The home of the 2011 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, the Centre Georges-Vézina opened in 1949 as the Colisée de Chicoutimi before being renamed in 1965 in honour of the Montreal Canadiens’ Hall of Fame goaltender.
Housing an Olympic-sized ice surface (200’ x 100’), the arena has a total capacity of 4,651 (3,683 seats, 968 standing room) and has been home to the QMJHL’s Saguenéens de Chicoutimi since their inaugural season in 1973-74. The Centre Georges-Vézina hosted the 1988 Memorial Cup, although the Saguenéens did not participate.
ABOUT GEORGES VÉZINA
George Vézina, nicknamed the Chicoutimi Cucumber because of his calm demeanor in goal, was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Montreal Canadiens (1916, 1924) and was among the first 12 players inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame when the Hall opened its doors in 1945.
The first goaltender in NHL history to record a shutout (during the league’s inaugural 1917-18 season), Vézina died of tuberculosis on March 27, 1926 in Chicoutimi at the age of 39. The next season, the Canadiens donated the Vézina Trophy, which is still awarded to this day to the NHL’s top goaltender.
For more information: Ryan Robins Manager, Marketing Services and Events | Responsable, événements spéciaux et internationaux |