Ireland in the spotlight as the Maple Leafs sport historical St. Pats jerseys on St. Patrick’s Day
The luck of the Irish was with the Toronto Maple Leafs last night as the hometown team sported green St. Pats jerseys and beat the Calgary Flames 6:2.
In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Tourism Ireland teamed up with the Leafs for a special collaboration putting the spotlight on the cultural ties between Ireland and Canada on-and-off screen while showcasing the history behind the Leafs’ former identity as the Toronto St. Patricks, or St. Pats, from 1919 to 1927.
Maple Leafs mascot Carlton the Bear was known as Cloverton for the night
“In 1919 the team introduced the St. Pats’ name and logo paying a tribute to the large Irish population in Toronto at the time,” Sandra Moffatt, country director – Canada for Tourism Ireland told PressToday. “In 1927, Conn Smythe, who had Irish heritage himself with his father being born in Northern Ireland, renamed it the Toronto Maple Leafs. So, while the St. Pats period was short-lived, it remains an important chapter in the team’s early history – demonstrated by the team still wearing the jersey on March 17th!”
Moffatt and The StepCrew
During the match, Maple Leafs mascot Carlton the Bear was known as Cloverton for the evening as he was seen onscreen dancing alongside The StepCrew, a group of fiddlers and dancers who blend Ottawa Valley stepdance, Irish stepdance, and tap. Various Tourism Ireland themed branding and photo opportunities were also on display all around the Scotiabank Arena for the game.
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“With 4.6 million Canadians claiming Irish ancestry and March officially recognized as Irish Heritage Month, there’s no better time to celebrate the strong ties between these two nations,” added Moffatt. “Whether it’s exploring family roots or simply discovering Ireland’s rich culture and stunning landscapes, this is the perfect opportunity to start dreaming of your next vacation on the island of Ireland.”
Moffatt and Canadian former pro hockey player Brad May
Moffatt shared that a recent survey found that 93 per cent of Canadians view hockey as an integral part of their national identity. Historical accounts suggest that Irish immigrants brought the ancient sport of hurling to North America and over time it played a part in shaping the game of hockey today.
Maple Leafs legend Darryl Sittler with Baxter Media’s Ann Ruppenstein
Clients who are hockey fans can try their luck at winning a trip for two to Ireland compete with free airline tickets by entering a special contest running across the Toronto Maple Leafs channels from March 20-31. For more information, visit Ireland.com and follow the Toronto Maple Leafs channels for updates and contest details.
Tourism Ireland’s St. Patrick’s Day activations also included the greening of the CN Tower and continue tonight at Riverdance in Toronto.
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Tags: Brad May, Darryl Sittler, Ireland, Sandra Moffatt, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tourism Ireland
