The Dresden arena has officially been re-named the Ken Houston Memorial Agricultural Centre.
A ceremony was held on Saturday in Dresden as part of the Rogers Hometown Hockey celebrations.
Social media was buzzing, as hundreds of people flocked to the arena for the official unveiling:
#TrainerScottiesays it’s OFFICIAL pic.twitter.com/2GMldrO6EM
— Trainer Scottie (@ScottDJK) 15 December 2018
Grateful to have celebrated the official unveiling of the Ken Houston Memorial Agricultural Centre in #Dresden today.
Ken Houston is surely smiling down on this wonderful community here. #CKont #CKawesome #HometownPride pic.twitter.com/fQHnR65Oaw
— Rogers Hometown Hockey (@hometownhockey_) 16 December 2018
An emotional day for the Houston Family and friends!!!
Well deserved honour for a man who inspired many young hockey players to play at the ‘next level’
An electric crowd last night too!@DresdenJRKings #ckont #AtlantaFlames#6 pic.twitter.com/oS91OebtVu— Greg Hetherington (@GregCKXS) 15 December 2018
The Ken Houston Memorial Agricultural Centre has officially been unveiled in #Dresden! 🏒🙏🏻😊 @DresdenON @MunicCK @NHLFlames @NHL @DresdenJRKings #ckont pic.twitter.com/Ne2EFUp4rA
— Aaron Hall (@Aaron__Hall) 15 December 2018
The festivities got started in Dresden on Friday night as well, as sportscasters Ron McLean and Tara Slone made appearances at the Dresden game:
Highway skies into Dresden ON. @hometownhockey_ @TaraSlone here to celebrate life of late Ken Houston. The local arena will wear his fame. Ferguson Jenkins will join us in @MunicCK . Tampa@Winnipeg Sunday 630et330pt @Sportsnet… Sun took the shape of Maple Leaf. You’ll see why. pic.twitter.com/hSUCHvCfOq
— Ron MacLean (@RonMacLeanHTH) 14 December 2018
A moving tribute to the late Ken Houston tonight in Dresden Ontario by @RonMacLeanHTH @TaraSlone, @hometownhockey_ and members of the Houston Family.
This is hometown pride at its finest. #LivingCK #ckont #hometownhockey #DresdenOntario @Rogers pic.twitter.com/etYYEIsqsd
— LivingCK (@LivingCK) 15 December 2018
A special thanks to the @DresdenJRKings for hosting such an amazing event tonight. What a great group of staff and volunteers! @hometownhockey_ #dresdenjrkings #blenheimblades #rogershometownhockey pic.twitter.com/waVIKFD9tP
— Blenheim Blades (@BlenheimBlades) 15 December 2018
#TrainerScottiesays hanging out with @hometownhockey_ celebs Ron MacLean and Tara Sloan @DresdenJRKings #DJK pic.twitter.com/xchWFvtdd4
— Dresden JR Kings (@DresdenJRKings) 15 December 2018
President David Cameron with @TaraSlone @RonMacLeanHTH just before warmups as your Kings play the @BlenheimBlades #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/Zx42yCqykW
— Dresden JR Kings (@DresdenJRKings) 15 December 2018
The community of Dresden had “a full menu” in store for the Rogers Hometown Hockey weekend.
The festivities kick-started on Friday night with the Dresden Kings game at 7:30 p.m., followed by the ‘A Pocket Full of Memories’ event.
On Saturday, there was 14 hours of hockey with Ken Houston’s two grandsons playing, Ethan & Braydon.
At 12 p.m., the unveiling of the Ken Houston Memorial Agricultural Centre name change took place.
The celebration continued on Saturday night at the arena, with a dinner and dance, featuring: live auctions for sports memorabilia and stories shared by NHL Alumni who played with ‘Doc’.
The new ‘Doc’s Lager’ created by Son’s of Kent was also available during the weekend.
Former Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope entered a successful unanimous motion for the aren’s name change back in September.
“Ken Houston provided inspiration to local youngsters and was a source of pride for all local residents throughout his National Hockey League career,” Hope said.
“I was approached by a large number Dresden and area residents during the recent Dresden Exhibition seeking a permanent and public acknowledgement of the legacy of Mr. Houston.”
Community leaders in Dresden came out in droves at the September 10 Council meeting to show support for the motion, with many making deputations to Council to emphasize their position.
“Ken was a hero to everyone in Dresden and Kent County,” said Dave Cameron, president of the Dresden Junior Kings.
“He was a local boy who went on to do great things,” said Lucille Laprise, president of the Dresden Agricultural Society.
“He really inspired people,” said Dave Depencier, a local Dresden resident who played pick-up hockey with Houston.
“He was a great family man, not just a great player,” said Don Vitek, a long-time friend of Houston.
Members of the Dresden Kinsmen, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 113, Dresden Minor Hockey and others also announced their support of changing the arena’s name.
“It would be a great honour,” said Houston’s wife Susan, during a deputation.
Houston, who played nine seasons in the National Hockey League, died peacefully at home on Saturday, March 10, with his family by his side after a battle with cancer.
He was 64.
Houston played junior hockey with both the Dresden Kings and the Chatham Maroons.
His professional hockey career started after he was drafted by the Atlanta Flames in the 1973 NHL Entry Draft.
He played seven seasons for the Flames, including two after the team relocated to Calgary.
He was traded to the Washington Capitals in the 1981–82 NHL season.
He played there until October 1983 when he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings.
He retired at the end of the 1983–84 NHL season.
In 570 career NHL games Houston scored 161 goals and had 167 assists for 328 points.
He also recorded 624 penalty minutes.
In 35 career NHL playoff games Houston scored 10 goals and added 9 assists for 19 career playoff points. He also had 66 penalty minutes in those 35 games.
In 1997, Houston was inducted as an inaugural member of the Dresden Sports Hall of Fame.
