the following year, they were challenged by the Toronto Wellingtons and swept them in a best-of-three series.

“Hockey’s in my family’s history, especially on my husband’s side, and I wasn’t aware of this,” said Mosienko. “So, the first time I actually found out that we had won three Stanley Cups was about just over three years ago.”

With approximately 80,000 vehicles driving down Main Street on an average week day, those who don’t already know will soon find out you can’t tell the story of the Stanley Cup without mentioning Winnipeg.

“I debate this with people all the time: look across Canada, tell me a province that has more hockey history, and innovative hockey, than Manitoba,” said Douglas.

“Just go on our website, look at the inductees, look at some of the vignettes, look at some of the stories of Manitoba people, players, builders, and the imprint they have all over the province and all over North America in hockey. It’s fabulous, and we’re just scratching the surface of it.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca