"We took that cup in Caddy Bay for all the world to see. Will they still remember us in another century?"
That was the question posed in Gareth Hurwood and Paul Gatien's original song, Cougars' Mighty Roar.
Hurwood and Gatien were crowned winners of the century celebration songwriting competition on Thursday night, as part of the Victoria Hockey Legacy Society's century celebration of the Victoria Cougars at the Bard and Banker, winning $5,000.
The competition drew 31 submissions, but Hurwood and Gatien’s ability to translate history into song set them apart.
"It's always great to collaborate with Gareth," Gatien said. "He has an innate ability to articulate a story so succinctly and deliver it in a way that wins the audience over."
The duo began working on the song in late 2024 after learning about the contest, finalizing their submission in early February. The song continued to evolve right up until the last moment.
For Hurwood, whose background is more rooted in music and history than hockey, the contest provided a unique opportunity to engage with the sport’s local legacy.
"As an immigrant kid, ice hockey passed my family by, a cultural gap I never bridged until now," Hurwood said. "But I am a history fan, a music fan, and I like touching base with what makes my community resonate.”
Gatien, on the other hand, has been a hockey fan since childhood, with memories stretching back to one of the sport’s most iconic moments.
"When I was nine years old back in 1972, my dad took me to watch the Canada Red team play the Canada White team at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto prior to the great 1972 Canada-Russia Summit Series. I lived for hockey back then," Gatien said. "I came away with a puck signed by Frank Mahovlich at that game, and then after that series, managed to meet Paul Henderson and get his autograph."
Bringing their song into the Victoria Cougars' century celebration was a meaningful experience for both musicians.
"This opportunity is magic for me. Life-long circles closing, and new circles on the horizon," said Hurwood. "Floating inches off the ground; the reality matched the daydream like never before."
Cougars’ Mighty Roar will remain a key part of the Victoria Cougars' 100-year celebration.
And as the song asks, "Will they still remember us in another century?" The answer is clear – Victoria’s 1925 Stanley Cup champions will not be forgotten.
