tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28315038967537870252024-03-14T04:06:16.823-04:00Hockey Then & NowFrom the Original Six Era to Present Day - Written by Jim AmodeoJ. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.comBlogger698125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-6398331314153245052022-01-13T11:20:00.002-05:002022-01-13T11:28:49.225-05:00PHIL SAMIS: 1927-2022<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPZPwW1jy2-I3XI6wK_-nZ1PC-_JZRRPAO4JkAzyu3XnmSItPf9r9YctqjO3D38-v9_LUbFhBEwlMD1Zt5Qa1jiwkIsUN5-xailQCWRY1kJVe_GI6RUmaY0hZ0fHyEANttAJfUUILRBYHZYoMosfsgv335d8Vh92RSiFr-Xhp4moEhWfRJAQAiDeHhnA=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPZPwW1jy2-I3XI6wK_-nZ1PC-_JZRRPAO4JkAzyu3XnmSItPf9r9YctqjO3D38-v9_LUbFhBEwlMD1Zt5Qa1jiwkIsUN5-xailQCWRY1kJVe_GI6RUmaY0hZ0fHyEANttAJfUUILRBYHZYoMosfsgv335d8Vh92RSiFr-Xhp4moEhWfRJAQAiDeHhnA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>On January 11, 2021, Dr. Phil Samis, the oldest living former Toronto Maple Leaf, passed away at the age of 94. He died at the John M. Parrott Centre located in Napanee, Ontario. Samis was born on December 28, 27 in Edmonton, Alberta.</p><p>At the 16, Samis travelled east to attend school and play junior hockey at St. Michael's College School in Toronto. At the high school, he captured a Memorial Cup championship in 1945. He closed out his time in the Ontario Hockey Association in 1947 with the Oshawa Generals. </p><p>In the fall of 1947, Samis signed his first pro contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was assigned to their farm team, the Pittsburgh Hornets, of the American Hockey League (AHL). Though not a large man, his stout, but solid frame, enabled him to be a physical force on the Hornets defence.</p><p>Samis got his break in the NHL when the Leafs' post-season got underway in 1948. As a result, he became a Stanley Cup winner when the Leafs swept the Detroit Red Wings in the Cup final. Samis is pictured above holding a photo of the 1948 Stanley Cup team.</p><p>The Maple Leafs of that era were well equipped on the blueline and although the team was satisfied with his performance in the playoffs, Samis was unable to gain a spot on the Leafs' roster. </p><p>Dispatched back to the AHL, Samis remained with the Hornets until he was traded to the Cleveland Barons on April 6, 1950. On April 22, 1951, Samis and his Cleveland teammates, defeated the Hornets and were crowned champions of the AHL.</p><p>In 1953, Samis closed out his hockey career with the Montreal Royals of the Quebec Senior Hockey League. He left the game to concentrate on his studies to become a dentist. Samis had a thriving practice in Montreal for more than 40 years.</p><p>I wrote a detailed piece on Phil Samis on his birthday in 2020. Here is a link to the story...</p><p><a href="https://hockeythenandnow.blogspot.com/2020/12/a-look-at-phil-samis.html">A LOOK AT PHIL SAMIS</a><br /></p>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-20964006463156959682021-12-25T00:00:00.001-05:002021-12-25T00:00:00.168-05:00<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;">MERRY</span> <span style="color: #38761d;">CHRISTMAS</span><span style="color: red;">!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSnuKUDmcZpoVrmYNDbIet23jiagy2CnRx1iABz5cr7PK6ONdQsGmUf_JwWynU39-oLt_e0kv3sjnqDbymuWGA5dFF8g6HaDjJQp_XYbBl9v0UVNL0pu_XB6h9vtLJL4aXgcisUYfGirpqu1S3aqinI1H1vNOABrPkzfLs2NvAH6Gs5gkKUztItnKnYA=s3264" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2023" data-original-width="3264" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSnuKUDmcZpoVrmYNDbIet23jiagy2CnRx1iABz5cr7PK6ONdQsGmUf_JwWynU39-oLt_e0kv3sjnqDbymuWGA5dFF8g6HaDjJQp_XYbBl9v0UVNL0pu_XB6h9vtLJL4aXgcisUYfGirpqu1S3aqinI1H1vNOABrPkzfLs2NvAH6Gs5gkKUztItnKnYA=w400-h248" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">click to enlarge</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><u>Left to Right</u></p><p style="text-align: left;">Seated: Ivan Irwin, Wally Stanowski, Jerry Junkin, Bert Conacher </p><p style="text-align: left;">Second Row: Howie Menard, Ron Hurst, Howie Morenz, Jr., Santa Claus, Jim Morrison, Pete Conacher, Frank Mahovlich</p><p style="text-align: left;">Back Row: Gary Collins, Bob Nevin, Steve Vickers, Danny Lewicki, Ron Hoggarth, Bob Beckett, unknown, Ron Wicks, Bruce Hood</p>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-29231783148312421852021-12-20T11:21:00.004-05:002021-12-20T15:26:40.807-05:00AL SHAW 1940-2021<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpDz0tdT8qX6uc7_X7x_DG9IPbHOSdBIzDC10UGwKaaP1GVlA_cEg9bDmn4L8jf8BsfCMnzCwSv59YsG3f1imvipwqV2Tm1d6mqnoPfVqHKgsTgkPK3mGbmxoTCQFYxZiBJNruy0_Lo1PrNX_ulakZSzgYtH01w4WeXAgvdf9FTGO5y8FyAh1ZNMmkwA=s905" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpDz0tdT8qX6uc7_X7x_DG9IPbHOSdBIzDC10UGwKaaP1GVlA_cEg9bDmn4L8jf8BsfCMnzCwSv59YsG3f1imvipwqV2Tm1d6mqnoPfVqHKgsTgkPK3mGbmxoTCQFYxZiBJNruy0_Lo1PrNX_ulakZSzgYtH01w4WeXAgvdf9FTGO5y8FyAh1ZNMmkwA=w331-h400" width="331" /></a></div><p></p><p>As we gathered for the annual Original Six Alumni Christmas Lunch on December 5, 2021, one couldn't help but think of Al Shaw, who passed away on October 25, 2021.</p><p>Al was the heart and soul of our monthly lunch. He truly cared for those that mostly played for the love of the game. Al worked feverishly to make certain their stories and careers remained in the limelight. </p><p>I remember thanking him for all he did, but Al wasn't having any of it. He told me, "It's not about me, it's about those guys that played the game." </p><p>Each year, I updated a contact list that Al asked me to prepare. I suggested to Al, that in addition to adding new contact details, we delete those who died. Al looked at me and I could see the change in his expression. He just couldn't go along with the idea that the names of Wally Stanowski, Bob Beckett, and many, many more be permanently erased from list he looked at each month.</p><p>This shows how deeply Al cared about the Oldtimers, and even though they had passed, he liked to remember them as he made his monthly calls to advise of the date for the next lunch. I will miss that call from Al.</p><p>In addition to the lunch, Al planned our yearly visit to the Veterans Wing at Sunnybrook Hospital. He took great pride in this outing and made sure everything was just right. He had an amazing passion and dedication for this event. </p><p>I will never forget the wide smiles when Johnny Bower or Dick Duff mingled through the jammed packed hall and stopped to chat, sign autographs, shake a hand or pose for a photo. Often, a veteran shared a memory of Bower and Duff to them, and it was time for the former Leafs to smile. All this was possible thanks to Al Shaw.</p><p>There was nothing more important to Al Shaw than his family. Al's daughter, Shelley, penned a heartfelt piece about her dad. Here are some excerpts:</p><p>"My dad was a kind and caring man. He extended his heart and wisdom to us and so many of our friends, neighbours and family ... He had lots of quotes that he left with the grandchildren to help them get through life, like 'stay well' and 'keep your stick on the ice' ... Our father was always a guiding hand and the memories of his love for us will be strong as we begin a new life without him. We have comfort knowing that he is watching over us and our special memories will always live on."</p><p>I last saw Al on October 16 at the celebration of life for his brother-in-law, Jim Anderson. We talked about the upcoming lunches and the continued impact of COVID. Al was determined to keep the ship on course and safely sail into the future.</p><p>Sadly, we have lost our skipper.</p>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-45653950278442717422021-10-15T11:23:00.000-04:002021-10-15T11:23:55.882-04:00THE MAIN EVENT<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">CONN SMYTHE vs. MUHAMMAD ALI</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jipb7x1NT4w/YVSGlJYuYQI/AAAAAAAAEy4/IB_3_t3p_OAW15blzpb3R0xZKyzlMdbzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s321/Conn-smythe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="250" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jipb7x1NT4w/YVSGlJYuYQI/AAAAAAAAEy4/IB_3_t3p_OAW15blzpb3R0xZKyzlMdbzgCLcBGAsYHQ/w156-h200/Conn-smythe.jpg" width="156" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jB17OQ3xYl4/YVSGk1uR_dI/AAAAAAAAEy0/PZm6daN9gbs80LmSp4ToqiYn7-uwxwJUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s653/muhammad-ali-1-raw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="620" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jB17OQ3xYl4/YVSGk1uR_dI/AAAAAAAAEy0/PZm6daN9gbs80LmSp4ToqiYn7-uwxwJUgCLcBGAsYHQ/w190-h200/muhammad-ali-1-raw.jpg" width="190" /></a></div></div><br />Last month, PBS aired the documentary, <i><b>Muhammad Ali</b>. </i>It is directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon.<div><br /></div><div>Of particular interest is the second episode, <i><b>Round Two: What's My Name? (1964-1970)</b>. </i>It includes a segment on the heavyweight fight between Ali and George Chuvalo at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Events leading up to the fight had a ripple affect that resulted in a Toronto hockey legend, Conn Smythe, taking a stand and not budging from same.</div><div><br /></div><div>The "What's My Name?" in the title pertains to Ali changing his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali. On March 6, 1964, the head of the Black Muslims, Elijah Muhammad, made the announcement that Cassius Clay would now be known as Muhammad Ali. Earlier, Clay, in accordance with his new faith, took the name Cassius X, but was thrilled with the change by Elijah Muhammad. "I am honored," said Ali upon hearing the news.</div><div><br /></div><div>While Ali welcomed his new name, many inside and outside of the boxing world, refused to acknowledge or call him by his Muslim name. On every occasion when someone refused to address him as Ali, he would correct them and not let it slide. For opponents in the squared ring, who didn't call him Ali, they faced a ferocious physical assault and a fierce taunt from Ali asking them "What's my name?" </div><div><br /></div><div>Embroiled in hostilities with Vietnam, the war put Muhammad Ali and his religious convictions in conflict with the United States government. As a Muslim, he sought to have his draft status changed in March 1966, on the basis he was a conscientious objector. As Ali stated, "I got no quarrel with the Viet Congs. Why should I be drafted? These Viet Congs are fighting a very nasty war. There's a lot of people over there getting killed." </div><div><br /></div><div>With most Americans supporting the war, statements like this one made by Ali, didn't endure him with the public. And, it didn't sit well with various Athletic Commissioners across the States. A purposed March 29, 1966, tilt between Ali and heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell was rejected by a number of commissioners, including those in the boxing hotbeds of New York and Chicago. It was originally scheduled to be held in Chicago. Also, it was turned down by the city of Montreal.</div><div><br /></div><div>On March 7, 1966, came the news the Ali-Terrell fight would take place at Maple Leaf Gardens. "The fight will take place in our building, unless there is disproval from the Ontario government," stated Maple Gardens vice-president Harold Ballard. "We're aware the fight is on the run, but by holding it here we've got a chance to replace Madison Square Garden as the site of big indoor bouts."</div><div><br /></div><div>The next day, Leslie Rowntree, the labour minister for Ontario, sanctioned the fight. "This application is in order and complies with all the regulations of the Province which permit and control professional boxing," Rowntree told the press.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, the heavyweight title bout was down for the count when Ernie Terrell pulled out because he didn't like his deal with Maple Leaf Gardens and Bob Arum of Main Bouts Inc. The current World Boxing Association champ was upset with changes related to the live gate guarantee, ancillary rights and expense money. "In the new contract, there is no guarantee," said Terrell. "I haven't received any expense money and Maple Leaf Gardens wants me to sign a contract whereby I would have to fight George Chuvalo two months later for Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto."</div><div><br /></div><div>Just as quickly as Terrell dropped out, George Chuvalo signed a contract on March 11 to fight Ali at the Gardens. Chuvalo was represented by Irv Ungerman. "George has been training for three weeks, but not the way he would for a big fight," said Ungerman. "Now we have to get sparring partners and get to work in earnest by Monday."</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VXcRd1mEe_g/YWL9frvzJAI/AAAAAAAAEzA/mINB8qFmQ9Ue8s8iL_gE-CSZcyRwaOsbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s418/out%2B%252835%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VXcRd1mEe_g/YWL9frvzJAI/AAAAAAAAEzA/mINB8qFmQ9Ue8s8iL_gE-CSZcyRwaOsbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/out%2B%252835%2529.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br />What the Ken Burns documentary didn't mention was the huge impact the fight had on the inner workings of Maple Leaf Gardens Limited. Upon being advised of the Gardens' involvement, Conn Smythe put the wheels in motion to leave the company. </div><div><br /></div><div>Smythe and his associates purchased the Toronto St Patricks in February of 1927 and changed the team's name to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Their next order of business was to construct a new edifice for the Leafs to play in and host other sports and entertainment events.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maple Leaf Gardens, often referred to as "The House Smythe Built," first opened its doors on November 12, 1931, when the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Chicago Black Hawks. Smythe and J.P. Bickell were the driving forces behind the construction of the hockey palace on Carlton Street in downtown Toronto. It was an amazing feat that the building was put up in five months during the harsh depression of the 1930s. </div><div><br /></div><div>Right from the start, Smythe and his hockey team thrived in their new home. On April 9, 1932, they captured their first Stanley Cup at the Gardens. Under Smythe's supervision, they went on to win six (1942, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949 & 1951) Stanley Cups.</div><div><br /></div><div>Smythe's rein as the ultimate hockey boss of the Leafs ended in 1957, and a review of the minutes of a board of directors meeting provided the details on the new hockey department set-up. At a board meeting on May 9, 1957, Smythe presented the following resolution: "That the Board of Directors approve the appointment of a Hockey Committee to consist of Messrs. John Bassett, Ian S. Johnston, Stafford Smythe, G. Gardiner, W. Hatch, G. Mara and J. Amell, to operate the hockey part of the Maple Leaf Gardens' business with respect to personnel, organization, operation and policy, but that the financial end will be the direct responsibility of the Board of Directors."</div><div><br /></div><div>In November 1961, Smythe put further distance between himself and Maple Leaf Gardens Limited, when he sold his shares in the company to his son, Stafford Smythe. In the minutes of the board meeting on November 23, 1961, it reveals that Smythe went a step further: "... He, therefore tendered his resignation as President and Managing Director and coupled it with the nomination of Mr. Stafford Smythe to succeed him ..."</div><div><br /></div><div>This didn't spell the end of Conn Smythe's tenure with the Gardens. After informing the board of his stock dump and packing in his job as president and managing director, the board moved to keep Conn Smythe in the fold. The minutes from the November 23 document what was up next for the elder Smythe: "Mr. Stafford Smythe then stated that he and his associates Mr. Bassett and Mr. Ballard, would like to nominate Mr. Conn Smythe to be Chairman of the Board, and Col. MacBrien to be Honorary Chairman. Col. MacBrien resigned as Chairman of the Board and on motion, unanimously passed, Mr. Conn Smythe was elected to the office of Chairman of the Board and Col. MacBrien was appointed to the office of Honorary Chairman."</div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps more than hockey, Conn Smythe's love for his country is what drove him as a person. His life in the military began on October 19, 1915, when he signed his Attestation papers to participate in World War One. It contained the following oath: </div><div><blockquote>I, Conn Smythe, do make Oath, that I will be faithful and bear Allegiance to His Majesty King George the Fifth, His Heirs and Successors, and that I will as in duty bound honestly and faithfully defend His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, in Person, Crown and Dignity, against all enemies, and I will observe and obey all orders of His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, and all of the Generals and Officers set over me. So help me God. </blockquote><p>During World War Two, Smythe encouraged everyone associated with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Maple Leaf Gardens to join a military outfit. He came to the realization that this included himself. Smythe explained his position in his 1981memoir, <i style="font-weight: bold;">If You Can't Beat 'Em in the Alley</i>:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>For years I had been talking to hockey players in military terms - telling them what real soldiers were like, how much they would do for their team, how much they'd give, and how brave they had to be to survive, when war came I had to face that. Had I been talking fiction or fact? Was I a fraud or did I live up to my own principles? I had made myself out to be a warrior and tried to make my players be warriors too. I thought it was up to me to lead by example.</p></blockquote><p>At the age of 46, Smythe formed a Sportsmen's Battery to take overseas. As the name indicates, it was composed mainly of people from the sports world. On September 5, 1941, with Conn Smythe as the commanding officer, the 30th Battery became active with the 7th Toronto Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery.</p><p>The 30th Battery, eventually made its way to Caen in France. On July 25, 1944, the unit came under attack and Smythe suffered a severe back injury when hit by piece of shrapnel. As Smythe put it, "The jagged piece of metal that apparently had done all the damage was still sticking quite a way out of my back." The pain remained with Smythe for the balance of his life.</p><p>With a past dedicated to service and principles based on the oath he took in 1915, Conn Smythe was livid when Harold Ballard and the Gardens agreed to be part of the boxing match that included Muhammad Ali.</p><p>The stark contrast between Smythe and Ali couldn't be any wider. These men were from very different generations; Smythe, though older than the normal age guideline, was part of the great generation that fought in World War Two; Ali was part of the silent generation, which incorporated the civil rights movement. Smythe's and Ali's deep rooted convictions were based on their social conditions, environment and faith. In the case of Ali, his Muslim faith played a huge part in his pursuit of an exemption from military service. </p><p>Smythe was a decorated veteran, who fought in two World Wars, while Ali was trying to avoid the draft.</p><p>Under these circumstances, Conn Smythe, while on vacation in Florida, called John Bassett, who was now chairman of the board. As Bassett noted in a statement, "Col. Smythe phoned me on Monday morning (March 7) to say that if the fight went forward, he was so upset he would resign."</p><p>Smythe recalled his conversation with Bassett in his book. "This fight has been kicked out of every place in the U.S. because Clay is a draft dodger and a disgrace to his country. The Gardens was founded by men - sportsmen - who fought for their country. It is no place for those who want to evade conscription in their own country. The Gardens was built for many things, but not for picking up things that no one else wants."</p><p>The next day, Smythe sent a telegram to Bassett and repeated his intention to resign if the fight wasn't cancelled. Bassett took the position that Smythe only offered his resignation and at this point, the board wasn't accepting the offer. </p><p>Another factor that bugged Smythe was the fact the content of the telegram was released. "I did not intend this wire to be made public because I didn't want to fight the case in the newspapers,"said Smythe. "I'd like to know how Mr. Bassett released it." The fact it was public knowledge left Smythe with limited options and he decided, as one expected, to voice his concerns through the media.</p><p>On March 8, 1966, Smythe took part in several interviews with the press. And he first addressed his offer to resign moving forward. "I intent to take proper steps to make it stand. I cannot go along with the policy of present management to put cash ahead of class. A fight that isn't good enough for Chicago or Montreal certainly isn't good enough for Maple Leaf Gardens." </p><p>During another interview, Smythe continued his attack. "The Maple Leafs used to lead in class, but they have resorted to the slick and smart and the dollar conscious approach."</p><p>This reference to the almighty dollar approach mentioned by Smythe was a direct shot taken at Harold Ballard. At that time, Ballard was more involved in the business side of the Gardens than in the hockey operations. "If the commissioner considers it acceptable and it is approved by a minister of the crown, who are we to sit in judgement and say 'no,'" Ballard stated in defence of Maple Leaf Gardens. </p><p>True to his word, Conn Smythe sent his letter of resignation on March 25, 1966, to John Bassett.</p><p>The covering letter reads as follows: "Enclosed find my formal letter of resignation from the Board of Maple Leaf Gardens, Limited, as requested by you on the 14 instant. I have decided to appear personally before the Board and will move myself that this resignation be accepted now, to take effect on April 2, 1966. Yours very truly, Conn Smythe." </p><p>The official letter of resignation reads as follows: "I hereby tender my resignation to the Board of Directors of Maple Leaf Gardens, Limited, and request that this be accepted at the meeting of the Directors to be held on March 30, 1966, to take effect April 2. Yours truly, Conn Smythe.</p><p>Here are both letters. Click to enlarge.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-imz94qMQssM/YWSR4VxStPI/AAAAAAAAE0Q/CfQAFCdU3okKynYUV5KY3Dc2UVp7QDmmACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Scan%2Brg2%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1590" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-imz94qMQssM/YWSR4VxStPI/AAAAAAAAE0Q/CfQAFCdU3okKynYUV5KY3Dc2UVp7QDmmACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Scan%2Brg2%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SAqmqsN8guc/YWSSE59-kDI/AAAAAAAAE0U/lxUmFegVbLwFH--b0PI_PKZ0fGUmoaf5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Scan%2Brg2%2B%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1487" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SAqmqsN8guc/YWSSE59-kDI/AAAAAAAAE0U/lxUmFegVbLwFH--b0PI_PKZ0fGUmoaf5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Scan%2Brg2%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><p>A press report after the board meeting on March 30, 1966, confirmed that Smythe refused to reconsider his resignation. For good measure, he lofted one more grenade. "I can't condone anybody taking money out of Canada, when they don't show any patriotism to their own country."</p><p>As for the fight, Ali emerged with an unanimous decision over Chuvalo. Jack Silvers, the referee of the bout, was asked, "Did Clay throw his best punches?" He replied, "He threw his whole arsenal and Chuvalo took it."</p><p>The hardest punch of all landed on Conn Smythe, but it didn't drop him to the canvass. Smythe held his ground, but it came with a high cost. For the first time since 1927, he was no longer a part of the Toronto Maple Leafs. </p></div><div><p></p></div>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-79796770179286624182021-09-19T15:24:00.000-04:002021-09-19T15:24:23.351-04:00ROD GILBERT: 1941-2021 - MR. RANGER<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-soxHsxo2H-Y/YT4MqfOgvbI/AAAAAAAAEys/FIhbGhEdYSUgQhnGnUXdRHNgE73Ly_UFACLcBGAsYHQ/s1226/IMG-7571.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="1070" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-soxHsxo2H-Y/YT4MqfOgvbI/AAAAAAAAEys/FIhbGhEdYSUgQhnGnUXdRHNgE73Ly_UFACLcBGAsYHQ/w349-h400/IMG-7571.jpg" width="349" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On the morning of September 8, the Funeral Mass for former NewYork Ranger, Rod Gilbert, was held in Manhattan at St. Monica's Catholic Church. Gilbert passed away on August 19, 2021, in New York City, at the age of 80.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Born in Montreal on July 1, 1941, the hope was Gilbert would rise through the Montreal Canadiens system, and if his development proceeded as planned, he would eventually join the Habs. But with the Canadiens franchise so deep in talent throughout the organization, Gilbert, on the advice of New York Rangers' scout, Ivan Prudhomme, decided to look elsewhere when his Junior B team, St. Eusebe, closed up shop. The St. Eusebe Juniors were sponsored my Montreal and when they withdrew their support, Gilbert was free to examine his options. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The elsewhere for Gilbert was the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) and the Junior A team in Guelph, Ontario. The move in 1957 gave Gilbert the chance to flourish and he took full advantage of the opportunity. He was 16 years old.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In 1959-60, Gilbert earned exposure beyond the OHA when the Trois-Rivieres Lions of the Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL) called him up. Against more talented players, Gilbert showed he belonged when he scored 4 goals and 6 assists in 3 regular season games. In the playoffs, he produced 5 points in 5 games. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Eddie Bush, the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters bench boss knew it was only a matter of time before Gilbert, who played right wing, made his way to the New York Rangers. "Gilbert is almost ready," Bush said in February 1960. "But another year will put the polish on him."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That another year came in 1960-61, when Gilbert played his final season of Junior hockey with the Guelph Royals. In what can only be called an amazing farewell, Gilbert went on a scoring rampage as he led the league in goals scored with 54 (winner of the Eddie Powers Trophy) and points with 103 in 47 games. As a result, Gilbert with 7 out of 8 first-place votes, was named the winner of the Albert (Red) Tilson Memorial Trophy as the OHA's Most Valuable Player.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A major milestone for Gilbert took place on November 27, 1960, when he was summoned by the Rangers to play in a contest at Chicago Stadium. His one-game promotion was necessary when Earl Ingarfield and Brian Cullen were sidelined due to injuries. In his NHL debut, Gilbert assisted on an early third period goal by Dean Prentice. The goal enabled the Rangers to depart Chicago with a 3-3 tie. A reporter wrote of Gilbert's performance that he "showed plenty of promise and handled himself like a pro after taking the pass from Andy Bathgate and placing it perfectly on Dean's stick."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Things turned sour for Gilbert during the 1961 OHA playoffs. In a home contest against the St. Mike's Majors on March 3, 1961, Gilbert collided into the boards and left the game with a back injury. He slipped on a piece of paper that was thrown onto the ice by spectator. It was another blow to Gilbert, who suffered several injuries to his back throughout the season. The diagnosis and prognosis of his latest back problem remained a mystery as Gilbert remained in Guelph's line-up. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Guelph advanced to the semi-final round where they faced the Niagara Falls Flyers. Gilbert's physical problems continued when he was speared in the chest on March 22 at Niagara Falls. The incident occurred during the opening frame. A bruise resulted in his early exit for the remainder of the tilt. After the first period of the game on March 24, Gilbert was rested and saw no further action.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This was the end of the line for Gilbert's post-season run. On Saturday, March 25, Gilbert travelled to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to have his back examined. The results were disclosed by Guelph Royals coach Emile Francis.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"The doctors have notified the New York Rangers that the operation was a success and Gilbert will be ready to play in the fall," stated Francis on April 5. "There was considerable damage to the vertebrae and a bone fusion operation was necessary. Bone chips were grafted from his knee."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Post-surgery, Gilbert had a scary time when clotting almost resulted in the loss of his leg. The matter was resolved and he continued to recover.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On August 1, Gilbert, at the age of 20, signed his first professional contract with the New York Rangers. Emile Francis said of Rangers top prospect, "He can shoot, skate and he knows what to do with the puck." These skills, in particular his ability to put the puck into the net, remained with Gilbert as his career continued from amateur to professional hockey.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Gilbert's recuperation lasted until early February 1962, when he joined the Kitchener-Waterloo Beavers of the EPHL. This allowed Gilbert to work on his conditioning and regain his hockey instincts. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Eager to see the progress Gilbert made in the minors, the Rangers brought him up for a game at the Olympia in Detroit on February 15. Gilbert saw limited ice time in the Red Wings 4-3 victory. After a workout in Detroit, the Rangers sent him back to Kitchener for additional work on his game. In 21games with Kitchener, Gilbert netted 12 goals and 11 helpers. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In their 1962 quarter-final playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Rangers lost the first two contests in Toronto and hoped for better results on home ice. And to help their effort, Gilbert was put on the roster on an emergency basis due to injuries. On April 1, Gilbert skated alongside Dave Balon and Johnny Wilson. The trio combined for three goals, including the game-winner by Balon in New York's 5-4 win. Gilbert earned his first NHL playoff point as he assisted on Balon's goal.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At Madison Square Garden (MSG), one of hockey's biggest stages, Rod Gilbert put on a performance in game four that made everyone take notice. And it didn't take him long to work his magic. Forty-one seconds after the puck drop to start the game, Gilbert put his team on the scoreboard. In the Toronto zone, Gilbert intercepted Dave Keon's pass to Allan Stanley in the face-off circle and his shot got past Johnny Bower. It was his first National Hockey League goal. Then, at the 15:46 mark of the first period, Gilbert's backhander eluded Bower and the Rangers went into the intermission with a 2-0 lead.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Gilbert's two tallies left the Leafs to play catch up and they never recovered. The Rangers won game four by a score of 4-2 and evened the series at two games apiece. Once again, Dave Balon scored the winner with Gilbert and Doug Harvey getting credit for setting up the goal. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"I've never been so thrilled in my life, especially when I got my first one," said a delighted Gilbert in his post-game comments. His 2 goals and 1 assist showed he could come through in the clutch and make a contribution.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Rangers fell to Toronto in 6 games, but for Gilbert it was a defining moment. It proved he belonged in hockey's biggest show and his back withstood the physical punishment handed out by opponents.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Still, at training camp in the fall of 1962, Gilbert knew there was work to do and people to impress. "Those playoff games gave me a lot of confidence, but I can't take anything for granted," stated Gilbert. "I know I've got to make the team. I'm in the best shape I've been in since the operation. But I haven't made the club yet. I know I've got to work hard to make it." </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As expected, Gilbert was in the line-up when the Rangers opened up the 1962-63 schedule. In his rookie season, Gilbert recorded 31 points. In his sophomore campaign, Gilbert upped his numbers and posted 64 points. This included 24 goals, with 20 being the benchmark for goal scorers. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More important for Gilbert and the Rangers was his ability to play in all 70 regular season dates in his first three years in the NHL. Any issues with his back didn't prevent him from losing ice time. A back brace helped Gilbert cope with nagging pain and discomfort. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That all changed on February 1, 1966, when Gilbert underwent a second fusion of the vertebra at St. Clare's Hospital in New York. It was determined the procedure at the Mayo Clinic in 1961, wasn't a complete success despite initial reports to the contrary. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Even the second time around, there was an extremely serious problem after the operation. Emile Francis, now coach of the Rangers, and Bill Jennings, the president of the Rangers, were present when Gilbert suffered a convulsion in the hospital. The attending nurse failed to find a pulse, but the doctor's pulled Gilbert through the life or death medical emergency. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"They said I was dead for 45 seconds," stated Gilbert in a 1982 interview. "I was there. I could hear everything. I was just too weak to give a darn. The nurse was saying, 'Get oxygen! Get everything!' But it was like you read about these people being outside their body for a moment."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">With the appropriate clearance from his health care team, Gilbert hit the ice for the final season of the Original Six era in 1966-67. He returned to form and potted 28 goals, his best total since becoming a regular NHL'er.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The height of his success with the New York Rangers came when teamed with Jean Ratelle and Vic Hadfield. Together, they formed the GAG (Goal-a-Game) Line. In 1971-72, all three placed in the top five of the leading scorers. Gilbert recorded a career highs in goals and points. He rung up 43 goals and 97 points. He equalled the 97 point mark in 1974-75. Gilbert and his linemates led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup final against the Boston Bruins. It was Gilbert's lone appearance in a Cup final. The Bruins captured the Stanley Cup in six games with a 3-0 victory at MSG on May 11, 1972.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Based on his stellar work, Gilbert's summer in 1972 was cut short when he was invited to play for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series against the USSR. In 6 games, Gilbert scored 1 goal and 3 assists. Also, Gilbert suited-up for Canada in the 1977 World Championships and posted 4 points in 10 outings.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After his brilliance in 1971-72, Gilbert continued to be a consistent scorer. Up to his final season in 1977-78 with the Rangers, Gilbert scored 25, 36, 36, 36 and 27 goals.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A bump in the road came as the Rangers training camp got underway in September 1977. A dispute developed between Gilbert and New York's general manager John Ferguson. While many thought the root of the problem was money, that wasn't Gilbert's perspective or line in the sand. "I've said all along it wasn't a contract dispute," said Gilbert after both sides talked the matter out and made up. "I just wanted to know that I'm considered part of the team and part of the future, and management has made it clear to me that I am."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ferguson presented his side to the media and fans. "He saw a lot of young, new faces with us, and he saw as we moved a lot of players over the past two years. He felt that with this youth movement, he was being eased out, which was never the case."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The elephant in the room was the two option years in Gilbert's contract. The Rangers refusal to pick up the options left Gilbert puzzled and unsure how he fit into the team's future. It wasn't the dollar amount of the options, but the activation of same. Ferguson stood firm on his position throughout the negotiations when he stated, "I couldn't give him the final two (option) years on his contract until I saw his performance this season." </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Gilbert returned to the family fold on October 4, 1977.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Back in the saddle, Gilbert, having missed training camp, was slow to get out of the gate. In his first 19 games, he scored only 2 goal and 7 assist.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1977, the New York Rangers pulled the plug on Rod Gilbert's future as an active player. He was 35 years old. On the financial side, they offered to pay the balance of his contract for 1977-78 and a five year deal to work for Madison Square Garden as a consultant. All of this was predicated on his instant retirement as a player.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When Gilbert met the press on December 6, to announce his decision on his future plans, emotions were high as he spoke. It was about how his success on the ice translated to giving back New York and its hockey community. "I found myself giving to different people some of the admiration I had for my heroes," said Gilbert. "It was then that I understood my position and felt the urge to express my profession at a high level. This way, I could encourage kids by my example, and entertain other perfectionist in other fields by my efforts in my art."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He scored his final National Hockey League goal in his last game as a Blueshirt. On November 23, at MSG, Gilbert hit the twine on the power play for New York's 6th goal in their 6-3 decision over the Colorado Rockies. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In his 18 seasons with the Rangers, Gilbert holds the record for most goals with 406 and points with 1,021 (including 615 assists) in 1065 games. He was a First All-Star in 1972 and a Second All-Star in 1968. Gilbert skated in a total of 8 All-Star Games.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In hockey's second season, Gilbert appeared in 79 playoff contests and scored 34 goals and 33 assists for 67 points.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On the trophy front, Gilbert has two that clearly reflects his contributions to the game. In 1976, he was voted the winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and sportsmanship. Given his ability to bounce back from two major spinal fusion operations, it isn't difficult to understand his winning the Masterton. In 1991, Gilbert was awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy for his service to hockey in the United States. His promotion of hockey in New York spanned his entire playing career and beyond, and had a lasting impact on several generations.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Several other honours came Gilbert's way after his forced retirement. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In a pregame ceremony on October 14, 1979, Gilbert's number 7 became the first number retired by the Rangers. "It looks awfully good up there," said Gilbert of his sweater hanging in the rafters at MSG.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday, June 8, 1982, wasn't just another day in the week for Gilbert. He received the telephone call that everyone in hockey dreams of taking. On the other end of the line was the Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF) telling him he was voted into the Hall as an Honoured Member. "There were many flashes from the past," said Gilbert after the news. "There were many road trips and a lot of pain, but it was worth it."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">His longtime friend and former teammate, Jean Ratelle, spoke about what it takes to reach hockey's hallowed shrine. "To be a Hall of Famer, you can't have a weakness. You really have to have all the qualifications, and Rod has them." Gilbert and Ratelle met when they were in their teens and played hockey at Roussin College in Montreal. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The induction ceremony for the class of 1982 - Gilbert, Yvan Cournoyer, Norm Ullman & Emile Francis (Builder) - occurred on September 8 at the HHOF in Toronto. Gilbert described the moment as being "unparalleled."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Beyond hockey, Gilbert was a force when it came to charity work and helping others. As an ambassador for the New York Rangers, he became known as Mr. Ranger, and was often scene at the Garden chatting with fans, signing autographs and taking pictures. No request was denied. The same happened at his New York restaurant, Rod Gilbert's Cafe des Sports located on Third Avenue. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Chris Drury, the current Rangers' president and general manager, released the following statement: "Everyone in the Rangers organization mourns the loss of a true New York icon. Rod's remarkable talent and zest for life personified this city and endeared him to hockey fans and non-hockey fans alike. Growing up a young Ranger fan, one of the first names I ever heard was Rod Gilbert - he was synonymous with Rangers hockey. It was an incredible privilege to get to know Rod. His passion and dedication to the Rangers will forever be a source of inspiration to me."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The following story best captures Rod Gilbert. It was told by teammate Pat Hickey at the news conference on December 6, 1977, when Gilbert announced his departure as an active player.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"It was awfully sad when we heard, on Thanksgiving, but it inspired me, too," stated Hickey. "I never met anyone more concerned with individuals than Rod. On Thanksgiving, I went to his place, to try and make him feel better, and instead he was consoling me, talking about my future, things I had to do now with my career. That's the way he is."</div><p></p>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-33988396002122086502021-08-26T11:22:00.001-04:002021-09-19T15:25:29.578-04:00'TONY O' 1943-2021<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">TONY ESPOSITO</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1s7LWymyCdE/YRkf27W7HuI/AAAAAAAAEyg/0Xxj1IBqCNMhguhEkx4tqSKj4XtWEkAsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s612/IMG-7517.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="407" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1s7LWymyCdE/YRkf27W7HuI/AAAAAAAAEyg/0Xxj1IBqCNMhguhEkx4tqSKj4XtWEkAsgCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG-7517.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With NHL news curtailed to mostly late off-season free agent signings, the hockey world learnt of the passing of former Chicago Blackhawks legend, Tony Esposito, earlier this month at the age of 78.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"To the Blackhawks and the National Hockey League, Tony Esposito was a Hall of Fame goalie," began a statement from the Esposito family. "To us, he was a hall of fame husband, father, and grandfather. Chicago felt like home from the time Tony first arrived in 1969, thanks to the Wirtz family and those 18,000 Blackhawks fans who treated him like family every night at the Stadium win or lose or tie. As we mourn Tony's passing, we cherish the memories and the affection, when he was a player and later an ambassador. We are forever grateful for your support, and we feel blessed now to have your prayers at a difficult time. Tony was a private person, but he felt your love and he loved you back."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Prior to going the Chicago Blackhawks, Tony Esposito began his NHL journey with the Montreal Canadiens. He was signed by Montreal (Cleveland-AHL) in 1967. His pathway to Montreal included stops at Michigan Tech (1964 to 1967) and one season in 1967-68 with the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the Canadiens' training camp in September 1968, Esposito impressed new coach Claude Ruel, who took over from Toe Blake, by recording two shutouts in the first four practice scrimmages. With veteran Gump Worsley and Rogatien Vachon clearly established as the tandem between the pipes, Esposito was dispatched to the Houston Apollos of the Central Hockey League. His partner in the cage at Houston was another Montreal prospect, Phil Myre.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On November 27, 1968, with Gump Worsley unavailable due to his fear of flying, Esposito was on the bench when the Los Angeles Kings hosted the Canadiens. On the way to Los Angeles, and unable to continue on the flight westbound, Worsley departed the plane in Chicago and boarded a train destined back to Montreal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Montreal continued their west coast trip with a game in Oakland against the Seals on November 29. This contest marked Esposito's first appearance in an NHL regular season game. When Rogatien Vachon was felled by a shot that bruised an area above his right eye, Esposito entered the game at the 14:13 mark of the second period. He gave up Oakland's final two goals in their 5-4 upset over Montreal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With Tony Esposito now in the NHL, eyes were on the NHL schedule to see when the Canadiens next faced the Bruins. The dream matchup would feature the younger Esposito against his brother, Phil, a sniper with the Boston Bruins. At the conclusion of the season in 1968-69, Phil Esposito had racked up 49 goals in 74 outings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The stars were aligned on December 5, when Montreal and Boston tangled at the Garden. This was no ordinary game. Where else on the calendar could you find a contest which pitted one brother, a prolific goal scorer, against his sibling, who was starting his career as an NHL goalie?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When the game came to a close, the crowd went home having witnessed both Tony and Phil at their best. In a 2-2 tie, Phil scored both Boston goals against his brother, and Tony kept his team in the contest with several key saves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Asked if he was nervous going head-to-head with his brother, Tony stated, "I was just worked up. I have to be that way all the time or I'm useless." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">During their post-game talk, Tony asked Phil, "What's the big idea? It's bad enough that you got one goal, but two, that's ridiculous."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Esposito's first notch in the victory column came on December 7, 1968, at the Forum. Fuelled by Bobby Rousseau's two goals, Montreal defeated Chicago by a score of 6 to 3. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On January 27, 1969, Esposito was sent back to the Houston Apollos when Gump Worsley returned to the line-up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Come playoff time, the Canadiens recalled Esposito and Myre to be available should Worsley or Vachon not be ready for action. The Habs were prepared for another extended run as they were defending Stanley Cup champions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After eliminating the New York Rangers in the quarter-finals, Montreal faced Boston in the semi-finals. In game three at Boston Garden, Worsley suffered an injury to his left hand. Down a goalie, the Canadiens went with Esposito as Vachon's back-up. Montreal advanced to the Stanley Cup final after taking the Bruins in six games. In the final, they swept the St. Louis Blues and Tony Esposito won his lone Cup as a player.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the NHL draft in June, the Canadiens, with a full stable of netminders-Worsley, Vachon, Esposito, Myre-decided to expose Esposito. As a result, he was picked by Chicago in the first round. This allowed Montreal to put Peter Mahovlich back on their protected list. To make room for Esposito, the Hawks made goalie Jack Norris available. The last move in this chess match between Montreal and Chicago saw the Canadiens purchase Norris for the draft price of $30,000.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wrote about Tony Esposito's first season with Chicago in a previous story in <i>Hockey Then & Now</i>. Here is the text:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In what only can be described as a spectacular rookie campaign, Esposito left little doubt he was ready for a starting job in the NHL. In 63 contests, he led the league with 38 wins to go along with 17 losses and 8 ties.<br /><br />But the stat that jumps out of the page is Esposito's 15 shutouts. This set the modern record for most shutouts by a rookie NHL goalie. <br /><br />Tony Esposito's moment to enter the record book came on March 29, 1970, at Chicago Stadium. The visitors that night were the Toronto Maple Leafs. He only faced 23 shots in Chicago's 4-0 win, but as one newspaper story noted, "Tony Esposito, the rookie goaltender, included fantastic saves in his repertoire, on the few occasions that the Leafs made it necessary."<br /><br />After the game, Esposito talked about his record breaking performance.<br /><br />"It was a team effort. We controlled the game from the opening faceoff. My shutout was not significant."<br /><br />Esposito was asked to recall when he became aware he was on the verge of making history. "Not until late in the game," he told reporters. The result is the important thing, not the score."<br /><br />When the regular season came to a conclusion, Esposito was rewarded for his accomplishments between the pipes. He was named the winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy as the top rookie, the Vezina Trophy for fewest goals against, and was named the goalie for the First All-Star Team. His brother, Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins, joined him on the First Team at centre.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">* * *</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tony Esposito tended goal for 15 seasons with Chicago, before hanging up his pads at the age of 41. The Hawks decided to go in another direction and didn't invite him to training camp in September 1984.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">His combined totals with Montreal and Chicago shows Esposito was in the crease for 886 games (52585-minutes) and he finished with 423-306-151 record. Esposito posted 76 regular season shutouts and 2.92 goals-against-average. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A list of Esposito's achievements reveals how vital he was to the Hawks. After his brilliant rookie campaign, Esposito went on to capture two more Vezina Trophies, and was named to the First-All Star Team an additional two-times, and was a Second Team All-Star twice. He played in a total of six All-Star Games. He led all NHL goalies in wins in 1969-70 with 38, and in 1970-71 with 35. In the category of shutouts, he was tops in 1969-70 with 15, in 1971-72 with 9, and in 1979-80 with 6. Between 1969-70 and 1975-76, Esposito recorded 30 or more wins. In 1971-72, he led the NHL with a goals-against-average of 1.77 (GAA)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the post-season, Esposito backstopped his team to two appearances (1971 & 1973) in the Stanley Cup final. On each occasion, the Hawks fell to the Montreal Canadiens. Looking back, he said, "I just wish we could have won it all for these fans." In 99 playoff games with Chicago, Esposito went 45-53 with 6 shutouts and a 3.07 GAA.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the greatest thrills any player can experience is being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. There was little chance Esposito would be kept out of the exclusive club. On June13, 1988, it was announced that Esposito was voted into the Hall as an Honoured Member along with Guy Lafleur, Buddy O'Connor, and Brad Park. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">His induction meant Tony and Phil would be in hockey's shrine. Phil Esposito was part of the class of 1984. "I admire Phil very much, so it's very special for me to be in the Hall of Fame with him," stated Esposito at the time. Tony's dry sense of humour came through as he continued. "There was never any doubt that Phil would make it. I wasn't so sure about myself. In order to get in, you have to do something beyond the call of duty." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Later that year, the Hawks honoured Esposito when his number 35 was retired in a ceremony held at Chicago Stadium on November 20, 1988. The number 35 was unique given the fact most goalies wore number 1 or number 30. Also, Glenn Hall's number 1 was retired during the event.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On February 6, 2008, Esposito was welcomed back to the family fold when Chicago named him a team ambassador. "I'm very proud of having played for the Blackhawks and happy to be back involved in this capacity," stated Esposito. "To me it's a great honour to be involved with the Hawks."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next tribute for Esposito took place on March 19, 2008, when Tony Esposito was celebrated at the Stadium. With brother Phil in attendance, Tony wore his Hawks jersey and donned his goalie mask as the crowd saluted him. Made of white fibreglass, with white wiring protecting the eye area, the mask was unique and clearly identifiable with Esposito.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Any talk relating to Tony Esposito, the goalie, must include his distinctive style of play. Esposito used the butterfly to fend off opponents. The creator of this technique was Chicago legend, Glenn Hall. In this position, Esposito had two options to stop a shot. First, his stick was situated to block shots and with his skates/pads in a "V" shape (the butterfly), they were extended towards the goalposts to provide better coverage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recently acquired Blackhawks' goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury, noted Esposito's butterfly style when he posted a statement on Twitter. "Tony had a huge impact on the National Hockey League and fans of the Chicago Blackhawks as a legend in net. He paved the way for the next generation of butterfly goalies with his style of play and success stopping pucks. I hope the Espositos know I'm proud to be following in his footsteps as a Blackhawk netminder."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When selected to play for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series against the USSR, Esposito was solid in the four games coach Harry Sinden pencilled him in for action. After Team Canada's stunning 7-3 loss in game one at the Montreal Forum, Esposito got the call to replace Ken Dryden in game two. At Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Esposito out duelled fellow goalie Vladislav Tertiak and sparkled in Canada's 4-1 victory. His next appearance was in game three at Winnipeg that ended in a 4-4 draw. Esposito's only loss happened in game five at Moscow's Luzhniki Sports Palace. After the visitors built up a 3-0 lead in the first forty-minutes, the USSR outscored Canada 5-1 in the final frame and collected a 5-4 win. His final turn in the net was in game seven, which Canada won 4-3. Esposito was on the bench when Team Canada captured what many call the greatest series of hockey played in game eight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After becoming a citizen of the United States, Esposito suited up for Team USA in the 1981 Canada Cup. In five games, he won two contests and lost 3. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the management side of the business, Esposito served as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins and as chief scout for the Tampa Lightning. In Tampa, Tony worked under Phil, who was the team's GM.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"I had played against Chicago and thought they had the makings of a real competitive team," said Esposito in 2008. "It seemed like a great opportunity, and it was." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A great opportunity for Esposito and all those who followed our great game of hockey.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tony Esposito was born on April 23, 1943, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. "I lost a very close friend today and one of the best goalies ever-Tony Esposito," wrote former Minnesota North Stars defenceman, Lou Nanne, on Twitter. Nanne and Esposito were part of a close-knit group of friends from the Soo that went on to play in the NHL. "Our condolences go out to Marilyn (Tony's wife) and family."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tony Esposito died on August 10, 2021. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer.</div><p></p>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-5305901573449485272021-08-02T11:39:00.003-04:002021-08-02T11:53:34.831-04:00DUNT-DA-DUNT-DA-DUNT<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dnVFBHymoJA/YQgFQ0qhpiI/AAAAAAAAEyU/377WHNRZJQUlpyo0BJGnO9R04wg91vDAACLcBGAsYHQ/s968/dolores-claman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="968" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dnVFBHymoJA/YQgFQ0qhpiI/AAAAAAAAEyU/377WHNRZJQUlpyo0BJGnO9R04wg91vDAACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/dolores-claman.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> The iconic theme song for the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast was a beacon that called hockey fans their television to watch the game on the CBC. The catchy tune was written by Dolores Claman, who passed away last month at the age of 94.<p></p><p>She composed the theme while employed by Maclaren Advertising in 1968.</p><p>In June 2008, the rights to the song were sold to CTV for their NHL games on TSN. This occurred when the Canadian Broadcasting Company and Claman failed to negotiate a deal for the licensing rights. </p><p>A newspaper report noted, "She wanted her song to reflect the narrative arc of hockey itself: the arrival at the rink, the battle on the ice, then the trip home." To this description, Claman added, "Plus a cold beer."</p><p>Former Toronto Maple Leaf and Hockey Night in Canada analysts, Howie Meeker, spoke with Canwest News Service in 2008 about the shift from the CBC to CTV. "To half the Canadians 40 years and over, we grew up with that damned thing. That's part of our history, part of our life, part of the enthusiasm for the game. When you heard that you thought Canada; you thought hockey; you thought CBC."</p>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-77293633809840722762021-06-09T15:45:00.002-04:002021-06-09T15:45:43.766-04:00HUGH COFLIN <p><span style="font-size: large;">ALTHOUGH HIS NAME IS ENGRAVED ON THE STANLEY CUP, HUGH COFLIN NEVER PLAYED IN A NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFF GAME. HERE IS HIS STORY.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UdsfHq-v3NA/YLT5xwSXTpI/AAAAAAAAEwI/jz8spQnIZDYabbazNM857DubPVq6IFXlACLcBGAsYHQ/s292/Hughcoflin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="176" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UdsfHq-v3NA/YLT5xwSXTpI/AAAAAAAAEwI/jz8spQnIZDYabbazNM857DubPVq6IFXlACLcBGAsYHQ/w241-h400/Hughcoflin.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br />Born in Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan on December 15, 1928, Hugh Jay Alexander Coflin died on April 30, 2021. He passed away in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, at the age of 92.<div><br /></div><div>With the creation of the six team Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) on October 9, 1946, 17 year old Hugh Coflin became a member of the Humboldt Indians. Coflin was brought onboard to be part of the Humboldt's blueline. The Indians played in the Northern Division with the Prince Albert Black Hawks and the Saskatoon Junior Quakers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Humboldt got their season underway on November 30, 1946, when they faced the Black Hawks in Prince Albert. In a close contest, the Indians fell by a 2-1 score to the home team. On two occasions, the police had to intervene to keep peace. In the first circumstance, a fan attempted to engage two of the visitor's while they were in the penalty box. Then, late in the game, several fans stormed the ice while a fight between two players was going on. The police took charge and led the spectators off the ice. </div><div><br /></div><div>In his only year with the Indians, Coflin registered 13 points in 23 games. As for the team, they finished last in the standings.</div><div><br /></div><div>The following season, Coflin took his game to Moose Jaw where he joined the Canucks. This time around, Coflin had more success than he experienced with the Humboldt Indians in his rookie year in the SJHL. In the semi-final, the Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Humboldt and advanced to the final. Moose Jaw won the SJHL championship when they swept the Regina Pats in the best-of-five final. In the hunt for the Memorial Cup, the Canucks failed to reach the Western Canada final, as they were ousted by the Lethbridge Native Sons in their semi-final series.</div><div><br /></div><div>Changes came in 1948-49, with the formation of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League (WCJHL). The new league was made up of two teams from Saskatchewan and four from Alberta. Coflin and his teammates moved from the SJHL to the WCJHL. The second Saskatchewan team was the Regina Pat's.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before the regular season got underway, Coflin participated in his second consecutive hockey school conducted by the Chicago Black Hawks. Tiny Thompson, Chicago's head scout, ran the proceedings with the intention of evaluating the prospects in the Hawks organization.</div><div><br /></div><div>As the 1948 school came to a close, a collection of Hawk rookies and the Canucks held an exhibition game in Moose Jaw. In the second period, Coflin's goal turned out to be the game-winner in Moose Jaw's 4-3 victory. The Hawks wouldn't forget his performance.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the end of the season, Moose Jaw and the Calgary Buffaloes finished in a tie for first-place.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the playoffs, the Canucks won the best-of-seven semi-final series 4-3 over the Regina Pats. In the WCJHL final, the Buffaloes swept Moose Jaw to win the WCHL championship.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then, came the provincial playoffs. Of note, the Saskatchewan Southern Division series was cancelled, which led to Moose Jaw going straight through to face the Prince Albert Minto's, who won the Northern Division. The Canucks captured Saskatchewan's Provincial title, and once again, battled the Calgary Buffaloes, the Alberta Provincial champs.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Moose Jaw Canucks Memorial Cup dreams burst when the Buffaloes trampled them in the semi-final series. Calgary met the Brandon Wheat Kings in the final, with Brandon winning the right to represent the West in the Memorial Cup. In the East-West match-up, the Montreal Royals defeated Brandon to win junior hockey's biggest prize.</div><div><br /></div><div>During his stay with the Moose Jaw Canucks, Coflin earned the reputation as a hard-hitting defender, who didn't backdown from a confrontation. This led to Coflin signing with the Calgary Stampeders of the Western Canada Senior Hockey League (WCSHL) on September 29, 1949. Also, for the third straight year, he was part of the Chicago Black Hawks hockey school, which took place in North Bay, Ontario. </div><div><br /></div><div>One newspaper account noted that Tiny Thompson rated Coflin as "a coming professional star in a year or two."</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, Coflin went about his business on Calgary's defence and made a huge impact. If anyone attempted to steam-roll over a Stampeder, Coflin, who was six feet tall and weighed 190 pounds, made them pay for their aggression. He led the league in penalty-minutes with 133. Also, he was tops in the playoffs with 35 penalty-minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div>When the WCSHL awards were handed out for the 1949-50 season, Coflin took home the CKUA Cup (named after a local radio station) as the top rookie. Another accolade came his way, when Coflin was named to the second all-star team. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, it wasn't a bad year for the Stampeders, as they advanced to the Allan Cup final, but lost out to the Toronto Marlboros. On the trail to the Allan Cup, Coffin produced 14 points in 15 games.</div><div><br /></div><div>In 1950-51, 21 year old Coflin reached the goal that all hockey players work for, he turned pro with the Chicago Black Hawks. On October 10, Coflin signed his contract with Chicago and was scheduled to start the year with the Milwaukee Seagulls of the United States Hockey League (USHL). But Coflin caught a break as three Chicago defencemen were sidelined with injuries at the start of the NHL season.</div><div><br /></div><div>On October 12, 1950, Hugh Coflin made his National Hockey League debut when the Hawks kicked-off their regular season at the Forum in Montreal. He was teamed with Jack Stewart, the former Detroit Red Wings star, who was acquired in the off-season.</div><div><br /></div><div>When the Hawks played their home opener on October 15, Coflin made a quick impression on the 13,776 spectators that filled Chicago Stadium. At the 6:11 mark of the first period, Coflin earned an assist on a goal by Vic Stasiuk. It was the first of three points, all assists, he would record in the NHL. </div><div><br /></div><div>As the injured troops returned to the line-up, Coflin was assigned to the Seagulls for their game on October 29. He was recalled by Chicago to replace Jack Stewart, who suffered a season-ending back injury, for an encounter on December 16 at Maple Leaf Gardens. </div><div><br /></div><div>On January 30, the NHL revealed that Coflin was Chicago's only candidate for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie. </div><div><br /></div><div>Coflin remained on the Hawks' roster until February 12, 1951, when the parent club summoned defenceman Jim Bedard from Milwaukee.</div><div><br /></div><div>He skated in a total of 66 games in 1950-51, 31 with the Chicago Black Hawks and 35 with the Milwaukee Seagulls. His points total in the USHL was 17.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the conclusion of the 1950-51 season, the Chicago Black Hawks retained their title as the NHL's perennial cellar-dwellers. They finished in last-place with 36 points and a 13-47-10 record in 70 games. On August 20, 1951, Chicago made a multi-player trade with Detroit to shake up their roster. Coflin was dealt to the Red Wings on September 1, to complete the transaction. </div><div><br /></div><div>Detroit's defensive core was stocked with a talented mix of young skilled defencemen, like Red Kelly and Marcel Pronovost, and experienced veterans, like Bob Goldham. Thus, it came as no surprise when Coflin was slotted to join the Wings AHL farm team, the Indianapolis Capitals, after training camp.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m0oq-RuTKTA/YL5QCGngD1I/AAAAAAAAEwY/o_gvCFkZZW8OJY7H89sTVeAObfpzkigCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s864/clipping_78415991.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="864" height="314" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m0oq-RuTKTA/YL5QCGngD1I/AAAAAAAAEwY/o_gvCFkZZW8OJY7H89sTVeAObfpzkigCwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h314/clipping_78415991.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>In 68 games with the Capitals, Coflin strung together 28 points, but his new club failed to make the playoffs.</div><div><br /></div><div>The same couldn't be said of the Red Wings, who advanced to the 1952 Stanley Cup final after they swept the Toronto Maple Leafs in their semi-final series. </div><div><br /></div><div>As they waited for the winner of the Montreal-Boston series, the Red Wings stable of defencemen was reduced when Leo Reise, Jr., suffered an injury in practice. Also, Red Kelly was hampered with a nagging wrist problem.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not wanting to be shorthanded, Detroit decided to take action. Jack Adams immediately made a phone call to Hugh Coflin in Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan, to bolster their back end. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Stanley Cup final got underway on April 10, 1952, in Montreal. It was up to coach Tommy Ivan to make a game time decision concerning Coflin's possible insertion into the line-up.</div><div><br /></div><div>As fate would have it, the Cup final was a short one, as the Red Wings pulled off another sweep. In a stingy display of defensive hockey, the Wings only allowed two Montreal goals, with Terry Sawchuk shutting the barn door in games three and four at the Olympia in Detroit. </div><div><br /></div><div>Although Coffin never played a regular season or playoff game with Detroit, his name was engraved on the Stanley Cup. This is an indication of how Jack Adams felt about Coflin and the role he could have played if his services were required at such a crucial time. In the picture below, his name appears on the third row, at the bottom, between Marcel Pronovost and Bob Goldham. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OT9mZWO3eWU/YL5AdD0hm_I/AAAAAAAAEwQ/qE5rp8zTEDY_rcwsNXBpbyZaNykIIJHtACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/IMG-7264.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="300" height="312" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OT9mZWO3eWU/YL5AdD0hm_I/AAAAAAAAEwQ/qE5rp8zTEDY_rcwsNXBpbyZaNykIIJHtACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h312/IMG-7264.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hugh Coflin closed out his hockey career with the Edmonton Flyers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He played with them from 1952-53 to 1959-60.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Coflin was a WHL champion with the Flyers as they won the Lester Patrick Cup in 1953 and 1955. Their victory in 1955, entitled them to play for the Edinburgh Trophy. The trophy was donated by Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh in 1954. It pitted the WHL winner against the Quebec Hockey League winner. Edmonton was defeated by the Shawinigan Falls Cataracts.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Flyers, who were sponsored by the Detroit Red Wings, underwent several key changes in the summer of 1957. They were announced by Jack Adams on June 8, 1957. In the shake-up, Bud Poile, who coached the team for five seasons, was promoted to the position of general manager. Poile was replaced by captain Tony Leswick, who took on the role of player-coach.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At the start of the 1957-58 campaign, Hugh Coflin was named captain. "I regard Hugh as an excellent choice," Poile said following Coflin's appointment. "He has the seniority with the club, and is popular with his teammates and fans alike."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Word of Hugh Coflin's retirement came at a news conference held at Edmonton's Mayfair Golf Club on Wednesday, June 15, 1960. While talking about several subjects, Bud Poile revealed Coflin's departure from the game. Coflin, then 31 years old, advised Poile of his decision to hang up his skates during a discussion which took place on the weekend prior to the presser.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"Naturally, we are sorry to see Hughie go," Poile said in his address to the media. "I've said before that he is the greatest competitor I've ever had play under me, and I'm sticking to it. I like to think I have had some good ones in that department, too."</div>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-62711383493482646952021-05-26T11:03:00.000-04:002021-05-26T11:03:17.241-04:00LARRY KWONG<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">CELEBRATING ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Htw1dy1675Q/YKZzYC7Ss5I/AAAAAAAAEvc/ry3DXA9exrMsF_pdSfVOEvpoPYi4wT6VACLcBGAsYHQ/s1982/22XCMIZ7OBDMTAL3XLNDZKEPUY.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1514" data-original-width="1982" height="305" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Htw1dy1675Q/YKZzYC7Ss5I/AAAAAAAAEvc/ry3DXA9exrMsF_pdSfVOEvpoPYi4wT6VACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h305/22XCMIZ7OBDMTAL3XLNDZKEPUY.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In honour of Asian Heritage Month, here is a look at Larry Kwong's journey to become the first Chinese person to play a game in the National Hockey League.<p></p><div>He was born on June 17, 1923, in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. A piece in the Vancouver Sun in 1943, noted that Kwong's dad came to Canada from China in 1898. He settled in Vernon and opened a general store. Kwong was five years old when the elder Kwong passed away.</div><div><br /></div><div>Numerous accounts recall how young Larry, at the age of seven, pleaded with his mom to buy him a pair of skates, he played shinny hockey and tuned in to listen to Foster Hewitt call games on radio. The thought of making it in the NHL was his goal from childhood.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the age of 16, Kwong joined the Vernon Hydrophones and proceeded to capture the British Columbia midget championship (Cromie Memorial Cup) in 1940, and the juvenile title (Monarch Life Cup) in 1941.</div><div><br /></div><div>Impressed with Kwong's work in juvenile, the Trail Smoke Eaters of the Alberta-British Columbia Senior Hockey League, brought Kwong in as an import for the 1941-42 season. The fast skating Kwong took full advantage of the opportunity and recorded 22 points in 29 games while playing at right wing.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next year, Kwong remained in senior hockey, but with a new team, the Nanaimo Clippers of the Vancouver Island Senior Hockey League. Early in the season, Larry "China Clipper" Kwong (aka "King" Kwong) suffered a knee injury, which kept him out of the line-up for a chunk of time. Upon his return on December 26, 1942, Kwong scored his first goal for the Clippers. </div><div><br /></div><div>At the start of the 1943-44 hockey year, Kwong was now a member of the St. Regis Hotel Vancouver of the Pacific Coast Senior Hockey League. In the previously mentioned article in the Vancouver Sun, Kwong shared his thoughts on being a Chinese hockey player. "It's an advantage, being Chinese, I know," Kwong told columnist Alf Cottrell. "The fans like to see a Chinese hockey player as a curiosity. That's my good luck." At this point, Kwong talked about the downside he experienced on the ice as a Chinese player. "Ever since I was a midget there has always been a player or two trying to cut off my head just because I'm Chinese. And the bigger the league the bigger the axe they use."</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gO6iChbOMPU/YK5g9SZ-RiI/AAAAAAAAEvw/aByf1Qm6GlcisRAApDAxkR8G9c7JIojwACLcBGAsYHQ/s727/clipping_77787964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="636" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gO6iChbOMPU/YK5g9SZ-RiI/AAAAAAAAEvw/aByf1Qm6GlcisRAApDAxkR8G9c7JIojwACLcBGAsYHQ/w350-h400/clipping_77787964.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br /><div>His time with St. Regis ended on February 1, 1944, when he was released. In 17 games, he collected 16 points.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kwong's departure from St. Regis, didn't spell the end of his season. Drafted into the Canadian Army in 1944, he was eligible to play for a military hockey team. He was based in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. In February 1944, Kwong joined the Red Deer Army Wheelers of the Central Alberta Garrison Hockey League. In the championship round, the Wheelers were swept by the Calgary A-16 Currie Barracks in the best-of-three final. </div><div><br /></div><div>After the war, and after being out of hockey for one year, Kwong returned to the Trail Smoke Eaters of the West Kootenay Senior Hockey League for the 1945-46 season. Kwong and his teammates enjoyed a successful season, as they captured the Kootenay League title over the Nelson Maple Leafs, then the British Columbia championship over the New West Minister Royals. In the Allan Cup, Trail battled the Calgary Stampeders in the Western Canada Senior Hockey final, but failed to advance.</div><div><br /></div><div>During the regular season, Kwong continued to show he could contribute. In 19 contests, he accumulated 20 points. In the playoffs and Allan Cup, Kwong put up 9 points in 10 games.</div><div><br /></div><div>His work didn't go unnoticed, as the New York Rangers of the NHL, invited Kwong to attend their hockey school, which began on September 18, 1946, in Winnipeg. Kwong's small stature and lack of beef - 5'6" & 150 pounds - wasn't a cause of concern for Rangers' coach, Frank Boucher. "He's no runt and as big as plenty of men who have made good in the National Hockey League," said Boucher of his prospect.</div><div><br /></div><div>By the end of the hockey school, the Rangers were prepared to take the next step to keep Kwong in the organization. On September 23, 1946, he signed his first professional contract and became property of the New York Rangers.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WIbtYUiA00g/YK5hYSjheUI/AAAAAAAAEv4/5Ld98TADLvU7sHzsBUf7SQR_GMYYwoOAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s525/clipping_77789056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="525" height="353" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WIbtYUiA00g/YK5hYSjheUI/AAAAAAAAEv4/5Ld98TADLvU7sHzsBUf7SQR_GMYYwoOAgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h353/clipping_77789056.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>ABOVE PHOTO: KWONG AT THE NEW YORK RANGERS HOCKEY SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER 1946. HE IS SHAKING HANDS WITH RANGERS' COACH FRANK BOUCHER.</div><div><br /></div><div>As expected, Kwong was assigned to the Rangers' farm team, the New York Rovers, of the Eastern Amateur Hockey League. This allowed Kwong to gain seasoning by facing a stiffer breed of competition. And, he didn't disappoint. In 47 games, he scored 19 goals and 18 helpers for 37 points in 47 games.</div><div><br /></div><div>After beginning the next season in the EAHL, the Rovers became part of the Quebec Senior Hockey League. Kwong proceeded to rack-up 57 points, as he finished the year with 20 goals and 37 assists. This doesn't include his production when the Rovers played in the EAHL.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Rovers regular season came to a conclusion on Sunday, March 7, 1948. Their opponent in the first-round of the playoffs were the Valleyfield Braves. Kwong was in the Rovers' line-up for their first two playoff games, the second of which was played on March 11. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then, came the moment Kwong dreamed of when he was a little boy. With Phil Watson, Ed Slowinski and Neil Coalville, doubtful for the New York Rangers game in Montreal on Saturday night, the Rangers summoned Kwong from the Rovers. He 24 when the parent club promoted him.</div><div><br /></div><div>On March 13, 1948, at the Forum, against the Montreal Canadiens, Larry Kwong saw his first and only game action in the National Hockey League. He was on the ice for one shift in the third period. Details of his limited appearance were not reported in the papers the following morning. They simply wrote that he played in the game, and the fact, he was the first Chinese player to do so.</div><div><br /></div><div>This accomplishment is an important part of hockey history. In an era when there was a racial divide in professional sports, Kwong's perseverance and temperament helped him to stay on course. Although he was never given another chance to skate in the NHL, Kwong's place in the history books cannot be denied.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Rangers depleted roster seemed to be the main reason New York selected Kwong as a replacement. This conclusion can be reached in light of him spending most of the time on the bench. In case his services were required in a pinch, Boucher could tap him on the shoulder and send him out. </div><div><br /></div><div>"His life ambition was always to play in the National Hockey League," said Kwong's bother, James, in a March 1948 interview. "He concentrated his main energies towards reaching that goal." Also, James Kwong emphasized that, "Larry's a clean player." There is little doubt this was in reference to Kwong keeping his cool when confronted and abused by the opposition.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next to consider is why Kwong never got another crack at a prolonged stay in the NHL. His slight frame must have influenced those who made the roster decisions. As for his skills, one article noted he was "a tricky stickhandler, speedy, has an evasive shift going in on [the] defence." Also, with only six NHL clubs, not too many jobs were available. And the question must be asked: Did his Chinese heritage hinder his progress?</div><div><br /></div><div>After his brief stay with the Rangers, Kwong was returned to the Rovers for their Sunday tilt against Valleyfield. </div><div><br /></div><div>Kwong's next destination was revealed on October 5, 1948, when he signed with the QSHL Valleyfield Braves. He was a Brave from 1948-49 to 1954-55. In 1951, Kwong was named a first team all-star and was named the league's MVP.</div><div><br /></div><div>Following stops with several clubs in North America, Kwong took his game to Britain in 1957-58 for one year, and closed out his career in 1963-64 after six seasons in Switzerland as a player-coach.</div><div><br /></div><div>The last word goes to Kwong. In a 2013 interview, he stated, "When I had a chance to become a Ranger, I was really excited. I said to myself, 'That's what I wanted to be since I was a young boy. I wanted to play in the NHL.' I didn't get a real chance to show what I can do."</div><div><br /></div><div>Lawrence Kwong died on March 15, 2018, in Calgary, Alberta, at the age of 94.</div>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-30823212431985088152021-05-19T13:07:00.002-04:002021-05-23T10:22:18.691-04:00GAYE STEWART<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE LAST LEAF BEFORE MATTHEWS TO LEAD THE NHL IN GOALS SCORED</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iF0wmLu1U50/YKUcQpUockI/AAAAAAAAEvU/36Bs57gq8J01XyJHkJHwTgZ4hjX1rSYfACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/000012019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iF0wmLu1U50/YKUcQpUockI/AAAAAAAAEvU/36Bs57gq8J01XyJHkJHwTgZ4hjX1rSYfACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/000012019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />As the 2020-21 National Hockey League season comes to a close this afternoon (Yes, in the midst of the playoffs, which are already underway), with Calgary hosting Vancouver, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs can officially being crowned the winner of the Rocket Richard Trophy. The award is given each year to the player leading the NHL in goals scored. Matthews scored 41 goals in 52 games.<p></p><p>Prior to Matthews, the last Maple Leaf to lead the league in goals scored was Gaye Stewart, who was named the winner of the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 1943. </p><p>After the 1942-43 season, Stewart joined the Canadian Navy. In his final year of service in 1945, Stewart was stationed at the Cornwallis base in Nova Scotia. At Cornwallis, he skated for the navy hockey team.</p><p>One of his teammates on Cornwallis Navy, was fellow Toronto Maple Leaf defenceman, Bob Goldham. Both Stewart and Goldham, helped the Leafs capture the Stanley Cup in 1942. </p><p>Stewart, who stood at 5'11" and weighed 175 pounds, skated on the left wing for the Maple Leafs. </p><p>In my book-<i><b>Bob Goldham: Outside the Goal Crease</b>-</i>the scene is set for their return to the Maple Leafs from Cornwallis for the 1945-46 NHL season, the year Stewart became the last Leaf to lead the league in goals scored.</p><p>" ... Gaye Stewart became the discharge officer at Cornwallis, and all discharge notices came through his office," Goldham noted. Following a 14-day leave, Goldham ventured back to the base. "I had to go back to Cornwallis and bug Gaye for about another month before my papers came through."</p><p>Goldham's last day of service was on September 13, 1945. "At least I had a week or so before reporting to Leaf training camp at Owen Sound, Ontario," Goldham remembered. "Poor old Gaye Stewart turned up there in his navy uniform as he hadn't time to buy civilian clothes. I guess he was worried he wasn't going to get out in time, but he eventually made it."</p><p>The Toronto Maple Leafs opened their 1945-46 regular season on October 27, 1945, at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. They tied the Boston Bruins 1-1, with Bob Davidson getting the lone Toronto tally.</p><p>During the month of November, Stewart failed to score in only two games of their 12 scheduled games. On November 3, he went scoreless against the New York Rangers in a 4-1 loss at MLG. On November 14, he was shutout by Montreal. Overall, he produced 13 goals in 12 games. This included a 4 goal performance against the Detroit Red Wings at home on November 17. </p><p>Although the Leafs lost the game 6-5, Stewart was praised in the press for his work:</p><p></p><blockquote>Stewart was flying all night. If he had worn roller skates, he could have used the back boards to telling effect, swooping down from above on goalkeeper Harry Lumley, as it were. The Fort William flash scored once in the second period and three times in the third. He has now scored 10 times in 10 games. His second goal was a beauty. Taking a rink-wide pass from Mel Hill, Stewart swept in from the left, made Lumley move, then shot.</blockquote><p>In a newspaper article on November 20, Stewart told the reporter, "I don't know how I get 'em. Maybe I get more chances than the other fellows." Obviously, Stewart wasn't about to blow his own horn, but his response didn't stop his questioner from providing his readers an explanation of Stewart's scoring exploits. "To observers, he scores goals because he fast, because he fights his way in around the nets and because he's always trying to blast the puck home."</p><p>On December 1, Stewart began the month with a goal against the Chicago Black Hawks at the Gardens. In a games played-goals scored ratio, it was his lest productive month. In 12 games, he connected for 6 goals. In this stretch, Stewart recorded one multi-goal game. On December 22, he scored two goals against the New York Rangers.</p><p>As the calendar turned to 1946, Stewart and the Maple Leafs had 8 scheduled contests in January. The games were equally split between home and away. In his first 3 outings, Stewart was kept at bay twice by Chicago and once by Montreal. In the remaining 5 games, he scored against Detroit, New York, twice against the Red Wing, was blanked by Boston, and ended the month with a goal in a 6-5 victory over the Black Hawks.</p><p>Come February, Stewart had potted 24 goals in 33 games. With 20 goals being the benchmark for elite scorers, Stewart had exceeded expectations, and was ready to add to his total. In a period of 9 games, he hit the twine on 6 occasions. On February 23, Stewart notched his second hat trick of the season in a 7-2 victory over Boston. </p><p>In the final month of the schedule, Stewart finished strong. Between March 2 and March 17, the final game for the Leafs, he hit the mark in 7 of 8 games. Stewart left the best for last, as he ended the year with his third three-goal game on Saint Patrick's Day 1946. </p><p>When the book was closed on the 1945-46 campaign, it showed Gaye Stewart scored 37 goals in 50 games and lead the NHL in goals scored. On home ice at Maple Leaf Gardens, he netted 21 goals. On the road, he scored 16 goals. A breakdown reveals Stewart scored 1 goal against Montreal, 7 against Boston, New York and Chicago, and his biggest victim was Detroit with 15 goals.</p><p>Seventy-five years later, Gaye Stewart's accomplishment as the last Leaf to hold the title for leading the NHL in goals scored, is passed to Auston Matthews.</p><p></p>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-21125639316639169622021-04-29T15:27:00.000-04:002021-04-29T15:27:56.700-04:00JOHNNY PEIRSON <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">JOHNNY PEIRSON: 1925-2021</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FTSzG9BCkYE/YILbXBZbWUI/AAAAAAAAEt4/p5GNQKzwIh4S2SVWwwFfUbAFI7lKgokRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/cut-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FTSzG9BCkYE/YILbXBZbWUI/AAAAAAAAEt4/p5GNQKzwIh4S2SVWwwFfUbAFI7lKgokRwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/cut-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p></p><p>Johnny Peirson, who played all his National Hockey League games with the Boston Bruins, passed away earlier this month at the age of 95. Born John Frederick Peirson on July 21, 1925, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Peirson family moved to Montreal, Quebec, when Johnny was 10-years-old.</p><p>At the age of 18, Peirson played one season with the Montreal Canadiens junior team in the Junior Amateur Hockey Association. In the playoffs, Peirson and his teammates, faced Concordia in a semi-final series. In the best-of-three series, Montreal and Concordia split the first two games, with Concordia taking game one 3-2, and Montreal demolishing their opponent 11-0 in game two. Despite having momentum on their side, the Canadiens fell by a score of 5-3 in the third and deciding game.</p><p>After spending one year in the Canadian Army, Peirson attended the University of McGill and joined their hockey team, the McGill Redmen of the Intercollegiate Hockey League. McGill opened their season against the University of Montreal Carabins at the Forum in Montreal with a 10-4 victory. McGill's attack was led by Peirson, who scored three goals in the first period, and one in each of the remaining periods. Also, he added two assists for a seven-point night.</p><p>A first-place tie in the standings with the University of Toronto, resulted in McGill and the Varsity Blues playing a one-game showdown for the championship. The contest took place on March 15, 1946, at the Forum. McGill's first-line, put together by coach Dave Chambers, composed of Peirson and Danny Porteous between Jimmy O'Connor, took control after two scoreless frames. By the 11:10 mark of the third period, McGill connected for three goals. O'Connor scored the first two, with Peirson assisting on his second tally. Peirson's goal came when O'Connor's shot hit the goalpost and the puck dropped to the ice and sat on the red line. After both his linemates took a jab at the puck, "Peirson put the near-hysterical crowd into a frenzy when he barely managed to poke it in at 11:10."</p><p>McGill scored another goal to defeat the Varsity Blues, who were coached by former Toronto Maple Leaf star, Ace Bailey, by a score of 4-1. For McGill, it was their first championship since 1939.</p><p>Peirson's play with McGill didn't go unnoticed by the Boston Bruins, and they signed the young right-winger to a contract for the 1946-47 campaign. As expected, Peirson was destined for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League for seasoning. But, during the Bruins-Hershey training camp, Peirson broke his wrist. </p><p>He remained in Boston as the year got underway. By mid-December, Peirson was cleared to play and joined the Bruins' farm team in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League, the Boston Olympics. The Bruins took advantage of having Peirson in the vicinity, and when needed, he practiced with the big-club.</p><p>On January 3, 1947, Peirson was informed the Boston Bruins were adding him to their roster. He made his NHL debut on January 4, 1947, when the Bruins took on the Canadiens in Montreal. The visitors fell 4-1 at the Forum. Peirson remained with the Bruins for five games and on January 13, 1947, he was assigned to the Hershey Bears of the AHL. During his short stint in the NHL, Peirson didn't register a point.</p><p>The slumping Bruins, dating back to December 1, 1946, only had five victories in their last 18 contests. While the Bruins were ice cold, the same could be said of the streets in Boston. The icy build-up, on roads and sidewalks, resulted in a city councilor to suggest the Bruins take to the streets to practice. "And they need it," said the councilor, who added his two-cents on the state of the Bruins.</p><p>In Hershey, Peirson helped the Bears win their first Calder Cup championship. On April 15, 1947, they defeated the Pittsburgh Hornets 5-0 to win the seventh and deciding game of the final. The next night, Peirson attended a dinner at the Hotel Hershey to celebrate the victory. The club, which organized the event, gave each player a watch. Along with their name, an inscription read, "Hershey Hockey Club, American Hockey League champions, 1946-47."</p><p>After training camp for the 1947-48 season, Peirson started the year with the Bruins. Tied to the bench for the first seven games, Peirson was sent down to Hershey on November 3 to work on his game, instead of riding the pine and seeing no action.</p><p>In late December, the Bruins put out the call for Peirson to return to the club. But in his last outing with the Bears on New Year's Eve, Peirson collided with the Springfield Indians' goalpost and he left the game. Due to being out with a leg injury, and the necessary time to work himself into game shape, Peirson's promotion to the Bruins was put on hold.</p><p>On January 30, 1948, Johnny Peirson played his final game in the minors, when Hershey faced the Washington Lions in DC. Peirson scored the opening goal and added two assists on goals by Jack McGill. The Lions mounted a huge comeback in the last twenty-minutes and soared to an 8-7 victory in Peirson's last appearance as a Hershey Bear.</p><p>It was now time for Peirson to return to the NHL. The Bruins summoned Peirson to Boston to partake in their game on January 31, against the Chicago Black Hawks at the Garden on Causeway Street.</p><p>Peirson joined the Bruins when they had 21 tilts left in their regular schedule. He skated in 15 games and recorded four goals and two helpers. His first National Hockey League goal was scored on March 3, 1948, against Chicago goalie, Emile Francis. A newspaper report noted that Bruins forward, Don Gallinger, "... bobbed and weaved so that three Chicago Black Hawks wound up dizzy on the ice trying to check him before he passed to Peirson." Peirson's goal, Boston's fourth in the game, was the equalizer in a 4-4 tie. </p><p>Once Peirson got settled in the Bruins line-up, coach Dit Clapper teamed him with center Paul Ronty and Kenny Smith at left wing. It didn't take too long for the trio to become known as the "Muscles Line." The name was in complete contrast to the physical appearance of the three linemates. They more resembled lightweights with Smith at 150 pounds, Ronty at 160 pounds, and Peirson at 170 pounds.</p><p>When the 1948 Stanley Cup playoffs rolled around, the Boston Bruins found themselves matched up against the defending Cup champs, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Their semi-final round opened on March 24, 1948. The Maple Leafs prevailed and took the series four games to one.</p><p>Boston's lone victory came in game four, when they avoided elimination on home ice. The Bruins defeated the Leafs by a score of 3-2. In a tight checking game, goals were at a premium, with Ed Sandford putting the Bruins on the board first. Toronto's Bill Ezinicki evened the score, then, Johnny Peirson went to work. He scored goals in the first and second periods to give his team the margin for victory.</p><p>His first goal, the game-winner, came after Toronto goalie, Turk Broda, stopped shots by Kenny Smith and Paul Ronty. With Broda laid out on the ice, Peirson gained possession of the puck and raised it over the prone Toronto netminder. In the final frame, Ronty and Smith combined on a passing play to get the puck to Peirson. His 20-foot blast beat Broda on his glove-side.</p><p>In his first full season with the Bruins in 1948-49, Peirson proved he belonged in the NHL. In this era, the benchmark for an elite goalscorers was 20. Peirson, bagged 22 goals, and along with 21 assists, produced 43 points.</p><p>Peirson gave credit to his coach in Hershey, Don Penniston, for helping him improve his game. "He gave me lots of help," Peirson said in a February 1949 interview. "Told me to perfect a slap shot which I did and which has scored many goals for me. Also learned how to cover my wing because Don was always after us to check properly."</p><p>The next year, 1949-50, Peirson hit a career high for goals scored with 27, and points with 52 in 57 games. Also, Ronty and Smith reached the benchmark with 23 and 20 goals respectively. </p><p>Around the NHL, Peirson's gained a reputation for his work ethic. Montreal coach, Dick Irvin, told the following story about Peirson. "In Boston, the Bruins were a man short and we had five men up at their blue line. Johnny Peirson cleared the puck down the ice. And who do you think froze the puck against the boards at our end of the rink? Peirson. He passed five Canadiens in the race for the puck. I don't think I ever saw that happen before in a hockey game."</p><p>Peirson's work was recognized as he was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game on October 8, 1950. The defending Stanley Cup victors, the Detroit Red Wings, walloped the All-Stars 7-1. Peirson set-up Toronto's Sid Smith for the lone goal scored by the All-Stars.</p><p>Although his numbers dropped in 1950-51 (70-19-19-38), Peirson, once again, earned a birth on the NHL All-Star Team. Joe Primeau, who guided the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Stanley Cup in 1951, selected him for the First All-Stars Team. A new format for the All-Star Game pitted the First All Stars against the Second All-Stars. The contest took place at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on October 9, 1951. Peirson netted the second tally for the First All-Stars in a 2-2 draw. </p><p>In 1951-52, Peirson returned to the 20-goal club, and increased his point total from 38 to 50. On September 20, 1951, Peirson said good-bye to his center, Paul Ronty, who was traded to the New York Rangers. Peirson went on to play with a number of linemates, most notably, Milt Schmidt, Jack McIntyre, Fleming MacKell, Ed Sandford, Cal Gardner, and Vic Stasiuk, to name a few.</p><p>Throughout his career, Peirson was relatively free from spending long amounts of time on the sidelines due to injuries. But in 1952-53, his luck ran out. When the Bruins and Red Wings tangled at the Olympia on December 7, 1952, Peirson took an elbow to his face courtesy of Pete Leswick. As a result, Peirson suffered a broken jaw. To shield Peirson upon his return, Boston trainer, Hammy Moore, crafted a mask to protect Peirson's jaw from further damage. The mask was made of soft leather and foam. President Clarence Campbell of the NHL, gave his permission for Peirson to wear his new piece of equipment.</p><p>With his mask in place, Peirson returned to take on the New York Rangers at Boston Garden on January 25, 1953. The Bruins fell to the Rangers by a score of 2-1. </p><p>In the remaining games, Peirson never took off his mask. He only participated in 49 contests, yet, he managed to score 14 goals and amassed 29 points.</p><p>For the first time since he joined the Bruins, Peirson played in the Stanley Cup final. The Bruins went up against Montreal and won only one game in the best-of-seven final. Peirson, contributed 9 points in 11 games.</p><p>Looking to get back on track, Peirson returned to form in 1953-54. On the injury front, he only missed two games, which enabled him to boost his stats. And that's exacting what Peirson accomplished. He once again became a top scorer with 21 goals and 19 assists for 40 points. It was his fourth term with 20 goals or more.</p><p>It appeared Peirson was ready to continue his efforts to help the Boston Bruins, but on September 1, 1954, the club announced Peirson's retirement. The explanation given for the sudden departure was Peirson's desire to work full-time with his father-in-law in the furniture business as a salesman. He spent several summers working in the same capacity.</p><p>While Peirson pursued his post-hockey life, the 1954-55 edition of the Boston Bruins, earned a playoff spot, but were vanished by their main nemesis, the Montreal Canadiens, in their semi-final confrontation.</p><p>Just as stunning as the news of his retirement from the NHL was, the news of his return to the Bruins was another jaw-breaking moment.</p><p>On December 5, 1955, Boston's general manager, Lynn Patrick, told the press that Peirson's name was removed from the voluntary retired list at NHL headquarters.</p><p>After game 28 of the Bruins 1955-56 schedule, Peirson, at the age of 30, made his comeback against the Chicago Black Hawks on December 15, 1955. Coach Milt Schmidt placed Peirson on a line with Cal Gardner and fellow winger, Vic Stasiuk. Peirson made the most of his return by scoring a goal and an assist in Boston's 4-1 win. "It felt like old times," said Peirson. </p><p>Despite missing the 1956 playoffs, Peirson had no hesitation in signing a contract for the upcoming season. He put pen to paper in late August.</p><p>Not expected to be a contender, Boston exploded out of the gate, and by December 19, 1956, were in first-place with a 17-7-5-39 record.</p><p>"This is definitely the best-balanced Bruins' team I've been on since I came into the league back in 1948," stated Peirson. "Every kid when he's starting to play hockey dreams of playing with a winner. Maybe my dream is coming true finally."</p><p>At the same time, Peirson reflected on his state of mind and the Bruins infertility, both of which weighed heavily in his decision to retire in September 1954.</p><p>"It seems that every year after that first one we had to struggle down to the playoffs, said Peirson. "Usually it went down to the next to last game. We didn't seem to be getting anywhere."</p><p>With his confidence restored, Peirson's last two seasons with Boston brought him closer to his dream of winning a Stanley Cup.</p><p>In both 1957 and 1958, the Boston Bruins reached the Stanley Cup final. Unfortunately, for Peirson and his teammates, they encountered the powerful Montreal Canadiens. The Habs were a juggernaut in the midst of winning six consecutive Cups from 1955 to 1960.</p><p>For the second, and final time in his career, Peirson hung-up his skates. Johnny Peirson played his last game on April 20, 1958, when the Bruins were defeated in game six by Montreal on home ice.</p><p>When the book closed on Peirson's 11 years wearing the gold and black of the Boston Bruins, it showed he played in 545 games and scored 153 goals and 173 assists for 326 points. His penalty-minutes totalled 315. In the playoffs, he saw action in 49 games and scored 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points. He served 26 minutes in the penalty box.</p><p>With his life as a hockey player behind him, Peirson, at the age of 33, continued to work in the furniture industry. Also, he discovered a way to stay connected to the hockey world.</p><p>Peirson got his start as a hockey commentator for Boston Bruins' games on WBZ-Radio. He sat alongside his partner, the legendary Fred Cusick, who served as the play-by-play man. Cusick followed Peirson to WSBK-TV-38 for the 1970-71 season, when Don Earle left the scene. Peirson and Cusick worked together in the broadcast booth from 1970 to 1985. </p><p>Next, Peirson took on a new gig as the studio analyst for the telecasts. In this role, Peirson was like an instructor who taught the game. He used a telestrator to diagram plays he broke down for the audience. </p><p>"I sit and watch and select four or five plays during a period, then pick two or three based on the message I want to give," explained Peirson.</p><p>"In a small way, he was responsible for the hockey boom here years ago," said Ken London, who produced games on Channel 38. "How many NHL players from this area grew up listening and learning from Peirson?" </p><p>During his run on radio and television, Peirson continued to work in the furniture business. In 1995, he left broadcasting to concentrate solely on his furniture job and his family.</p><p>An avid golfer, Peirson played in many tournaments, including the 1950 Canadian Amateur in Saskatoon. Also, as an amateur, he participated in the 1950 Canadian Open at Royal Montreal. Over four-rounds, Peirson shot 71-76-75-78. </p><p>John Peirson died on April 16, 2021, in Wayland, Massachusetts.</p><p></p>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-78024220887305071852021-04-15T13:03:00.001-04:002021-04-15T15:28:15.457-04:00A PENALTY SHOT <p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">THE FIRST IN A STANLEY CUP FINAL</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kRYcYTWCwzY/YHhfijXWr9I/AAAAAAAAEtU/SkWnR7KVtH0JjW4x5s1HKm3ZqIrr12cFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s533/Shibicky%2BRangers%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="425" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kRYcYTWCwzY/YHhfijXWr9I/AAAAAAAAEtU/SkWnR7KVtH0JjW4x5s1HKm3ZqIrr12cFwCLcBGAsYHQ/w319-h400/Shibicky%2BRangers%2B1.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><p>On April 15, 1937, the first National Hockey League penalty shot in a Stanley Cup final contest was awarded to New York Rangers' forward (pictured above) Alex Shibicky.</p><p>The penalty shot took place as a result of a scramble in front of Detroit goalie, Earl Robertson, in the second period. On the play, Neil Colville of the Rangers was tripped as he fired a shot on the Red Wings' net. The puck got past Robertson and the pile-up around his crease for New York's first tally of the game. </p><p>Referee Bill Stewart gave the goal to Babe Pratt, with assists going to Shibicky and Colville. The goal evened the score at 1-1.</p><p>But, Mickey Ion, the other official on the ice, whistled down the play when he called a penalty on Detroit's Herbie Lewis for holding. Iron, felt the offence warranted a penalty shot.</p><p>Shibicky's attempt to beat Robertson on the penalty shot was stymied by the Red Wings' netminder when he, " ... easily blocked" the shot. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wM_A35XLCwU/YHhl-LlkRiI/AAAAAAAAEtc/qSgJCnjZf0omIw2-sESSlR8yWzhR_dEPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s661/clipping_75803168.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="637" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wM_A35XLCwU/YHhl-LlkRiI/AAAAAAAAEtc/qSgJCnjZf0omIw2-sESSlR8yWzhR_dEPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/clipping_75803168.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NG7KJhWDD9c/YHhmCos5OcI/AAAAAAAAEtg/2AjAotyBwLQYnAViVqSqOP3_vp7zGAa5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s862/clipping_75803118.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="862" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NG7KJhWDD9c/YHhmCos5OcI/AAAAAAAAEtg/2AjAotyBwLQYnAViVqSqOP3_vp7zGAa5gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h213/clipping_75803118.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Robertson's effort in game five of the best-of-five Cup final was praised by Detroit's coach and manager, Jack Adams. "Earl Robertson, he's a big league goalie now," said Adams. "He was marvellous. He pitched for the Wings and they pitched for him. That's the way we've been."</p><p>A newspaper account noted of Robertson that he was " ... caught in a rain of pucks as the Rangers stormed into the attacking zone with five-man rushes in the last two periods, leaped, dived, fell prone and swung his stick to clear all shots."</p><p>The Red Wings defeated the Rangers 3-0 in the deciding game.</p><p>A native of Bengough, Saskatchewan, Robertson never played a regular season game for the Red Wings. He was the first rookie NHL goalie to record two shutouts in the Stanley Cup final. He blanked New York 1-0 in game four. </p><p>After his playoff run in 1937, Robertson joined the New York Americans for five seasons (in his final year, the New York Americans became the Brooklyn Americans).</p><p></p>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-898043250245297562021-04-11T12:29:00.001-04:002021-04-11T17:53:34.607-04:00THE DUKE OF HOCKEY<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6aYo9LESvjs/YHMJJYNz5kI/AAAAAAAAEsk/LDyJVuluHnop2gF4fP8yLO4xl9B5ORVQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG-6979.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6aYo9LESvjs/YHMJJYNz5kI/AAAAAAAAEsk/LDyJVuluHnop2gF4fP8yLO4xl9B5ORVQQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/IMG-6979.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>On April 9, 2021, the world mourned the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, at Windsor Castle in England.</p><p>In October 1951, on an official visit to Canada, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, attended hockey games in Toronto and Montreal.</p><p>Their first hockey stop was in Toronto, where they watched an exhibition contest between the Maple Leafs and Chicago Black Hawks at Maple Leaf Gardens.</p><p>In a 2012 interview with the late Danny Lewicki, we discussed the Royal visit to the Gardens on October 13. "Of course, it was an exciting day for us, just to think she would be there," said the former Leaf forward. "It was a very memorable afternoon, no doubt about it."</p><p>After the exhibition, Conn Smythe, who sat with the Royal couple (Seats in box 50 were replaced with comfortable chairs and the box was decorated with a Union Jack), talked about their reaction to the tilt between the Leafs and Hawks. "They both enjoyed the game tremendously. That was apparent in the way Prince Philip roared with laughter at the upsetting bodychecks and the way the eyes of Princess Elizabeth glowed as the players shot by her at full speed."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-stJJBOLd6KY/YHMW57gv5iI/AAAAAAAAEss/rnRReb9DtzU-qPiTt4YiqlBZpA1ShyT1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1049/IMG-6992.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1049" height="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-stJJBOLd6KY/YHMW57gv5iI/AAAAAAAAEss/rnRReb9DtzU-qPiTt4YiqlBZpA1ShyT1wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h310/IMG-6992.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZOFO4y_RPg/YHMXbu8xLSI/AAAAAAAAEs0/aka-PwDb2gQZORHQG22X5pme_Wx9H7exQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG-6987.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1381" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZOFO4y_RPg/YHMXbu8xLSI/AAAAAAAAEs0/aka-PwDb2gQZORHQG22X5pme_Wx9H7exQCLcBGAsYHQ/w270-h400/IMG-6987.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5MCMHyKrO0/YHMXwOihekI/AAAAAAAAEs8/PXhCMT-z2e03c7jxPJg0qpGyEaioxVPuACLcBGAsYHQ/s1585/Scan%2B1%2Bcopy%2B11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1353" data-original-width="1585" height="341" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5MCMHyKrO0/YHMXwOihekI/AAAAAAAAEs8/PXhCMT-z2e03c7jxPJg0qpGyEaioxVPuACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h341/Scan%2B1%2Bcopy%2B11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As for the game in Montreal on October 29, 1951, the Canadiens-Rangers game was part of the regular season schedule for 1951-52. </p><p>Montreal sportswriter, Dink Carroll of The Gazette, wrote, "Prince Philip appeared to enjoy the bodychecking. He burst into laughter when Eddie Pullman of the Rangers, after losing his stick, stepped into Ross Lowe and spilled him to the ice. He laughed again when big Butch Bouchard slammed Eddie Slowinski into the boards."</p><p>The Habs defeated the Rangers 6-1. The photo below shows Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth taking in the action at The Forum.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cPx50kyx9IQ/YHMgNlfUKiI/AAAAAAAAEtE/sn0bAK1a9kIlrcKEEop_l-Ww0pSS5eb-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s844/clipping_75539676.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="844" height="344" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cPx50kyx9IQ/YHMgNlfUKiI/AAAAAAAAEtE/sn0bAK1a9kIlrcKEEop_l-Ww0pSS5eb-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h344/clipping_75539676.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The two games in Canada impressed Prince Philip so much, that he donated the Edinburgh Trophy to Canadian hockey in March 1954. It was to be presented to the winner of the Quebec Hockey League vs. Western Hockey League final. </p><p>Canadian Press reported, "The trophy is a silver figure of a hockey player mounted on top of a silver globe with a map of North America raised on it. The globe is attached to a round, black ebony base bearing the Dominion coat of arms. On the opposite side of the base is an oblong plaque for inscription to be decided later on. Smaller plaques set around the base will carry names of the winning teams and the year they won it."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6CdYQtWwoco/YHMik9S9-FI/AAAAAAAAEtM/vJVovMoYOmAqzT06M7__QAYcOkBQxCl5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s878/IMG-6978.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="878" height="256" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6CdYQtWwoco/YHMik9S9-FI/AAAAAAAAEtM/vJVovMoYOmAqzT06M7__QAYcOkBQxCl5wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h256/IMG-6978.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The first team to capture the Edinburgh Trophy were the Calgary Stampeders in 1954. They defeated the Quebec Aces, who represented the QHL. The above photo shows the presentation to the victors.</p><p>In the final competition for the Edinburgh Trophy, in 1957, the Quebec Aces faced the Brandon Regals. In game 6, Bob Beckett scored the game-winning goal to give his team the championship.</p>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-91528779751749386972021-04-01T10:40:00.004-04:002021-04-01T10:48:27.846-04:00 BOBBY PLAGER: A HIT <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">BOB PLAGER: AN ORIGINAL ST. LOUIS BLUE</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8zlVhd7r7LI/YGTYJ3FtW3I/AAAAAAAAEsU/uE9XLTdXoEQ09JBubIOsXjVRmz3nDx-1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1546" data-original-width="2048" height="303" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8zlVhd7r7LI/YGTYJ3FtW3I/AAAAAAAAEsU/uE9XLTdXoEQ09JBubIOsXjVRmz3nDx-1QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h303/IMG_6932.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bob Plager, who played parts of 3 seasons with the New York Rangers and 11-years with the St. Louis Blues, died on March 24, 2021, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was 78-years-old.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Early in his hockey career, Plager established a style of play that remained with him until he hung up his skates. Descriptions like "rugged, aggressive, rough, hard-hitting, pugilist and burly" were often used after Plager applied his physical force on an opponent. Along with his brothers, Barclay and Billy, they earned a reputation for going toe-to-toe. All three were defencemen.</div><p>"The Plagers are prepared to fight for anything in which they believe," noted a scribe. "On occasion, they'll fight for things in which they don't believe."</p><p>Bob Plager got his start in junior with Guelph of the Ontario Hockey Association in the early 1960s. At the same time, Barclay Plager, his older brother, was on the blueline for Peterborough. The inevitable occurred when they faced each other in a contest held in Peterborough. </p><p>"He came down the ice carrying the puck, and there was an offside as I was getting ready to check him," Plager told a reporter in a 1966 interview. "I relaxed, and he gave me the stick in the mouth as he came past me. I reached out and started swinging."</p><p>And the hostilities didn't stop on the ice.</p><p>"We went at it pretty good on the ice and again in the penalty box. Then, after we were thrown out of the game, we continued to battle in the runway leading to the dressing rooms."</p><p>It was a tradition in the Plager household to resolve any disputes by putting on the boxing gloves. Numerous matches were held in the backyard between the Plager boys. "Barclay always beat me," Plager recalled. "I always beat Billy, and Billy would go across the street and lick our cousin." </p><p>The brotherly battle in Peterborough showed everyone that Plager would stand his ground, and no one, including a sibling, was exempt from being on the other end of his fury. He stood at five-foot-eleven and his playing weight ranged from 195 to 215 pounds.</p><p>At the start of 1964-65, Bob Plager skated for the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League. They were a farm team of the New York Rangers. Like any young player, Plager wanted a chance to show what he could do in the National Hockey League.</p><p>His call to the big show came on December 3, 1964, when Rangers' general manger, Emile Francis, summoned Plager to Broadway. Francis was fully aware what Plager brought to the table, as he coached the Kirkland Lake, Ontario, native in junior with the Guelph Royals.</p><p>New York coach, Red Sullivan, looked forward to having Plager in his line-up. "Plager's aggressive, rough and has a good shot," Sullivan said of his new addition.</p><p>On December 9, 1964, Plager made his NHL debut at Madison Square Garden. The Chicago Black Hawks were in town to face the Blueshirts. Plager's skates first touched the ice in the third period. He immediately became a fan favourite, when he went after Chicago superstar, Bobby Hull. The Daily News observed "the only Ranger who showed much enthusiasm ... was Bob Plager." This was in reference to "when he hung Bobby Hull, Chicago's Golden Boy, on the boards." </p><p>While his work impressed the Garden faithful, more importantly, Plager's performance garnered a positive response from the boss, Emile Francis. "No 21-year-old kid has done a better job for us," said the GM. "It's likely Plager will get a good shot at winning a job with the Rangers next season."</p><p>With a taste of NHL experience under his belt, Plager returned to the Canucks on December 17. But his stay in Vancouver was a short one, as the Rangers called him up for a second time on January 11, 1965.</p><p>In a contest on January 27, 1965, at home, Plager displayed his bone crushing physical style against the Boston Bruins. His victim was Bruins' winger, Johnny Bucyk, who Plager upended with a hip check. The hit didn't go unnoticed by Red Sullivan. In his post-game scrum, Sullivan stated, "When Plager dumped Bucyk, the whole team came to life."</p><p>Unable to obtain a roster spot with New York, Plager was shipped out on February 5, 1965, to the Baltimore Clippers of the American Hockey League. This move indicated the Rangers wanted Plager to face the challenges in hockey's second best league.</p><p>The next season, 1965-66, Plager started the year in the Central Professional Hockey League with the Minnesota Rangers. At the age of 22, Plager was elected captain of his new team. His presence, on and off the ice, demonstrated the respect his teammates had for their new leader.</p><p>Plager found himself in a familiar situation when the New York Rangers sent for him to begin another stint with the parent club. He was ready for action when the Rangers took on the Red Wings at the Olympia in Detroit. When he departed Minnesota, Plager had accumulated 145 penalty minutes in just over 40 games. </p><p>Besides his crushing hits, this time around, Plager was recognized for another skill in his repertoire. After a tilt on March 6, 1966, a 1-1 draw with Detroit, Emile Francis commented on the other facet of Plager's game. "He's fearless at blocking shots, and you would have to say he's made a big difference in our defence."</p><p>In the summer, Plager returned to his home in Kapuskasing, Ontario. His unique job, as beer taster for Brewers Retail, involved visiting commercial customers in his territory to see if their inventory was still good. When he talked about his work, one can't help but detect Plagers's sense of humour. "Beer tasting is not the ideal off-season job for a hockey player," stated Plager. "It's not very hard, you know. You just sit back, and well, you know, you taste the beer to see if it's stale."</p><p>On September 28, 1966, the New York Rangers revealed they signed Plager to new contract. But his stay with the Rangers was a short one. On October 19, 1966, Plager, along with forward Bill Collins, were optioned out to the Baltimore Clippers.</p><p>Unfazed by the move, Plager accepted the cards he was dealt, and went about his business. And, he remained relentless.</p><p>Randy Miller of the Springfield Indians, engaged Plager in bout on November 24, 1966, and came out of the fisticuffs with a broken nose. Plager told Bill Tanton of Baltimore's The Evening Sun, what his major goal was when he dropped the gloves. "And I'll tell you something, always get the first one (punch) in, that's the fight in hockey."</p><p>Tanton, also spoke with Terry Reardon, the coach and general manager of the Clippers. "That Plager is absolutely fearless," said Reardon. "I think he actually enjoys fighting. I think he and his brother (Barclay) stay in shape in the summer by beating each other up." </p><p>At home, against the Providence Reds on December 2, Plager was involved in a collision with Bob Leduc. The incident took place behind the Clippers' net. As Plager followed through on his check, he drove Leduc into Bill Collins, who was positioned against the boards. The tremendous force of the check and the impact with Collins, resulted in Leduc going down. He suffered a back injury and was out of commission for several weeks.</p><p>Plager explained his part in the hit. "That's my play. If they don't keep their heads up they will have to take the consequences."</p><p>In February of 1967, Plager got another shot with the Rangers, as he filled in for injured defenceman, Jim Neilson. This was Plager's last appearance as a Ranger. He was sent down to Baltimore after he suited up for one game.</p><p>There was light at the end of the tunnel for Plager's goal of becoming a permanent fixture on an NHL team. It came when the NHL expanded from 6 to 12 franchises.</p><p>During the expansion draft in June 1967, the Rangers lost defenceman Rod Seiling, who was selected by the St. Louis Blues. New York, not happy with Seiling's departure, worked out a deal with St. Louis to get him back. In exchange for Seiling, Bob Plager and Gary Sabourin went to the Blues.</p><p>In St. Louis, Plager became a mainstay on the Blues' defensive core. And he never altered his game.</p><p>Following a contest in Pittsburgh, on November 6, 1968, Blues' coach, Scotty Bowman, raved about Plager's contribution in a 3-1 victory over the Penguins. "Bob was hitting as hard and as often tonight as I've ever seen him. He was really punishing those opposing forwards."</p><p>At the age of 34, Plager announced his retirement on October 1, 1977. The Blues didn't offer Plager a contract for the upcoming season. He remained in the game as a special assignment scout with St. Louis.</p><p>As the 1977-78 campaign progressed, the Blues struggled out of the gate. By Thanksgiving Day (in the States), on November 24, they only recorded 4 victories. This moved Emile Francis, now the Blues' general manager, to take action. He decided his club lacked physical fortitude and signed Plager to contract. </p><p>Francis shed light on his decision to bring Plager back into the fold as an active player. "Bobby may not be the fastest guy in the world on skates, but he has a hockey head on him and he won't back off from anyone, like some of our players have been doing."</p><p>Plager's comeback came at home on December 3, 1977, against the New York Islanders. Although the Blues lost 7-2, Plager's impact was immediate. The St. Louis Dispatch noted: "Until Plager hit (Mike) Kaszycki with a hip check ... the crowd sat back in bored silence and watched the Islanders effortlessly protect their three-goal lead."</p><p>His return as a St Louis Blue, ended after 18 games. On February 16, 1978, Plager was named as the player-coach of the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the Central Hockey League. He replaced his brother, Barclay, who was promoted to takeover the coaching reins with the St. Louis Blues.</p><p>In the off-season, Plager was reassigned to his job as a special assignment scout. He would go on to serve a number of roles with the Blues, which ranged from working in the hockey department, to broadcasting, and community relations.</p><p>A left-shooting defenceman, Plager participated in 644 National Hockey League games with New York and St. Louis. He scored 20 goals and 126 assists for 146 points. He raked up 802 penalty minutes. He appeared in the Stanley Cup final three-times (1968-69-70) with the Blues. In 74 playoff encounters, Plager scored 2 goals and 17 helpers, for 19 points. He was in the sin-bin for 195 minutes. </p><p>Noted for his long sideburns and wearing turtleneck sweaters, Plager was known for his sense of humour and pranks.</p><p>When his lack of conditioning got the best of him and his weight was up, Plager said, "There was one coach who told the players if they were ever late for practice, they would have to skate 10 laps around me."</p><p>In 1986, St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher, John Tudor, met Plager in the Blues' dressing room. Tudor told a story about taking out an electrical fan after being removed from a World Series contest. Plager chimed in with, "I used to hit fans too, but they were in the stands."</p><p>One time on the road, Scotty Bowman asked Plager about his sleeping schedule. "I took him outside and showed him the street lights," began Plager. "I told him, 'When they go on, I go out. The they go off, I go to the rink. They're like alarm clocks, and they're all over town.'"</p><p>Once, Plager was asked about his endorsements when he played. "I got $5,000 from every company. $5,000 not to wear their skates. $5,000 not to wear their gloves. $5,000 not to use their sticks."</p><p>A statement, from the St. Louis Blues, read in part, "It is unimaginable to imagine the St. Louis Blues without Bobby Plager. He was an original 1967 member of the St. Louis Blues, but also an original in every sense of the word. Bobby's influence at all levels of the Blues organization was profound and everlasting, and his loss to our city will be deep."</p>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-58844623965256454342021-03-24T12:35:00.002-04:002021-03-24T12:38:34.293-04:00A FIRST FOR THE BIG M<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4gljuSfElFA/YFto9qgFUhI/AAAAAAAAErA/JbmxUYedugQJeABmA_PqyaRCbBZKNVb6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s506/mahovlich_2018-10-31.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4gljuSfElFA/YFto9qgFUhI/AAAAAAAAErA/JbmxUYedugQJeABmA_PqyaRCbBZKNVb6ACLcBGAsYHQ/w356-h400/mahovlich_2018-10-31.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><br /><div>It's always special when a player scores his first National Hockey League goal. And in the case of Frank Mahovlich, his special night came on this date in 1957.</div><div><br /></div><div>On March 24, the Toronto Maple Leafs were in Detroit to close out their regular season. Mahovlich was in the line-up to play in the final game of his three game tryout. He was coming off a brilliant year with the St. Mike's Majors of the Ontario Hockey Association. The junior A club was sponsored by Conn Smythe's Maple Leafs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Based on his production with St. Mike's - 52 goals in 49 games - it's clear why the Leafs were foaming at the mouth to see what their top prospect could do in the NHL.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the Olympia in Detroit, Mahovlich gave them a taste of what they could expect in the future.</div><div><br /></div><div>While the Leafs were on a power play in the first period, with Marcel Pronovost in the box for elbowing Bobby Baun, Mahovlich went to work. </div><div><br /></div><div>Writing in The Windsor Star, Matt Dennis provided this description of the goal. "Less than a minute had elapsed in the penalty when the Leafs went in front. Dea checked Reaume but the Toronto rearguard got a pass away to Tod Sloan in the Toronto zone. Sloan broke down the boards, cut across in front and laid the pass on Mahovlich's stick. The young pivotman ... lifted a shot over (Glenn, the Detroit goalie) Hall's shoulder from 10 feet out."</div><div><br /></div><div>In his rookie campaign with Toronto in 1957-58, Mahovlich connected for 20 goals, which was the benchmark for goal scorers at the time. He added 16 assists for 36 points in 67 contests. His overall performance resulted in Mahovlich being named the winner of the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.</div><div><br /></div><div>His goal on March 24, 1957, was the first of 296 goals Mahovlich scored in 720 regular season games as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.</div>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-6245460251054847262021-03-12T12:20:00.000-05:002021-03-12T12:20:42.313-05:00A HULL OF A NIGHT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G-836LlRIEU/YEuYtcBA6kI/AAAAAAAAEqc/OOps-9P-Wpgdys5eDS_MVW4FL6QPUxV-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s441/IMG-6843.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="300" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G-836LlRIEU/YEuYtcBA6kI/AAAAAAAAEqc/OOps-9P-Wpgdys5eDS_MVW4FL6QPUxV-wCLcBGAsYHQ/w437-h640/IMG-6843.jpg" width="437" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fifty-five years ago tonight, Chicago Black Hawks forward, Bobby Hull, set a new NHL record when he scored his 51st goal of the 1965-66 campaign. It was the most goals scored in a single season.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Chicago Tribune described the goal as follows: "Hull's historic stroke was a 50-foot centre ice slap shot blasted thru New York Ranger goalie Cesare Maniago's skates at 5:34 of the final period ..."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for Hull, he provided these comments on his record-breaking feat. "I got the puck from [Lou] Angotti, and moved in. The defense backed up because our wings were moving in, then I pushed the puck ahead. But it didn't go as far as I expected. The ice was a bit sticky - so actually I did not get a real good shot at it. Then I waited until the light went on. Yes, I knew it was in, I saw it go in."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hull shared the previous record of 50 goals with Rocket Richard and Bernie Geoffrion of the Montreal Canadiens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Golden Jet went on to end the regular season schedule with 54 goals. His closest rival in the scoring department was Frank Mahovlich of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who potted 32 goals. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lmluYZ5-Lu8/YEuiQN3DChI/AAAAAAAAEqk/cbLhomP-IKcy65edw4SFWriqZ47hiEDxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s730/clipping_73275762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="586" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lmluYZ5-Lu8/YEuiQN3DChI/AAAAAAAAEqk/cbLhomP-IKcy65edw4SFWriqZ47hiEDxwCLcBGAsYHQ/w321-h400/clipping_73275762.jpg" width="321" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AHRfxkkkjGc/YEuiesMYTSI/AAAAAAAAEqo/PiMbYKF1_KcUP3U081DahQlZ4k7EyLLeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s756/clipping_73275665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="756" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AHRfxkkkjGc/YEuiesMYTSI/AAAAAAAAEqo/PiMbYKF1_KcUP3U081DahQlZ4k7EyLLeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/clipping_73275665.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-12361946337102100612021-03-11T12:04:00.001-05:002021-03-12T12:10:31.727-05:00A RECORD FOR LACH<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DEx1JcufZ0Q/YEpD8RK79NI/AAAAAAAAEqM/gRujAnWRfEc4GDlTPy0o7uzgSe5lyyXrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s638/IMG-6837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DEx1JcufZ0Q/YEpD8RK79NI/AAAAAAAAEqM/gRujAnWRfEc4GDlTPy0o7uzgSe5lyyXrQCLcBGAsYHQ/w314-h400/IMG-6837.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><p></p><p>On this date in 1945, Montreal Canadiens forward, Elmer Lach, established a new record for most assists, 51, in a National Hockey League season.</p><p>In a contest against the New York Rangers, at Madison Square Garden, the Habs put their offence on overdrive in an 11-5 victory over New York.</p><p>Lach began his assault on the assist record in the first period. He equalled the previous mark of 49 assists, when he earned an assist on a goal by linemate Toe Blake. Clint Smith, of the Chicago Black Hawks, held the previous record of 49 helpers, which he accomplished in 1943-44.</p><p>Later in the first frame, Lach took sole possession of the record when he assisted on a goal by his other linemate, Rocket Richard. </p><p>He added another assist in the second period when Blake scored his second goal of the game. It gave him three assists and the new record of 51.</p><p>Elmer Lach, switched gears in the final twenty-minutes, and scored a goal in the first minute of play. </p><p>His tally against Rangers' goalie, Ken McAuley, was unassisted. That just seemed appropriate on the night Lach became the NHL's assist king.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qqoKRBMjIw/YEpLSCWCY8I/AAAAAAAAEqU/vaF9b7m0iMEsXPCw-g293n94zNkbJHZXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s728/clipping_73191847.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="388" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qqoKRBMjIw/YEpLSCWCY8I/AAAAAAAAEqU/vaF9b7m0iMEsXPCw-g293n94zNkbJHZXQCLcBGAsYHQ/w342-h640/clipping_73191847.jpg" width="342" /></a></div><br /><p></p>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-36941468011713638722021-03-07T11:48:00.001-05:002021-03-07T11:53:37.525-05:00WALTER GRETZKY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsRTeb_Pyw8/YETxc5C2c7I/AAAAAAAAEqA/LNyNcaDeQdow_t7Jn3To_tUIqkxH7v0_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1322/IMG-6824.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1322" data-original-width="1033" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsRTeb_Pyw8/YETxc5C2c7I/AAAAAAAAEqA/LNyNcaDeQdow_t7Jn3To_tUIqkxH7v0_QCLcBGAsYHQ/w313-h400/IMG-6824.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br /><div>When Walter Gretzky passed away on March 4, 2021, at the age of 82, most of us, who learned how to the play the game on an outdoor rink, could relate to the special relationship between Walter and his son, Wayne. Although we didn't turn out like Wayne Gretzky, the greatest hockey player of his generation, we did spend hours skating, passing, and shooting on backyard rinks carefully constructed by our dad's. This process was often carried out in freezing cold temperatures, with a brisk wind, and trying to find pucks in the snowbanks. Also, breaks were taken to sweep or shovel accumulated snow from the ice surface.</div><div><br /></div><div>A father, and his son, doing what came naturally. A bond that couldn't be broken.</div><div><br /></div><div>This shared experience, and the memories that have lasted with the passage of time, were brought to the forefront with Walter's death. And how lucky were we that Walter preserved those moments of his young son developing his skills on film. Every report on television the next day, included scenes recorded by Walter of Wayne going through his workout. It captured the time for all to see. The clock was turned back.</div><div><br /></div><div>The announcement of Walter's passing was made by Wayne Gretzky on Twitter. "It's with deep sadness that Janet and I share the news of the passing of my Dad. He bravely battled Parkinson's and other health issues these past few years, but he never let it get him down. For my sister and my 3 brothers, Dad was our team captain - he guided, protected and led our family every day, every step of the way. For me, he was the reason I fell in love with the game of hockey. He inspired me to be the best I could be not just in the game of hockey, but in life. We will miss him so much, but know that he's back with our Mom and that brings me and my family peace. He truly was the Great One and the proudest Canadian we know."</div><div><br /></div><div>An outpouring of memories of Walter, and condolences for the Gretzky family, were posted on Twitter.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Walter Gretzky cared deeply about his family and his community - his kindness was undeniable, his passion was obvious, and his impact was immense," wrote Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "My thoughts are with Wayne and the entire Gretzky family, and all who are mourning the loss of Canada's hockey dad."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Walter was truly everyone's hockey dad," noted the Edmonton Oilers, where Wayne Gretzky captured four Stanley Cups. "He will be missed by all of us, but the memories created by his tremendous character & passion for our game will remain with us forever."</div><div><br /></div><div>The NHL Alumni wrote, "It is often said that you will be remembered for what you do for others, and Walter Gretzky will be remembered forever. Never too busy to take a photo or sign an autograph, Walter left a lasting impression on everyone he met and he will forever be Canada's Hockey Dad."</div><div><br /></div><div>"The Toronto Maple Leafs join the hockey community in mourning the loss of Canada's hockey dad, Walter Gretzky. A warm and gracious fixture at Maple Leafs home games for years, Walter made everyone he met feel special. Our condolences to the Gretzky family & Walter's innumerable friends."</div>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-79733917118963496542021-03-01T15:41:00.000-05:002021-03-01T15:41:17.334-05:00RALPH BACKSTROM<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">REMEMBERING THE FORMER HAB</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DVDnlBmVuJU/YC6Cq5JQF7I/AAAAAAAAEpo/nvmLvkl4vnksaCYq5QuTS7ky57tlp3CSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/unnamed-9%2B%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="277" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DVDnlBmVuJU/YC6Cq5JQF7I/AAAAAAAAEpo/nvmLvkl4vnksaCYq5QuTS7ky57tlp3CSgCLcBGAsYHQ/w278-h400/unnamed-9%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="278" /></a></p><br />Ralph Backstrom, who spent the bulk of his NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens, passed away on February 7, in Windsor, Colorado, at the age of 83. He was born on September 18, 1937, in Kirkland Lake, Ontario.<div><br /></div><div>Backstrom, while still a junior, got his first taste of NHL action in 1956, with the Canadiens. On October 18, he was in the line-up when the Habs and Chicago Blackhawks skated to a 1-1 tie at the Forum in Montreal. He was called up to replace fellow centre, Henri Richard, who was sidelined with an injury. It was game one of what turned out to be five game-tryout over two seasons. The Gazette reported Backstrom "looks like a real prospect ... [and] appears to have hockey sense and made some nice plays, but he blew his scoring chances."<div><p style="text-align: left;">His second contest was on October 20, when the Canadiens blanked New York 5-0 on home ice. His best scoring opportunity came in the final frame, when he skated in alone on Rangers' goalie, Gump Worsley, but his shot was stopped by Worsley's goal pad.</p><p style="text-align: left;">On December 2, Backstrom took part in his first NHL road game, as Montreal dropped a 1-0 decision to Detroit at the Olympia. On this occasion, he was summoned to replace forward, Claude Provost. </p><p style="text-align: left;">In his final season of junior hockey, in 1957-58, he captained the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens to a Memorial Cup championship. Backstrom led all goal scores with 17 goals in 13 games.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Also, when the Canadiens were in need of help, they turned to their hot prospect, who was rounding out his amateur career.</p><p style="text-align: left;">When the Canadiens paid a visit to Maple Leaf Gardens on February 12, 1958, Backstrom made his return to the NHL, as Montreal's roster was depleted with forwards Bert Olmstead, Bernie Geoffrion, and Rocket Richard, unable to play. This time, Backstrom worked the wing, beside his big centre, Jean Beliveau. Montreal defeated Toronto 5-2, and Backstrom earned his first NHL point in the third period, when he assisted on Beliveau's second tally of the contest.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Above all else, Backstrom received praise from Canadiens coach, Toe Blake.</p><p style="text-align: left;">"I thought he handled himself very well," Blake told a reporter. "He was skating well, and seemed to work pretty good with Beliveau and [Floyd] Curry." </p><p style="text-align: left;">As for Backstrom, he beamed about being teamed with Beliveau, and the chance he missed to score his first NHL goal.</p><p style="text-align: left;">"What a player that Beliveau is," said Backstrom. "Did you see that pass he gave me that sent me into the clear? So what do I do? Shoot the puck over the net."</p><p style="text-align: left;">And Backstrom must have been overjoyed when Blake commented on his future.</p><p style="text-align: left;">"Ralph is the only player we've got who has the chance of making the club next season," stated Montreal's bench-boss. "He convinces me more every time I see him."</p><p style="text-align: left;">At Boston Garden, on March 13, Backstrom completed his five game try-out with Montreal. The Bruins defeated the Canadiens by a score of 7 to 3.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Blake proved he wasn't just whistling Dixie, as Backstrom was part of the Montreal Canadiens roster when they broke camp and opened the 1958-59 season.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Before embarking on his first full-season in the NHL, Backstrom played in his first of six (1958, 1959, 1960, 1962 1965, and 1967) All-Star Games. On October 4, 1958, the Canadiens defeated the All-Stars 6-3, and Backstrom skated on Montreal's fourth line between Don Marshall and Marcel Bonin. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Seven games into his rookie campaign, Backstrom scored his first two goals in the National Hockey League. They came in a tilt against the Chicago Black Hawks on October 23, 1958, at the Forum. Both goals were scored with Glenn Hall between the pipes. A newspaper account of his first goal noted that Backstrom "combined with Don Marshall and Marcel Bonin to fool Hall with a 50-foot snapshot." </p><p style="text-align: left;">In the mid-season voting for top rookie honours, Backstrom garnered 73 points to lead all freshmen. He continued his dominance in the second half and was named the winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy on May 1, 1959. He amassed 141 points, with Leafs' defenceman, Carl Brewer, placing second with 67 points. Backstrom's stats at the end of the regular season were impressive. In 64 contests, he scored 18 goals and 22 helpers for 40 points.</p><p style="text-align: left;">To cap off his splendid first term, Backstrom captured his first of six Stanley Cups. The Canadiens during this era were in the midst winning five straight Cups. Their run began in 1956 and ended in 1960. Backstrom, who played behind Jean Beliveau and Henri Richard in a checking role, added Cup wins in 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1969.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Following the 1969-1970 season, it was Backstrom's desire to hang up his skates after 12 years with the Canadiens. The aspect of playing time was a concern for the 33 year old veteran. But the Canadiens' brass persuaded him to attend training camp. Prior to the regular season, Backstrom changed his mind and left the club. Once again, the Canadiens went to work on Backstrom and coaxed him out of retirement. </p><p style="text-align: left;">In 16 games, he saw limited ice time, which only added to his frustration. He scored one goal and four assists in his swan song as a Montreal Canadien.</p><p style="text-align: left;">On January 26, 1971, Backstrom was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings. His response to the trade was positive and added credence to his wish to get his career back on track.</p><p style="text-align: left;">"I talked with Los Angeles ... and I'm told I'll get every opportunity to play regularly there," Backstrom said before departing.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The significant of this trade, and another one made in May 1970, wouldn't be realized until the 1970-71 season came to a conclusion. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Sam Pollock, the Canadiens' general manager, shipped Ernie Hicke to the Oakland Seals in exchange for Francois Lacombe on May 22, 1970. Part of the agreement included "players to be named later." Ultimately, this resulted in Montreal's first round draft choice in the 1970 Amateur Draft going to Oakland for the California Golden Seals first round pick in the 1971 Amateur Draft. The Oakland Seals became the California Golden Seals early in the 1970-71 season.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The stakes were huge for Pollock, as Guy Lafleur was draft eligible in the 1971. With Jean Beliveau's retirement, Pollock hoped to have the Quebec Ramparts' star replace the legendary Beliveau in his line-up. To accomplish this, Pollock needed the California Seals to sink and remain at the bottom of the NHL standing.</p><p style="text-align: left;">At the time of the Backstrom transaction, the Seals were part of a cluster of teams trying to avoid the crown of cellar-dwellers. One of those clubs was the Los Angeles Kings. They only had a five point lead over their rival on the west coast. To help widen the gap, Pollock hoped a Backstrom renewal in LA would aide the cause. Also, Pollock had to be concerned with Buffalo, Vancouver, and Detroit, sinking below the Seals.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As for Backstrom, he got his game back on track and helped his new club pull away from California in the standings. In 33 contests, he scored 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points. The Seals finished last with 45 points, while the Kings, climbed to fifth-place in the Wester Division with 63 points. The Detroit Red Wings held a 10 point advantage over the Seals.</p><p style="text-align: left;">After exhaling, Pollock got his man, thanks to the Seals futility, when he selected Lafleur in the Amateur Draft. </p><p style="text-align: left;">"Sammy Pollock needs the first draft choices for five years like I need a hole in the head," said NHL president, in reference to Montreal stockpiling draft picks.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Down the road, Backstrom discovered there was more to the arrangement than he realized. "I was traded to the Kings for Gord Labossiere, Ray Fortin and 'other considerations.' Later on, I discovered what the 'other considerations' were. The Montreal Forum got the closed circuit telecast of the first heavyweight fight between Joe Frasier and Muhammad Ali which Jack Kent Cooke (Kings' owner) was promoting."</p><p style="text-align: left;">Pollock, who discovered Backstrom when he played juvenile hockey in his hometown of Kirkland Lake, Ontario, described Backstrom in a 1986 interview, as "an outstanding player ... he was a great skater and a good scorer."</p><p style="text-align: left;">Ralph Backstrom remained with the Kings until February 26, 1973, when he was sent to Chicago for Dan Maloney. With Chicago, Backstrom made his last appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, when his new team faced his old team, the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs prevailed by winning the best-of-seven Final in six games.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In 1032 NHL games, he scored 278 goals and 361 assists for 639 points.</p><p style="text-align: left;">He jumped to the World Hockey Association in 1973-74, and signed with the Chicago Cougars.</p><p style="text-align: left;">One of the highlights of his stint with the Cougars came in the autumn of 1974, when he was selected to play for Team Canada in the Summit Series against the Soviets in an eight-game confrontation.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Although the Soviets won the competition against the WHA all-stars (4-1-3), Backstrom's performance didn't go unnoticed. "It was a good series for me. I was voted the most valuable player by the Canadian Press."</p><p style="text-align: left;">Also, his work ethic and play impressed Team Canada coach, Billy Harris. Commenting on future Canadian teams going to battle against the Soviets, Harris said the roster should include "20 players with the attitude of Ralph Backstrom."</p><p style="text-align: left;">Several months later, on December 27, Backstrom found himself in a unique situation. Due to mounting expenses, and faltering gate receipts, the Cougars faced the possibility of going under. To keep the franchise from drowning, Backstrom, along with his teammates, Pat Stapleton and Dave Dryden, purchased the team. A lawyer, Jeff Rosen, was the fourth member of the group. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Despite the attempts of the new consortium to turn things around, the Cougars folded after the end of play in 1974-75. Unable to secure a new building, ownership and the league decided it was time to cut their losses. Several of the Cougars, including Backstrom, became members of the new WHA expansion team in Denver Colorado.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As for his experience as an owner, Backstrom spoke of the impact it had on him. "I aged quite a bit during that time period," said Backstrom. "We had a lot of office responsibilities and it took away from our playing time. We just had too many worries."</p><p style="text-align: left;">It didn't get better for Backstrom in Denver with the Spurs. The club packed up and moved to Ottawa on January 2, 1976, and became the Ottawa Civics. Again, financial problems were the root of the troubles in the Rockies. On the ice, Backstrom led the team in scoring.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Hesitant to commit to moving to Ottawa, where he starred as a junior under Sam Pollock, Backstrom declared he was a free agent. After more thought, he relented and joined the Civics for a game against the New England Whalers on January 7, 1976.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Backstrom's stay in the capital city of Canada didn't last long. On January 15, 1976, he was traded to the Whalers for future considerations.</p><p style="text-align: left;">After one more season with New England in 1976-77, Backstrom called it a career. </p><p style="text-align: left;">In 304 WHA games, he scored 100 goals and 153 assists for 253 points.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Ready to start a new phase in his professional life, Backstrom remained in the game, and joined the University of Denver hockey program as an assistant coach in 1977. He worked under head coach Marshall Johnston, who spent seven seasons in the NHL.</p><p style="text-align: left;">After three terms at the University, Backstrom left the institution to return to the National Hockey League. During the 1980-81 season, he served under Bob Berry as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings amassed 99 points and finished in second-place in the Norris Division. However, their success in the regular season didn't result in a long playoff run. In the preliminary round, they were ousted by the New York Rangers.</p><p style="text-align: left;">When Marshall Johnston departed the University of Denver for the job of assistant coach and manager with the NHL Colorado Rockies, Backstrom left the Kings to return as head coach of the UD Pioneers. His appointment was announced on May 8, 1981. The Pioneers were part of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Besides his duties behind the bench, he recruited players for the school, and stressed the advantages of college hockey over junior. "College players have more time to learn the skills of the game," Backstrom told the Nanaimo Daily News in a 1982 interview. "Scouts tell me that players from college are better at the fundamentals of the game because they practice more."</p><p style="text-align: left;">Backstrom resigned from his position on March 6, 1990. His record was 182-174-14 over nine seasons as the head coach. </p><p style="text-align: left;"> The crowning moment in his collegiate career came in 1986, when he was awarded the Spencer Penrose Award as the National Division 1 Coach of the Year. He led his club to the WCHA championship, which entitled them to play in the NCAA Final Four. They didn't emerge from the tournament victorious, but it was their first appearance in 13 years.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As far as his future was concerned, Backstrom hoped to return to the coaching fraternity in the pro ranks. He made the jump to the International Hockey League, and for two seasons, beginning in 1990-91, guided the Phoenix Roadrunners.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Always up for a challenge, Backstrom held several posts after he left Phoenix.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In 1992, along with former WHA founder, Dennis Murphy, Backstrom helped create Roller Hockey International. The league consisted of 12 teams and Backstrom ran the organization as its commissioner. He remained with the league until 1999.</p><p style="text-align: left;">From 1999 to 2002, he was employed as a part-time scout with the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League. </p><p style="text-align: left;">His final gig in hockey came in 2002, when he co-founded the Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League. He held the position of president and general manager until he retired in 2007. He went out a winner by capturing his second President's Cup championship. His first came in 2005.</p><p style="text-align: left;">"Ralph Backtrom was the most honourable gentleman I've ever encountered in my professional life and he was single-handedly responsible for professional hockey in Northern Colorado," stated Martin Lind, the Eagles' owner, after Backstrom's death. "We all are forever indebted to this legacy of a gentleman and we pray his family has peace and comfort during this difficult time."</p></div></div>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-57646020429820358422021-02-05T11:01:00.000-05:002021-02-05T11:01:42.934-05:00THE CHIEF: 1930-2021<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">REMEMBERING GEORGE ARMSTRONG</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGuy6Q88K0c/YBy10c8F-KI/AAAAAAAAEpM/dfaYPuL_F8Q1ax54Vxk5ndfmPumCyrMjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1364/IMG-6580.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="1018" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGuy6Q88K0c/YBy10c8F-KI/AAAAAAAAEpM/dfaYPuL_F8Q1ax54Vxk5ndfmPumCyrMjgCLcBGAsYHQ/w299-h400/IMG-6580.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: left;">George Armstrong, who was the last Toronto Maple Leaf captain to hoist the Stanley Cup, passed away on January 24, 2021, at the age of 90.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">After his first year in the Ontario Hockey Association with the junior 'A' Stratford Kroehlers, there was little doubt George Armstrong had a future in the game. His performance in 1947-48, led him to being named the winner of the Red Tilson Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player. Armstrong's 74 points enabled him to win the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the top point-getter.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Impressed with Armstrong's skills when he played juvenile and junior hockey in Copper Cliff, Ontario, Sqiub Walker, the Leafs head scout, signed Armstrong to a 'C' form. This gave the Leafs control of Armstrong's future in the game. And for the '47-'48 schedule, they lent him to Stratford. </p><p style="text-align: left;">To prepare for the 1948 playoffs, the Leafs held a training camp in St Catharines, Ontario, and invited several of their top prospects to participate in the proceedings. George Armstrong was included in this group. Along with Tim Horton, Chuck Blair, and Mike Buchanan, Armstrong received praise for his work in the scrimmages.</p><p style="text-align: left;">He was invited to the Leafs' training camp in the autumn of 1948, and skated on a line with Larry Regan and Danny Lewicki. Armstrong was versatile as he could excel at both centre and wing. Following an exhibition contest in Waterloo, Ontario, against the Pittsburgh Hornets, the Leafs' farm team in the American Hockey League, Armstrong returned to the Kroehlers.</p><p style="text-align: left;">By this time, Conn Smythe wanted Armstrong in the OHA with the Toronto Marlboros. But Dave Pinkney, the Kroehlers boss, objected to Armstrong moving to the Marlboros and going face-to-face against his team. However, he had no problem with his star going the senior Marlboros.</p><p style="text-align: left;">"In all the years I've been in hockey, I've never seen a finer boy than Armstrong," stated Pinkney. "He's not only a valuable piece of hockey material but he's an exceptionally fine boy. Hope this doesn't hurt him. I hate to think of him missing even one minute of hockey."</p><p style="text-align: left;">With Armstrong's signature on a 'C' formed that was stored in a filing cabinet at Maple Leaf Gardens, Pinkney had no standing in the matter. He only had Armstrong in the line-up because Smythe gave his blessing. In the process, the Marlboros, in exchange to getting Armstrong back, signed a release to allow Jim Prenfuss and Doug French to play for Stratford.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As expected, Armstrong joined the junior 'A' Marlboros for most of the 1948-49 season. Also, he saw action in three games with the senior Marlboros. His first game with the senior club was on December 1, 1948, when Toronto was blanked 2-0 by Kitchener.</p><p style="text-align: left;">When the junior Marlboros were ousted from the OHA playoffs by the Barrie Flyers, Armstrong got the call to play for Joe Primeau's senior squad. The Marlboros were eliminated in the Eastern Canada final on April 25 by the Ottawa Senators.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The 1949-50 hockey campaign was special for George Armstrong.</p><p style="text-align: left;">At the end of same, Armstrong made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs, completed a spectacular season with the junior Marlboros, and became a Memorial Cup champion with the senior Marlboros.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Armstrong was summoned by the Maple Leafs to play his first NHL game on December 3, against the New York Rangers at Maple leaf Gardens. He was added to the roster to replace injured Leaf captain, Ted Kennedy. This tilt marked the return of Leaf goalie Turk Broda, who was sidelined by Conn Smythe for being overweight. The reviews of his work were positive, like this one in The Globe and Mail: "And it was a night for George Armstrong, Marlboro junior sensation making his NHL debut and looking good enough to stick in the big time as did his coach, Syl Apps many years ago."</p><p style="text-align: left;">He reflected on his encounter against the Rangers. "They take advantage of mistakes every time in the NHL. While in junior you can get away with three out of four."</p><p style="text-align: left;">Back with the junior Marlboros, Armstrong continued his assault against the opposition. The Oshawa Generals fell victim to Armstrong on December 13. In a 10-1 victory, he scored five goals.</p><p style="text-align: left;">On Christmas Eve, Armstrong was in the Leafs' line-up when they hosted the Boston Bruins. This time around, Toronto was on the losing end of an 8-4 score. Once again, he was teamed with Fleming MacKell and Sid Smith.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In the OHA junior playoffs, the Marlboros were ousted in five games by the Windsor Spitfires in the best-of-seven semi-final series.</p><p>It was a remarkable season for Armstrong, as he led all goal scorers with 64 in 45 contests. For the second time, Armstrong was voted the winner of the Red Tilson Memorial Trophy. The sports editor of the Guelph Mercury, Rex McLeod, paid tribute to Armstrong, as he named him on all three spots on his ballot.</p><p>Although his obligation to the junior Marlboros was satisfied, Armstrong's season wasn't over. On March 15, 1950, he was on the ice when the senior Marlboros played game five of the OHA final against Kitchener-Waterloo. The Marlboros went on to win the final and proceeded to win the Eastern Canada playoffs, which earned them the right to engage the Calgary Stampeders for the Memorial Cup.</p><p>Despite suffering from a nagging back problem, it didn't restrict Armstrong's ability to make a contribution to the Marlboros senior hockey championship. In 17 games, he connected for 19 goals and 19 assists for 38 points.</p><p>Smythe, who called Armstrong The Big Chief due to his indigenous background, was convinced his bright prospect was ready to make the leap to the pro game. Down the road, Armstrong became known simply as Chief.</p><p>On May 16, 1950, George Armstrong put pen to paper and became a professional hockey player. Terms of the deal called for Armstrong to receive $6,000 and the ability to draw $2,000 from that amount. The remaining $4,000 "to be invested for George Armstrong by Mr. Smythe."</p><p>In an assessment by a local writer, he wrote the following about Armstrong: "He has size and power, packs a terrific shot, can skate well, and is a brilliant stickhandler. Aggressive, and a strong defensive performer, he seems to possess a sixth hockey sense, much like Ted Kennedy, in that he is drawn to the spot where loose pucks depart from that category."</p><p>As the Leafs' training camp came to a close, Armstrong was sent to the Leafs' farm team in Pittsburgh on September 26, 1950. His first American Hockey League contest with the Hornets was on October 11, 1950. They lost 3-1 to the Cleveland Barons, with Johnny Bower in goal for Cleveland, and Tim Horton on defence for Pittsburgh. Both Bower and Horton would become teammates with Armstrong on the Maple Leafs.</p><p>Armstrong earned his first AHL point on October 14, when the Hornets tied Cincinnati 1-1 in Pittsburgh. He assisted on the opening goal by Chuck Blair. By January 16, 1951, Armstrong only trailed Rudy Migay for the Hornets scoring lead, as he accumulated 33 points in 40 games. This resulted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette calling him George (The Beast) Armstrong. He finished the regular season with 15 goals and 33 helpers.</p><p>Over the summer, Armstrong's next visit to Toronto wasn't as a hockey player.</p><p>To the surprise of everyone, he suited up for one game with the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team of the International League. It was at the insistence of a Toronto scout that he agreed to participate. On August 13, 1951, the Maple Leafs hosted their parent club, the St. Louis Browns of the American League. The exhibition contest was held at Maple Leaf Stadium. The starting pitcher for St. Louis was the legendary Satchel Page.</p><p>On the bench for the beginning of the game, Armstrong made his appearance in the seventh inning. His only at bat resulted in former New York Yankee, Fred Sanford, striking him out. On defence, one account noted "Big George played in right field ... and handled two chances nervously, both fly outs."</p><p>Later on, Armstrong, who played in the Nickel Belt League with the Garson Greyhounds, talked about the circumstances that led to him coming down to face the Browns. "It wasn't a tryout, I merely went to please him [the scout]. I made up my mind beforehand that I was going to stay in hockey."</p><p>In his sophomore year with Pittsburgh, Armstrong continued to improve his game. To the delight of his coach, former Toronto Maple Leaf icon, King Clancy, his big weapon up front made a difference on the ice. "He has everything to make a great hockey player," Clancy told Fred Landucci of The Pittsburgh Press. "He can do everything that a great player can do, but George could check a little harder. He is easy to handle and a real team player. It's great to have fellows like him on your club."</p><p>Away from the rink, Armstrong shared an apartment with future Leaf teammate, Bob Hassard, and future Leaf coach, Johnny McLellan. In an interview, Armstrong talked about the cooking arrangements. "I'm the steak man, while Hassard cooks most of the rest of the stuff," said Armstrong. "McLellan is our dishwasher."</p><p>George Armstrong's last game with the Pittsburgh Hornets was on February 6, 1952, in Syracuse, New York. They fell to the Warriors by a score of 4-2. Fittingly, Armstrong's last point was an assist on a goal by Bob Hassard, with Johnny McLellan also getting an assist. Upon his departure, it was clear the Hornets would miss Armstrong's production. In 50 games, he racked up 30 goals and 29 assists for 59 points.</p><p>Up against the February 15, 1952, transfer deadline, the Toronto Maple Leafs decided it was time for Armstrong to show what he could bring to the big-show. The transfer deadline applied to movement between leagues, and if the Leafs didn't move on Armstrong, he would be anchored in Pittsburgh for the balance of the season.</p><p>On February 9, 1952, George Armstrong played in his third of what turned out to be 1,187 regular season games with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This remains a record for a Leaf player.</p><p>In this game, played on a Saturday night at Maple Leaf Gardens, Armstrong scored his first National Hockey League goal. It was the first of his 296 regular season goals, all with the Leafs. Also, it was his first of 713 points - 296 goals/417 assists. The goal, which was the game-winner in a 3-2 victory over Montreal, was described as follows in a newspaper report:</p><p></p><blockquote>He [Armstrong] grabbed the puck from Bentley [Max] on a faceoff, shoved it through Bouchard's legs and ghosted around Big Butch to retrieve it. Then he skated in on goalkeeper Gerry McNeil and mesmerized that gallant little guy with an ice-hugging shot that zipped between his skates and the post.</blockquote><p>The defining moment in Armstrong's career with the Toronto Maple Leafs came when he was named captain on March 23, 1957. He was 26 years old. His play spoke for itself, but in his role as captain, Armstrong had an enormous impact on the well-being and success of the Leafs. For the most part, the public wasn't aware of his efforts behind-the-scenes as the leader of his team.</p><p>And on top of this, he captured four Stanley Cups (1962-63-64-67) and played in seven All-Star Games. He became an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.</p><p>Shortly after Armstrong's passing, I spoke with his former teammate, Bob Baun. He became a fixture on the Leafs' blueline during the 1956-57 season. </p><p>First, we discussed George Armstrong the hockey player. </p><p>Since Baun was a right defenceman, and Armstrong played right wing, they depended on each other during the course of a game.</p><p>"It allowed me to do all the things I wanted to do on the ice," said Baun. Having the strength of The Chief on the right side was very pertinent to my game. That was why I was able to do the bodychecking. The Chief was a leader by example. If you weren't sure of yourself and what your wingers were doing, you couldn't play defence the way I played it. Also, I could help out the forwards and that's how we played together," explained Baun of the chemistry on the club.</p><p>"The Chief was just so good at his game skills. There was very little weakness in his game. He may have been a faster skater, but he was good enough that he was always in position. He thought the game through."</p><p>Then, we discussed George Armstrong the captain.</p><p>"He wasn't a hard-seller, he was more like a Silent Sam. He was always there if you needed to talk to someone. In the dressing room, Bert Olmstead would be outspoken. The Chief would wait until everything cooled down, and then would talk to you individually."</p><p>On the difficult task of being captain under the bombastic and controlling Punch Imlach, Baun commented on how Armstrong's low key approach worked.</p><p>"Punch didn't have the personality to deal with the strong personalities on the team. The Chief with his personality, was the only one that could use the mellow-stick on that whole group of players."</p><p>In the 1967 Stanley Cup final, for the last time as captain, Armstrong raised the Cup when the Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens in game six. He cemented the win at the 19:13 mark of the third period when he deposited the puck into Montreal's vacant net. It was the last goal scored in the Original Six era.</p><p>After attending training camp in 1969, Armstrong had a brief retirement. The Leafs appointed Dave Keon as their new captain. Armstrong changed his mind and returned in November.</p><p>His final NHL goal was scored on March 3, 1971, when the Leafs and Vancouver Canuck met at the Gardens. Armstrong's goal was scored into the Canucks empty net. It was his 296 goal and it tied him with former teammate, Frank Mahovlich, for the most regular season goals by a Toronto Maple Leaf.</p><p>The official announcement of Armstrong's retirement was made on October 20, 1971. On this occasion, it was for good. Speculation was Harold Ballard influenced Armstrong, then 41years old, to hang up his skates.</p><p>Armstrong remained in the game working as a coach with the Toronto Marlboros and a short stint as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scouted for Quebec and Toronto.</p><p>There are enough George Armstrong stories to fill a book, and most would be about the legendary pranks he pulled on his teammates. </p><p>In his autobiography, <i>The China Wall</i>, Johnny Bower wrote of several Armstrong pranks that involved the Leafs' goalie.</p><p>During one practice, Bower was one of the last Leafs off the ice and when he got to his stall in the dressing room, he reached for his teeth and tried to place them in his mouth. Unfortunately, they weren't his teeth. At first, he suspected Eddie Shack, but Shack told him to talk to Armstrong. Upon realizing his roommate was the culprit, Bower asked him where he got the teeth. Armstrong relied. Well, you know, I've got a buddy who works in a funeral home, so guess who I got them from?"</p><p>Although the stories mostly come from others, at a reunion of the 1973 Toronto Marlboros in 2017, it was Armstrong telling the story. Here is the tale as told by The Chief.</p><p>"All of you guys knew the special ticket office at Maple Leaf Gardens. You'd go up the stairs and the ticket wicket was there. When I was a player, late in my career, we'd come down [to MLG] at 11:00 for a meeting on Saturday, then run up there to get our tickets for the game. There were two people ahead of me on the top of the stairs. So, I'm waiting for my turn. I hear the door close at the bottom of the stairs. I turn around and there's Bobby Baun coming up the stairs. He has a nice white raincoat on and he stands behind me. He doesn't say a word. So, [with Armstrong's back turned] I flicked him in the nuts. I'm waiting for a punch in the shoulder, but nothing happens. I turn around and there's a guy I never saw before. That's a true story!"</p><p>Also at the reunion, Armstrong spoke about the Marlboros and his first venture in the coaching ranks.</p><p>"I never coached before in my life and I was a bit nervous. We go into training camp and win seven games ... we go into the season and only lose seven games and win the Memorial Cup. The credit goes to all you guys, the player's. All I had to do is kind of hang around and look good. I had to get to know the player's and their skills and use them when they were needed on the ice."</p><p>As Armstrong wrapped up his address, his voice quivered as he said, "I will close by saying thanks for a great ride."</p><p>And the hockey world thanks George Armstrong for a great ride.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XEltbmKA9Q4/YB1qDG8XMlI/AAAAAAAAEpY/KKQhtuZtPqoycZV83K-LX4kunhGP3qBOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s672/IMG-6708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="670" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XEltbmKA9Q4/YB1qDG8XMlI/AAAAAAAAEpY/KKQhtuZtPqoycZV83K-LX4kunhGP3qBOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG-6708.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-3527443598356364512021-01-09T06:00:00.001-05:002021-01-09T06:00:02.119-05:00BLUE AND WHITE<p> Tonight, at the Scotiabank Arena, the Toronto Maple Leafs will hold their Blue and White intersquad game. Back on October 12, 1948, the Blues vs. Whites game took place at Maple Leaf Gardens.</p><p>Like previous years, the game occurred after camp broke, and was meant to give Leaf fans their first look at the team for the upcoming season.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gd2qi8M-VYA/X_jYKPFGYhI/AAAAAAAAEoo/yDu21XgeGoU0g8e2QrLTjBZnF_Zc62X2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s576/out-905%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="576" height="241" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gd2qi8M-VYA/X_jYKPFGYhI/AAAAAAAAEoo/yDu21XgeGoU0g8e2QrLTjBZnF_Zc62X2wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h241/out-905%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3cq2PAxkWw/X_jYQSfVxCI/AAAAAAAAEos/4ICRI7CPgX8-y2ZDqFq_zS-6jtYTpKd6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s986/out-906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="541" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3cq2PAxkWw/X_jYQSfVxCI/AAAAAAAAEos/4ICRI7CPgX8-y2ZDqFq_zS-6jtYTpKd6QCLcBGAsYHQ/w352-h640/out-906.jpg" width="352" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MY86gZYJ4HY/X_jYXSdFh4I/AAAAAAAAEow/KP8vI-Vc0LA8sgQEJYLMfsRpG61C5JLSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s280/out-907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="280" height="361" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MY86gZYJ4HY/X_jYXSdFh4I/AAAAAAAAEow/KP8vI-Vc0LA8sgQEJYLMfsRpG61C5JLSgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h361/out-907.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-61892880812361000132021-01-01T00:01:00.002-05:002021-01-01T07:02:51.970-05:00HAPPY NEW YEAR!<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON NEW YEAR'S?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hqHaxWSGiAY/X9oxBLsEobI/AAAAAAAAElE/zo969P1H-Z8F0o7ZFY9wPEp0zzvYtdSkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s764/clipping_65292394.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="496" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hqHaxWSGiAY/X9oxBLsEobI/AAAAAAAAElE/zo969P1H-Z8F0o7ZFY9wPEp0zzvYtdSkgCLcBGAsYHQ/w260-h400/clipping_65292394.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">BOSTON GARDEN - OTTAWA VS. BOSTON - JAN. 1, 1929 </div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kX2hY5djI3M/X9oxs3MYRKI/AAAAAAAAElM/_j27iHBbNaIye6rG0A8cLDRVjygwqum4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s760/clipping_65293181.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="638" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kX2hY5djI3M/X9oxs3MYRKI/AAAAAAAAElM/_j27iHBbNaIye6rG0A8cLDRVjygwqum4gCLcBGAsYHQ/w336-h400/clipping_65293181.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">CHICAGO STADIUM - NY AMERICANS VS CHICAGO - JAN. 1, 1932</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3YFXHg8b1rU/X9oyugtG-PI/AAAAAAAAElU/41tVXtIFWeIZq1ssr7MubIJe518kzSeOACLcBGAsYHQ/s811/clipping_65402875.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="811" height="288" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3YFXHg8b1rU/X9oyugtG-PI/AAAAAAAAElU/41tVXtIFWeIZq1ssr7MubIJe518kzSeOACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h288/clipping_65402875.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">MADISON SQUARE GARDEN - BOSTON VS NEW YORK - DEC. 31, 1937</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kkuGbOQtFGQ/X9ozna5mISI/AAAAAAAAElc/dJiCKHBizZcl3CjX_CD4gBfrunjEWIu-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s859/out-901%2B%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="467" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kkuGbOQtFGQ/X9ozna5mISI/AAAAAAAAElc/dJiCKHBizZcl3CjX_CD4gBfrunjEWIu-QCLcBGAsYHQ/w217-h400/out-901%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">MAPLE LEAF GARDENS - DETROIT VS TORONTO - JAN. 1, 1947</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yzO_iJg2iuk/X9o0Xtn3jzI/AAAAAAAAElo/Io__BS4YGZgqqKbSKwjYLijf9QS5Xw6SgCLcBGAsYHQ/s904/clipping_65275977.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="904" height="208" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yzO_iJg2iuk/X9o0Xtn3jzI/AAAAAAAAElo/Io__BS4YGZgqqKbSKwjYLijf9QS5Xw6SgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h208/clipping_65275977.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DETROIT OLYMPIA - MONTREAL VS DETROIT - DEC. 31, 1951</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sEb0ITzQStk/X9o1BErY4SI/AAAAAAAAElw/A1ztqBMBSdUgDes3m1d24eexpM23ObJtACLcBGAsYHQ/s775/clipping_65290245.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="384" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sEb0ITzQStk/X9o1BErY4SI/AAAAAAAAElw/A1ztqBMBSdUgDes3m1d24eexpM23ObJtACLcBGAsYHQ/w318-h640/clipping_65290245.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">MONTREAL FORUM - RED ARMY VS MONTREAL - DEC. 31, 1975</div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></blockquote>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-21542803320112824072020-12-28T06:00:00.146-05:002020-12-30T21:25:06.551-05:00A LOOK AT PHIL SAMIS <p style="text-align: center;"> <b>THE OLDEST LIVING FORMER MAPLE LEAF TURNS 93</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LI_bOFQofTs/X-NqcexctJI/AAAAAAAAEnE/JDPHQ-2LhXEzL3IBd3EdFuusBqWDZFPWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1365/IMG-6255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1328" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LI_bOFQofTs/X-NqcexctJI/AAAAAAAAEnE/JDPHQ-2LhXEzL3IBd3EdFuusBqWDZFPWgCLcBGAsYHQ/w389-h400/IMG-6255.jpg" width="389" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When Howie Meeker passed away in November of this year, Philip Lawrence Samis, born in Edmonton, Alberta, on December 28, 1927, became the oldest living former Toronto Maple Leaf.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Samis played bantam and juvenile hockey in his hometown prior to heading east to join the St. Michaels College School hockey program, which was sponsored by the Toronto Maple Leafs. A local scout advised Conn Smythe of the prospect he discovered playing defence in the Edmonton minor hockey system.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Toronto Telegram made note that Samis' arrival marked the second consecutive year an Edmontonian joined St. Mike's. The previous season, Johnny McCormack made the trip from Edmonton to Toronto.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At the young age of 16, a whole new experience opened up for Samis. He attended the Leafs' training camp in Owen Sound, Ontario, on October 10, 1944. There were no expectations he would earn a roster spot with the big-club, and as anticipated, Samis went to St. Mike's to further his studies and play hockey for the St. Mike's Buzzers.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Buzzers were part of the prep-group (Junior B) that played in the Ontario Hockey Association.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On March 7, 1945, the Buzzers captured the prep-group championship, when they ousted Del La Salle College. "Phil Samis ... starred on the Irish rearguard," noted one report.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After getting past Del La Salle, the Buzzers won series against the Niagara Falls Cataracts and Oshawa Bees.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Next up for the Buzzers, was the OHA Junior B final, and a best-of-five battle with the Stratford Kroehlers. The Buzzers were led by their top line of Red Kelly, Ed Sandford and Ed Harrison. The Buzzers swept the final when they defeated Stratford at Maple Leaf Gardens on April 10. During the competition, one newspaper observed, "Phil Samis, a grim character to encounter, rushed dangerously, and checked well on defence." </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The "grim character to encounter" quote was in reference to Samis' physical presence on the ice. In nine playoff games, he accumulated twenty-two penalty minutes, which was the most in this category. Samis' rugged stature enabled him to stand his ground and not back down from bigger and aggressive foe. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A subsequent article described him as being a "bulwark." (A solid wall-like structure raised for defence) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Father Flanagan, who coached the Buzzers, heaped praise on his player's. "They are a great bunch of kids. They gave everything in each game, fighting hard all the way."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Although the Buzzers had successfully completed their playoff run, Samis' run was to continue. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While the Buzzers were done, their Junior A counterpart, the St. Mike's Majors, still had another round of hockey to play. Under the tutelage of former Leaf icon, Joe Primeau, the Majors opened the Memorial Cup final against the Moose Jaw Canucks on April 14, in Toronto, at the Gardens. And Samis was with the team when they set out to win junior hockey's most prized trophy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was an opportunity for Samis to experience new aspects of the game. The most obvious, and perhaps, the most important, was being coached by Primeau. He may have not received an abundance of personal attention, but Samis was exposed to Primeau's dressing room lectures and instructions relayed behind the bench. Samis, who only played in two games, was in a win-win situation. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, his new teammates, showed tremendous potential and skills. Included in this group were future Leafs' Johnny McCormack, Gus Mortson, Jimmy Thomson and Les Costello.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On April 23, the Majors downed Moose Jaw by a score of 7-2, to capture the Memorial Cup in five games.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The following season, 1945-46, Samis became a member of the OHA Junior A Oshawa Generals. There was no definitive explanation given for the move, only the fact he was attending high school and playing hockey in Oshawa. Decades later, Samis told me it was a matter of being more comfortable with his surroundings in Oshawa. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Under head coach, Charlie Conacher, Joe Primeau's linemate on the famous Kid Line (along with Harvey Jackson), Samis, once again, benefited from playing for a former pro. In his new surroundings, Samis demonstrated he could make an impact on offence. In 27 contests, he scored 11 goals and 9 points for 20 points. He maintained his brute force and led the league with eighty-three penalty minutes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Samis closed out his junior career in 1946-47, with the Oshawa Generals.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Come the autumn of 1947, Samis attended the Toronto Maple Leafs' hockey school, which took place in St. Catharines, Ontario. Conn Smythe started the school - which was designed to allow the hierarchy to evaluate prospects in the organization - a year earlier, and the only player to graduate to the main camp was Howie Meeker. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the second term, Samis and Andy Barbe, were the only students to make the grade and an invite to the full training camp.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It didn't come as a surprise when Samis was relegated to the minors to begin his life as a professional hockey player. In this era, it was unusual for a rookie, especially a defenceman looking for work on a Stanley Cup winning team, to make the jump from junior to the NHL.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Leafs sent Samis to their farm team in Pittsburgh, where he was coached by former Leaf Bob Davidson. Samis' progress with the Hornets was charted by The Hockey News in an article published on February 18, 1948. "Throughout the season he has played a rough aggressive game and no one is too big for him."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In his first pro campaign, Samis participated in 68 games, and recorded 14-points on 4 goals and 10 assists.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once again, the statistic more indicative of his performance, was the 181 penalty minutes Samis amassed. This figure was tops in the American Hockey League.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When the Leafs opened the 1948 playoffs on March 24, 1948, Smythe and Hap Day (Leafs' coach), made certain Samis was on Toronto's playoff eligible list. An extra-body, in particular on the blueline, was an asset should injuries occur to the regular defenceman.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Samis saw action in games two and four of Toronto's semi-final series against the Boston Bruins. Then, when rearguard, Gus Mortson, broke his leg in game one of the Stanley Cup final, it wasn't a shock that Smythe and company turned to Samis to fill the void.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The comparisons between Mortson and Samis were expressed by Toronto Daily Star hockey writer Red Burnett. "Like Mortson, he is a quiet, unassuming chappie off the ice. Put a pair of skates on him and he becomes a belligerent warrior who neither asks nor gives a quarter." </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Burnett provided insight on life away from the rink for the 20 year old bachelor. "Samis spends his leisure moments reading a good book or listening to a fine collection of records."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In game two of the final, against Detroit, Samis obtained his only National Hockey League point, when he assisted on a first period goal by Max Bentley. The Leafs didn't lose a game in the final and Phil Samis became a Stanley Cup champion when Toronto defeated Detroit 7-2 at the Olympia on April 14.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If Samis had any hope his playoff performance translated into becoming a fixture on the Leafs, he would be sadly disappointed. In 1948-49, his hockey home remained in Pittsburgh. In his second season with the Hornets, Samis continued to employ a rough and tumble approach. But a telephone call for him to come to Toronto for the playoffs never materialized.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At this stage of his hockey life, Samis showed he could be just as tough to deal with off the ice.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In one of our many conversations, Samis told me how he confronted Conn Smythe over a clause in his 1949-50 contract. The issue at hand was a line that he forfeit any compensation when it came to television rights. The owners were fully aware the selling of games to local stations and national networks eventually would become a cash bonanza. Samis recognized this fact and refused to sign his contract.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After several sessions at training camp, Smythe summoned Samis to attend a meeting. He was fully aware why Smythe wanted to talk, and he prepared to dig-in-his-heels when it came to a confrontation.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And that's exactly what Samis did. He stood his ground and requested the Leafs add $500 to his salary in exchange for him putting pen-to-paper. Smythe countered that the explanation for the increase not be related to the TV rights, but for Samis to further his education. Samis shot this down, concerned that if he was dealt away, his new employer wouldn't honour the bump in his wages. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The matter came to a head after an arbitration hearing with NHL President Clarence Campbell resulted in Samis being suspended. Campbell's involvement was a major concern for Samis. He knew the league's head-honcho was likely to side with the one that signed his pay check. Also, there were the ramifications of butting-heads with his boss. No one, especially his player's, crossed Smythe and didn't suffer the consequences.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He left the club, but later returned when Smythe agreed to trade him if he didn't make the Leafs.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Samis started the year in Pittsburgh, and his chance to prove he belonged in the NHL, came on November 20, 1948. The night before, Bill Barilko was injured in a game against the Detroit Red Wings at the Gardens, and the Leafs called up Samis for the away contest in Detroit. "Although he did not play as well as hoped against Detroit, Samis was by no means the worst Toronto defenceman," not quite a ringing endorsement from a witness to the game.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Phil Samis made his final appearance in a Leaf uniform on November 23, at Boston Garden.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Following the tilt in Boston, Samis was returned to the Pittsburgh Hornets, where he finished the season.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On April 6, 1950, Samis was shipped to Cleveland of the American Hockey League as part of a transaction to finalize a trade that sent goalie Al Rollins to Toronto on November 29, 1949.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What burned Samis about this development was the fact Smythe didn't live up to their original agreement. It was his understanding that Smythe accepted to send him to another NHL team, not to an AHL team. On top of this, Samis never received one-penny of the $500.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The highlight of Samis' two seasons with the Cleveland Barons came on April 22, 1951. In game seven of the Calder Cup final, he scored the opening goal early in the first period. On the play, Samis found open ice up the middle and took a long pass, his shot beat Pittsburgh goalie Gil Mayer. With Cleveland netminder Johnny Bower keeping the Hornets at-bay, Samis and his teammates won the deciding game 3-1, and were crowned AHL champs.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He made an important adjustment to his game with the Barons. While he continued his robust manner, Samis, under coach Bun Cook, played a smarter game when it came to penalties. "I'm doing it according to the rule book these days and you know referees are pretty good guys when you live by the rules." </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Beyond hockey, Samis looked to the time when his gear was packed away for good. In Pittsburgh, he continued his education by taking summer courses at Duquesne University; in Cleveland, Samis enrolled as a pre-dental student at Western Reserve University. Upon his return to Canada, he settled in Montreal, and successfully graduated with a degree in dentistry from McGill University.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He established a thriving practice in Montreal and along the way became an inventor. He created "Dentify," a small database chip that could be placed into a tooth. Although it was overshadowed by advances in DNA research, the invention was used in pets.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">His farewell became official on September 23, 1952, when the Cleveland Barons announced that Samis was leaving the club to pursue his schooling and play hockey in Montreal.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On week later, Samis signed with the Montreal Royals of the Quebec Senior Hockey League. Dickie Moore's brother, Jimmy, signed with the Royals on the same day as Samis. Dickie Moore became a regular member with the Montreal Canadiens in 1954-55 and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Samis' dedication to becoming a dentist, overtook any ambition he had to returning to the National Hockey League. When he left Cleveland, Jim Hendy, the Barons' general manager, revealed that Samis was highly regarded by the Boston Bruins, and there was no doubt, if Samis desired, he could've become a permanent member of the Bruins' defensive core.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Of interest, Samis dressed for one game with the Montreal Canadiens on October 11, 1952, at the Forum in Montreal. Hendy stated this was necessary due to waiver rules. The Habs defeated the Detroit Red Wings 2-1, as Billy Reay secured Montreal's victory with a third period goal.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, on December 20, 1952, Samis returned to Cleveland to play one game with the Barons against his former team, the Pittsburgh Hornets. His services were required due to the Barons missing two injured defenders.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After one season with the Royals in '52-'53 - 56 GP, 4 G, 11 A, 15 PTS - they informed the press in September 1953, that due to his heavy workload at McGill, Samis couldn't participate in the full schedule of games. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">*EDITED DEC. 30, 2020. 9:24PM </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D0Wo_VE7CzU/X-i9t3eRkwI/AAAAAAAAEnU/4TZybVN9tkkVul5mAq9z7Wcn5AzB7tsTACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/P1020836%2Bcopy%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D0Wo_VE7CzU/X-i9t3eRkwI/AAAAAAAAEnU/4TZybVN9tkkVul5mAq9z7Wcn5AzB7tsTACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/P1020836%2Bcopy%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SAMIS WITH HIS ST. MIKE'S BUZZERS TEAMMATE RED KELLY<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eIWV7cTqjCI/X-i-KPClsxI/AAAAAAAAEng/7S14FqmiWc8ecwiDLI51xBN8I8u0kgyHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s448/IMG-6547.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="448" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eIWV7cTqjCI/X-i-KPClsxI/AAAAAAAAEng/7S14FqmiWc8ecwiDLI51xBN8I8u0kgyHwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG-6547.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SAMIS WITH HIS ST. MIKE'S MAJORS TEAMMATE JOHN McCORMACK</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9SzrNd9EAWs/X-k0NVut2XI/AAAAAAAAEoY/0VaPl048sp0-sSkdsGXkQAADAcc59CMDACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/P1020191%2Bcopy%2B3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9SzrNd9EAWs/X-k0NVut2XI/AAAAAAAAEoY/0VaPl048sp0-sSkdsGXkQAADAcc59CMDACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/P1020191%2Bcopy%2B3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SAMIS WITH CLEVELAND TEAMMATE JOHNNY BOWER (SEATED)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eyowqnG_DGI/X-i-4Btj3nI/AAAAAAAAEns/CSHjNriOmv8r7GYRrWEABZvkOuCKXrtFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_3627%2B3%2Bcopy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eyowqnG_DGI/X-i-4Btj3nI/AAAAAAAAEns/CSHjNriOmv8r7GYRrWEABZvkOuCKXrtFgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3627%2B3%2Bcopy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SAMIS WAS FRANK MAHOVLICH'S DENTIST IN MONTREAL</td></tr></tbody></table><br />J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-65938047514769694612020-12-25T00:05:00.004-05:002020-12-25T00:05:00.660-05:00MERRY CHRISTMAS!<div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WhkaDbDvc7A/X9Y6WoeeFII/AAAAAAAAEk0/NykGsL51FGMAJ-f8DJKIBV8k9z1Foz5hACLcBGAsYHQ/s746/clipping_65202303.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="746" height="388" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WhkaDbDvc7A/X9Y6WoeeFII/AAAAAAAAEk0/NykGsL51FGMAJ-f8DJKIBV8k9z1Foz5hACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h388/clipping_65202303.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>THE BARTESVILLE DAILY - OKLAHOMA - DEC. 24, 1920</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>1920: THE FIRST NHL GAME PLAYED ON CHRISTMAS</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">During the first three years of play in the National Hockey League, which was formed in time for the 1917-18 season, a game wasn't scheduled on Christmas Day/Night until December 25, 1920.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In a far different NHL than we know now, the league was composed of only four teams - Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton and Montreal - and the 1920-21 regular season didn't start until December 22.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><div><br /></div></div></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">On that date, all four clubs took to the ice with the Ottawa Senators hosting the Toronto St. Patricks, and the Montreal Canadiens on the road to face the Hamilton Tigers.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In Ottawa, the defending Stanley Cup champion Senators, hoped home ice would give them an edge over the visitors. But it would be the St. Patricks that got the early jump. An article in the Ottawa Citizen noted of Toronto's first tally: Harry Cameron broke away on one of his spectacular end to end rushes, completely fooling the Ottawa defence and slipping the puck into the nets [sic] behind Benedict.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In Hamilton, the newly minted Tigers, blanked the Montreal Canadiens with a 5-0. While Hamilton goalie, Howard Lockhart earned the shutout, it was Georges Vezina who garnered the praise for Montreal between the pipes. As The Gazette reported, "Vezina proved a saving grace, and saved his team from an ignominious defeat." </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The star for Hamilton was Joe Matte. He set up two-first period goals by Babe Dye, and scored Hamilton's fourth tally. The Gazette noted he "was the best player on the ice."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Next on the agenda for Montreal and Toronto was the Christmas Night game at Arena Gardens on Mutual Street in downtown Toronto.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k401kqcNuHI/X9OowK6yVLI/AAAAAAAAEkc/bQdhXKqPERc8EmIl3uWcA7KZOnnEIiPZACLcBGAsYHQ/s301/out-891%2B%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="301" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k401kqcNuHI/X9OowK6yVLI/AAAAAAAAEkc/bQdhXKqPERc8EmIl3uWcA7KZOnnEIiPZACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h214/out-891%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To cut down on their travel, the Canadiens remained in Hamilton, Ontario, after the loss to the Tigers. They used the time to practice prior to heading to Toronto.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Christmas Eve, the St. Pats recalled forward Babe Dye from the Hamilton Tigers. As noted above, Dye scored two goals for Hamilton in their NHL debut. Toronto had lent Dye to Hamilton on December 4, 1920. At the end of the year, Dye led all goal scorers with 35 goals in 24 games.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">During Christmas of 1920, Torontonians celebrated the holiday in the usual manner. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Christmas morning was spent unwrapping gifts. A new Victorola for the entire family was "priced from $40 to $720.00 - sold on easy payments if desired." Trousers for dad went for $4.95. A satin frock for mom was reduced to $22.50. For the young hockey player in the family, C. C. M. offered blades made of "Special Automobile Steels," that added strength and reduced rusting.The department store, T. Eaton Co. Limited, sold a variety of dolls "from squawking and walking dolls."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A bounty of goodies were enjoyed at the Christmas feast. Smoked ham cost .44 cents per pound. Christmas plum pudding ranged from .45 cents to .70 cents per pound. For those with a sweet-tooth, "Fancy baskets, nicely packed with the very best grade of chocolates," could bought at Diana Sweets Shops.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After opening their presents and enjoying a big Christmas dinner, a crowd of about 4,000 hockey fans were ready to watch some hockey. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For the locals, they couldn't have been thrilled with the start of their heroes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Early in the second period, the St. Pats trailed the Canadiens 3-1, but Toronto wasn't about to disappoint their faithful in this holiday tilt.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As detailed in a newspaper account, "The St. Pats, led by Wilson ("Cully") and Randall (Ken), were not dismayed, and for the balance of the session they played rings around the fast fading Frenchmen, and scored three goals in succession."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Toronto and Montreal exchanged goals in the final frame, with Babe Dye scoring the game-winning goal against Georges Vezina. His goal gave Toronto a 5-3 lead. Bert Corbeau pulled the Canadiens one goal closer, but the equalizer was out of their reach, and St. Pats won by a score of 5-4. "The visitors made a determined effort to pull the game from the fire in the last ten minutes, but their condition (physical) was against them, and they wilted."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thus, the grand tradition of watching/listening to NHL games on Christmas was born.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831503896753787025.post-39241992105766199192020-12-22T05:00:00.002-05:002020-12-23T15:32:18.001-05:00'TIS THE SEASON: 1947<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QCNYjzvl19k/X-EIGS-KOyI/AAAAAAAAEm0/13YTs_dn6_k29moCfmOI-GfpPzWw9OmHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s835/clipping_65670055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="835" height="344" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QCNYjzvl19k/X-EIGS-KOyI/AAAAAAAAEm0/13YTs_dn6_k29moCfmOI-GfpPzWw9OmHwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h344/clipping_65670055.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gJscnugwVbs/X-EIRmk6WsI/AAAAAAAAEm4/_ua5lQiP-f8G80Wjs7RVxQfRi0yZoQtBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s250/97542316_134827450154.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gJscnugwVbs/X-EIRmk6WsI/AAAAAAAAEm4/_ua5lQiP-f8G80Wjs7RVxQfRi0yZoQtBwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/97542316_134827450154.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>J. Amodeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174621736900769803noreply@blogger.com0