ABOUT THE JONATHAN TOEWS SPORTSPLEX
Jonathan Toews was born in Winnipeg, MB, on, April 29, 1988. He grew up in south St. Vital and began his young hockey career as a Dakota Lazer, playing out of the Dakota Community Centre. Toews went on to achieve greatness in the hockey world as the youngest Captain of the Chicago Blackhawks and multiple Stanley Cup Champion!
A few of his other on ice accomplishments include:
- Selected by the Blackhawks with the third overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Joined the team for the 2007/08 season
- Nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year 2007/08
- Named Team Captain in 2008, becoming the youngest Captain of the Blackhawks and third-youngest captain in NHL history
- Won the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015
- Won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010
- Was the youngest player to join the Triple Gold Club 2010
- Competed internationally for Team Canada and won gold medals at the 2005 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, 2006 and 2007 World Junior Championships, 2007 World Championships, the 2010 Winter Olympics (a tournament where he was named Best Forward) and in the 2014 Olympic Games
- 2016 World Cup of Hockey Gold Medal
In 2010 when Jonathan brought home the Stanley Cup for the first time, the City of Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz announced that the Centre, where he began playing hockey, would bear his name to honor his accomplishments.
With the planned expansion of the DCC in 2014, and, in concert with Jonathan and his family, it was agreed that the current building would be named the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex (at the Dakota Community Centre).
The 95,000 square foot Jonathan Toews Sportsplex houses two indoor ice rinks; a gymnasium, nursery school, skate shop, weight room, strength training facility, a canteen, the Centre’s administrative offices, as well as numerous multi-purpose spaces.
In October 2017 the new 60,000 square foot Fieldhouse opened to the public and is connected to the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex by a covered walkway.
The Dakota Community Centre community is very proud of Jonathan's many accomplishments and honoured to have his name and reputation associated with our centre, and to have him and his family as part of the Dakota CC Team!
In 2016, Jonathan became the Honorary Chair of the Dakota Futures Campaign and kicked off fundraising efforts for the Fieldhouse and the continued expansion of the Community Centre with a transformational gift of $1 Million dollars.
Jonathan and his family remain dedicated supporters of the Community Centre and the South St. Vital community. Following each of his Stanley Cup wins in 2010, 2013, and 2015, Jonathan returned home to the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex at Dakota Community Centre to celebrate with his home town community. A hockey card, using the photo above, was created specifically by the Dakota Community Centre for his 2015 celebration and distributed to all who attended.
