Local Artist's wonderland

CAPTION: Pat Doucette shows off his Original Six National Hockey League team kitchen Saturday afternoon at his home in Summerside.

Local artists turns kitchen into hockey Mural

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

SUMMERSIDE- Pat Doucette remembers going to his uncle’s house Saturday night growing up in Miminegash to watch Hockey Night in Canada. On a black and white television, he remembers upwards of fifty people gathering around the television to catch all the action of the Original-Six era of the NHL.

About three months ago, the 75-year old decided to redecorate his kitchen in his Summerside home and pay tribute to his favourite time in the hockey history.

After a couple weeks Doucette had painted the logos of the Original Six NHL teams, the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, on the floor of his kitchen, which all surround a giant version of the of Doucette’s favoured Canadiens’ logo. On his cupboards under the kitchen counter he painted all six teams’ logos with a Stanley Cup, the National Hockey League championship trophy, next to them.

After a couple of weeks of nighttime work, his kitchen was transformed into a mural.

The long time Montreal Canadiens fan said the idea came when he was lying in bed one night.

“Laying in bed at night you think of those things.”

Jean Doucette, wife of Pat for 47-years, said she was skeptical when he first started the piece, but was happy with the finished product.

“Now that I know it’s his game, his team, I think it looks pretty good,” she said. “I’m not a (hockey) fan really, I just watch (the Canadiens) at the end, maybe the last game. But you know he really likes it and he did a great, great job.”

The project isn’t finished yet either.

“I’m going to paint (hockey) gloves hanging,” Doucette said pointing at his cupboards above the kitchen counter.

When walking into the kitchen for the first time, people are usually taken aback said Doucette.

“They peek around the corner, and they’re like, Whoa.”

But artistry doesn’t stop in the kitchen of Doucette’s home. Walk up his stairs you’ll see a life sized paper mache of rock and roll singer Elvis Presley, his son David’s favourite musician. Walk in the house, you’ll be greeted by Elvis’ Christmas songs album cover. Take a walk to his basement? You’ll see works of three-dimensional art including a waterfall, with rocks made of bags and water made of silver tinsel.

His house is a testament to his love of art, which he says was influenced by his father.

“He got me where I am today,” he said. “He use to carve lobsters, he’d carve the old fashioned figures like a farmer with a plow and the old lady churning (butter) and all that stuff and he’d give it to the museum in Miscouche.”

Though his father influenced his love of art, it’s his son and wife who inspire his current artwork.

“I’ve got to give my wife credit, she never, ever, ever growls,” he joked.