LET THE NEW YEAR'S BALLOONS DROP!

When the St. Louis Blues made their first regular season trip to Maple Leaf Gardens on December 30, 1967, the Toronto Maple Leafs held the title of Stanley Cup champions.

And as expected, the expansion team had a difficult time defending against the Leafs.

The Leafs wasted little time taking control of the game. Mike Walton opened the floodgates when he scored at the 1:36 mark, and added second goal at 2:21. Toronto's scoring onslaught continued in the second period when George Armstrong scored in the opening minute. His marker was followed by two tallies from Frank Mahovlich. Holding a hot stick, the "Big M" completed the hat trick early in the final frame. At the 15:22 mark, Ron Ellis gave the Leafs an 8-0 lead. Johnny Bower's bid for a shutout was spoiled when Red Berenson scored for the Blues.

After the game, balloons fell from the rafters at the Gardens to celebrate the victory and ring in the New Year of 1968. But the balloons burst on the Leafs when they fell 4-0 in a New Year's Eve contest at Madison Square Garden. After producing 8 goals against Seth Martin and Don Caley in the St. Louis Blues' net, they were unable to get a puck past Eddie Giacomin in the Rangers' goal.

Now in 2019-20, the St. Louis Blues are the present Cup holders. As for the Leafs, of the current NHL teams they hold the record for going the longest period (52 hockey seasons) without winning the Cup. How times have changed.

TERRY SAWCHUK

Yesterday, legendary goalie, Terry Sawchuk, would've turned 90 years of age. He passed away in 1970.

The late Bob Goldham had nothing but good things to say about his former teammate on the Detroit Red Wings. Goldham, talking about the goalies he played with, said of Sawchuk, "He was the ultimate of them all." Goldham further stated, "He should be the yardstick for all goaltenders to be measured by, a great competitor and a great talent. He was the best."

Sawchuk played in 7 games with the Wings in 1949-50. His first full season between the pipes in the Motor City came the following year. Bob Goldham came via a trade with Chicago on July 13, 1950.

Together, Sawchuk and Goldham, worked as a goaltending tandem on the ice. During his career, Goldham was known as hockey's "second goalie." As Sawchuk said of his defenceman, "Goldham is a real master of dropping to his knees to take those long shots head on." Also, Sawchuk praised Goldham for his ability to sprawl on the ice to take away dangerous passes.

In the picture below, Goldham, wearing sweater number 2, is seen taking away a scoring chance by the Montreal Canadiens. Sawchuk looks on as Goldham works his magic.

Sawchuk, a 4-time Stanley Cup champion, did it all during his NHL career and was recognized for his brilliant work; First Team All-Star (3); Second Team All-Star (4); Calder Trophy (Top rookie 1951); Vezina Trophy (4, one shared with Johnny Bower); Lester Patrick Trophy (Service to hockey in the U.S.)

His greatest performance came in the 1952 Stanley Cup final. In Detroit's sweep, Sawchuk won all eight games and recorded 4 shutouts. His average was 0.63. His distinctive crouch enabled him to keep low to the ice, but still in position to handle high shots.

The final interview with Terry Sawchuk was conducted by Shirley Fischler. It appeared in the May 23, 1970, edition of the Toronto Daily Star.

Confined to a Long Island hospital, Sawchuk was recovering from "two rounds of surgery, one for removal of his gall bladder," wrote Fischler. His injuries were allegedly suffered in an off-season dust-up with a New York Ranger teammate.

During their conversation, Sawchuk told Fischler, "I'm retired, man. Look at me. I can never come back from this. It would take more than a year to get into any kind of shape." Fischler described Sawchuk's appearance like this, "His face pale and sunken, so much so that the map of scars had almost disappeared and, amazingly, he looked younger ..."

In foreboding statement, Sawchuk told Fischler, "I really didn't think I was going to make it for a while. And it was so bad that I didn't really care. They still don't know if I'll be okay. I'm full of tubes and my back bothers me."

The greatest goalie of all-time passed away on May 31, 1970.

HARRY HOWELL

When the 2019 edition of the Hockey Heroes calendar was published, featuring the Hockey Hall of Fame photo collection, they saved the best for last. Featured for the month of December is this glorious black & white photo of New York Rangers defenceman Harry Howell.

The caption under the photo reads: "Harry Howell, an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame since 1979, pins Montreal's Andre Pronovost against the boards while Ranger teammate Jean-Guy Gendron looks on. Howell was the Norris Trophy winner in 1967, one year before Bobby Orr's unprecedented eight consecutive seasons as the recipient of the NHL's best defenceman award."

Today, would've been Harry's 87th birthday, he passed away earlier this year.

THE HOCKEY WORLD CELEBRATES THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 FROM HOCKEY THEN & NOW!

BRONCO HORVATH: 1930-2019

A veteran of the Original Six battles, Bronco Horvath passed away last week.

Horvath, a left-shooting center, made his NHL debut with the New York Rangers on October 7, 1955. On that night, the Rangers went up against the Chicago Black Hawks at Chicago Stadium. In a 7-4 victory over the Hawks, Horvath scored his first NHL goal when he beat netminder Jerry Rollins.

He made his first appearance at Madison Square Garden on October 19. Horvath scored his first goal on home ice in front of 11,658 thrilled fans. He got the puck past Harry Lumley for the Rangers fifth tally in a 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Horvath's most successful times in the National Hockey League were with the Boston Bruins. He was claimed by Boston in the 1957 Intra-League Draft.

In Boston, Horvath was reunited with his former teammates - Vic Stasiuk and Johnny Bucky - on the 1954-55 Edmonton Flyers of the Western Hockey League. The Flyers were a farm team of the Detroit Red Wings. As members of the Bruins, this trio became known as "Uke Line" due to their Ukrainian heritage. And it took little time for them to reconnect.

In an early season contest in 1957, Horvath, Bucky, and Stasiuk scored four of Boston's five goals in a 5-1 crushing of the Red Wings. Three of the goals were scored in 41-seconds.

Horvath's most productive NHL season was in 1959-60. He tied Chicago's Bobby Hull for most goals with 39. His 80 points left him one behind Hull for the scoring title. Hull finished the year with 80 points.

Hockey writer, Scott Young, described what the individuals on Boston's top line brought to the table: "... Bronco Horvath, who scored 39 goals last season; the cannonballing Vic Stasiuk, who skates through many a man he can't go around; and perpetual motion Johnny Bucky."

On January 23, 1963, Horvath was claimed on waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs from the New York Rangers. He was on his second go-around with the Rangers. The move to Toronto resulted in Horvath seeing action with five of the Original Six clubs. The only team he didn't dress for was the Detroit Red Wings. However, he was property of the Red Wings, and as previously noted, played with their minor league team in Edmonton (1954-55).

His time in Toronto was limited to ten games. He skated on a line with Bob Pulford and Eddie Shack. Horvath was assigned to the AHL Rochester Americans.

While with the Americans, Horvath was loaned to the Minnesota North Stars on January 23, 1968. This turned out to be his final stop in the National Hockey League. He was acquired by the Stars to replace the late Bill Masterson. Earlier in the month, Masterson died as a result of an injury suffered in a game.

The stats on Horvath reveal that he participated in 434 regular season NHL games. He scored 141 times and recorded 326 points. In the playoffs, he scored 12 goals and 9 assists in 36 contests.

In the American Hockey League, Horvath is considered to be a superstar. In 2015, he was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame. Below is a summary of his career posted on the AHL website:

Bronco Horvath was a gifted offensive player over his 20-year professional career, starring in both the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League.
A native of Port Colborne, Ont., Horvath recorded 38 points in 43 games as a rookie with the AHL’s Springfield Indians in 1950-51, then bettered his offensive output in each of the next three years while skating with the Syracuse Warriors. He was later voted a First Team AHL All-Star at center in 1956-57 after leading the Rochester Americans with 81 points in just 56 contests.
Horvath spent most of the next six seasons in the NHL, where he was an All-Star in 1960 and 1961, but would return to Rochester to anchor one of the AHL’s most impressive dynasties. With Horvath totaling 303 points in 258 games from 1964-68, the Amerks reached an unprecedented and unmatched four consecutive Calder Cup Finals and won three championships. Horvath earned Second Team AHL All-Star nods in 1964 and 1965.
Horvath continued to produce until his retirement in 1970, and finished his AHL career with 263 goals and 484 assists for 747 points in 666 regular-season games. He recorded 542 of those points in a Rochester Americans uniform, ranking third all-time in franchise scoring.

 On their Twitter account, the Boston Bruins Alumni wrote, "We are sad to report the passing of Bronco Horvath, perhaps best remembered for playing on the Bruins' famous "Uke Line" with fellow Ukrainian-Canadians Johnny Bucky and Vic Stasiuk. A 2-time All Star, Horvath tied Bobby Hull for the 1959-60 goal-scoring lead, with 29."

A native of Port Colborne, Ontario, Joseph "Bronco" Horvath was born on March 12, 1930. He passed away on December 17, 2019, in Massachusetts.

CHRISTMAS STORIES FROM THE VAULT

With Christmas Day quickly approaching, here are links to hockey stories from the Hockey Then & Now archive that are relevant to the season.

Christmas Break

Games On Christmas Day

Leafs' Practice Sponsored By Dominion Stores

The Gift

The Wish List

How The Leafs Celebrated Christmas

Christmas 1960

Young Canada Night

AUSTON MATTHEWS JOINS ELITE COMPANY

Last night, Toronto Maple Leaf forward Auston Matthews equalled a mark held by former Leaf legend, Dave Keon. Matthews' second period tally against the Buffalo Sabres gave him 20 goals on the season. By reaching this total, he became only the second Leaf to hit the 20 goal mark in each of his first four seasons in the NHL.

In comparison to Matthews, Keon reached the 20 goal mark in his fourth season on March 14, 1964. And he did it in spectacular fashion. In the opening period against the New York Rangers at Maple Leaf Gardens, Keon scored his 19th and 20th goals. He added 3 assists for a 5-point night. The Leafs defeated the Rangers 7-3.

As result of a blockbuster deal with the Rangers on February 22, 1964, Keon found himself playing with two Rangers that came over in the trade - Andy Bathgate and Don McKenney. Keon was previously teamed with Dick Duff and George Armstrong. The Rangers obtained Duff and Bob Nevin in the transaction.

"There wasn't a goal against the line," Keon told reporters following the game. "And that's our best showing so far. We were on for five Toronto goals." He then talked about playing with his new linemates. "McKenney likes to skate but Bathgate has been accustomed to that Ranger stop and go system where the man with the puck waits for the other guys to penetrate, then drops it through. But, as I say, if you handle your own zone, the rest is easy."

Known as a complete hockey player, Keon explained that there was more to the game than just producing goals and points. "Goals alone couldn't be enough to satisfy you. I mean that's no proof you're playing well. The idea is to do a two-way job and the points are bound to come."

Keon continued the 20 goal streak which lasted for 6 consecutive seasons - 1960-61 to 1965-66. In his fourth year, he finished with 23 goals.

"It's a big honour to be named in the same breath as that guy {Keon}, his career and what he did here. You know, it's pretty unbelievable," Matthews said after the Leafs 5-3 victory over the Buffalo.

DIRECT FROM THE NORTH POLE

A thumbs-up from Santa during the busy holiday shopping season means a lot.

My book - Bob Goldham Outside the Goal Crease - is available at the following links to Amazon...

amazon dot com

amazon dot ca

Thank-you for your support!

DECK THE HALLS WITH CHRISTMAS CHEER!

After being postponed due to a wintry blast the week before, the annual Original Six Alumni Christmas Lunch was held yesterday in Toronto. With snow still on the ground, the regulars and guests gathered to celebrate the holiday season. A special mention goes out to Al and Lorraine Shaw for their work year round in organizing the lunches. They are the heart and soul of these events, and they became Santa and Mrs. Claus, dealing with the cancellation, then working to get the Christmas lunch back on track.

L to R: Al Shaw, Lorraine Shaw, Susan Foster and Gary Milroy.

L to R: Frank Mahovlich, Bob Baun, Suzanne Primeau, Cheryl Howell, John Bower III, Pete Conacher, and Mike Amodeo 

L to R: Sallie Baun, Gary Collins, Bob Baun, and Betty Collins.

L to R: Jack Dominico and Art Hindle.

L to R: Scott Morrison and Pete Conacher.

The entertainment was provided by the "Singing Priest," Mark Curtis.

L to R: Ron Hurst and Gary Milroy.

L to R: Frank Mahovlich and Sandy Air.

PHOTO CREDIT: Thanks to the very talented Lora Evans for the use of these pictures.

AN ACE OF A NUMBER

There is one honour that belongs to former Toronto Maple Leaf, Ron Ellis, that no other Leaf can claim hold to. On September 24, 1968, Ellis experienced a remarkable moment when another former Leaf, Irvine "Ace" Bailey, requested that Ellis wear his retired number 6. In the history of the Leafs, there are only two retired numbers, Bailey's 6, and Bill Barilko's number 5.

Both numbers were retired under tragic circumstances. Bailey's number was put out of service after he suffered a career ending injury in a game against the Boston Bruins on December 12, 1933. A check by Bruins' defenceman, Eddie Shore, knocked Bailey out cold and caused an injury to his brain. Bill Barilko, who scored the Cup-winning goal for the Leafs in 1951, lost his life after a plane accident in northern Ontario.

The honour bestowed upon Ellis by Bailey, back in '68, was big news, and newspaper readers were informed of the details the following morning.

"My family and I wanted to see somebody wear the number while I was still active in hockey," Bailey told reporters gathered in the Hot Stove Lounge in Maple Leaf Gardens. At the time, Bailey worked Leaf games as a timekeeper. "Ron is a real hockey player who never gives his club any trouble."

Bailey's former teammate, King Clancy, said of Ellis, "He's one of the greatest kids I've ever been with."

The biggest praise for Ellis came from Leafs' coach and GM, Punch Imlach.

"I wouldn't trade him today for another right-winger in hockey, said the boss. "And that goes for Gordie Howe and Rod Gilbert. There wasn't another right-winger in the NHL last season who scored 28 goals and did not play on the power play. Howe, Gilbert, all of them were on the power play."

Also, Bailey pointed out there was a benefit for Ellis switching from number 8 to 6. "This is two digits lighter than your number, so you should go a little faster."

Ron Ellis, noted for his speedy play up and down the right side, wore number 6 until he retired in 1981. He played his entire NHL career wearing the blue & white of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

GALLERY

AN HONOUR FOR THE LATE JIM GREGORY

It took the National Hockey League little time to honour their former vice-president of hockey operations, Jim Gregory. The former general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs passed away on October 30. On Tuesday, the League announced that the General Manager of the Year Award (first awarded in the 2009-10) was being renamed after Gregory. It will now be known as the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. The change was unanimously approved by the NHL GM's.

In a statement released by the NHL, Commissioner Gary Bettman stated, "This is a terrific tribute to a wonderful man by a group uniquely qualified to appreciate his many contributions to our game. During his tenure as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jim Gregory transformed the art of team-building. Through the many years he spent at the League, our general managers regularly sought his council. They universally revere his lifetime of service to the NHL.

HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES!!!

On this date in 1902, broadcasting pioneer, Foster Hewitt, was born in Toronto, Ontario. He is the father of hockey play-by-play, and is noted for his signature call of "He shoots, he scorers!"

At the start of his career, calling Leaf games on the radio, Hewitt was perched in the rafters at Arena Gardens on Mutual Street. But that all changed when the Leafs moved to Maple Leaf Gardens, which was located at 60 Carlton Street.

During the summer of 1931,  Hewitt and Allan Thomson, who owned the construction company that was hired to build the Gardens, travelled to the Eaton's department store on Albert Street to do some research. The two men stopped at each floor and immediately went to the windows to observe the crowd below. They were determined to discover the best vantage point for Hewitt to broadcast the games from the Gardens.

Scott Young, in his book on Hewitt, described the results of their exploration.

By the end of the afternoon the decision had been made. From the fifth floor, Foster could pick out a woman with tight shoes and a man with some distinguishing mark, such as pencils in his in pocket or an unbuttoned jacket, could lose them in the crowd and pick them out again without difficulty. The fifth floor of the building was fifty-six feet above the street. Foster decided that his broadcast booth would be fifty-six feet above the ice surface.

Hewitt's new home at Maple Leaf Gardens would be known as the Gondola.

Recently, I had the pleasure of having an exclusive tour of the Leafs current home, the Scotiabank Arena. The tour included a stop at The Foster Hewitt Media Gondola. Although it is a different era, and different building, I couldn't help but think of Foster Hewitt, as I stopped at the radio booth and  visited with the current broadcast team of Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph.

Happy Birthday, Foster Hewitt.

HHOF: IN MEMORIAM

On Monday evening, the hockey world gathered at Brookfield Place for the Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Gala. In the player category, Guy Carbonneau, Sergei Zubov, Vaclav Nedomansky, and Hayley Wickenheiser were inducted; Jerry York, and Jim Rutherford were inducted in the builders category.

While the event is a joyous time, it's also a time to remember the Honoured Members and Builders who died in the past year. Early in the proceedings, a moment was taken to recognize Jim Gregory, Harry Howell, Red Kelly, and Ted Lindsay.

Below are links to stories I wrote on each of these gentlemen who gave so much to the game...

Jim Gregory

Harry Howell

Red Kelly

Ted Lindsay

THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF PUNCH IMLACH

When the National Hockey League released the schedule of games for the 1970-71 season, fans in Toronto and Buffalo circled November 18, 1970. Besides being the first regular season trip to Maple Leaf Gardens by the expansion Buffalo Sabres, the common denominator between the two clubs was former Leafs' coach and general manager; and then current Sabres' coach and general manager, Punch Imlach.

Tonight marks the 49th anniversary of that memorable first encounter, and I was fortunate to see the game in-person. Like I did for every game I attended, I kept the ticket stub (above), but it is the only time I wrote on the back of a stub. The anticipation, and subsequent outcome, made me want to preserve the fact I was there. The Buffalo team was so new that I misspelled "Sabers."

When Buffalo was granted an NHL franchise to start play in 1970, the close proximity to Toronto made them a natural rival with the Maple Leafs. And this rivalry was magnified when Punch Imlach was named the coach and GM of the Sabres. In the spring of 1969, Imlach was fired by Stafford Smythe after a run that resulted in four Stanley Cups in the 1960s under Imlach's regime.

The stage was set on November 18, 1970, for Imlach to bring his new troops to battle his former warriors at Maple Leaf Gardens.

The most vivid memories I have of the contest is the repeated ovations the crowd gave Imlach. Also, I recall the brilliant netminding of former Detroit goalie, Roger Crozier, who was now between the pipes for Buffalo.

On the eve of his return, Imlach said, "I wouldn't miss this one for the world." And there was no doubt Imlach wanted revenge on his former team. "I would like to win this game. They (the Buffalo players) know what it means to me."

And the Sabres didn't disappoint the boss, as they skated to a 7-2 thumping of the Leafs. Imlach's post-game comments once again put him under the spotlight at his former stomping grounds at 60 Carlton Street.

"This win rates with the night my Leaf team came from behind a two-goal deficit to beat [the] Red Wings in Detroit and make the Stanley Cup playoffs in the final game in 1958-59. I rate that thrill as bigger than any of my four Stanley Cup triumphs for Toronto. It had something special. No one gave that team a chance, just like very few gave us a snowball's chance in this game."

Toronto couldn't handle Buffalo's offensive outburst, a fact that was conceded by Leaf coach, Johnny McLellan. "They beat the hell out of us. What more is there to say. Our fellows were terrible defensively, [they] forgot that part of their game."

That isn't to say the Leafs didn't generate any offence of their own. The only obstacle was Roger Crozier kept them in-check. He only allowed two goals and stopped 44 shots.

In his story for The Globe and Mail, Dan Proudfoot wrote about Crozier's brilliant outing:

Fans applauded each of Crozier's spectacular saves. They applauded often. Crozier had Mike Walton, the outstanding Leaf, skating in small frustrated circles after making twin saves.

When the final bell rang, the Gardens was filled with the chant, "We want Punch, we want Punch!"

The loudest voice came from the West Blues, Section 44, Row B, Seat 5.

GALLERY