IN A BICKELL

When you hear the J.P. Bickell Memorial Cup is being bestowed upon someone, you immediately take notice of the event. And that was the case last Saturday at the Scotiabank Arena. Prior to the contest between the Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins, former Leaf defenceman, Ian Turnbull, was in attendance to receive the Bickell Cup. The Bickell was last handed-out in 2003 to Pat Quinn.

Described as a team award, the recipient is selected by the Board of Directors of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. It was established to honour Bickell after his death on August 22, 1951. The first winner was Leaf great, Ted Kennedy, in 1953.

Bickell, an investor in the Toronto St. Patricks of the NHL, continued his involvement when the club was sold in 1927 and became the Toronto Maple Leafs. Along the way, Bickell would be named president of Maple Leaf Gardens and serve on the Board.

As pointed out in their book, J.P. Bickell: The Life, the Leafs and the Legacy, Jason Wilson, Kevin Shea and Graham MacLachlan noted:

It would be a Maple Leaf trophy, to be awarded to a Leaf player for performing with such a high standard of excellence that he would be truly a great member of the team, just as Mr. Bickell was.

Ian Turnbull's "performing with such a high standard" came on the night of February 2, 1977. In a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Maple Leaf Gardens, Turnbull set an NHL record for most goals scored by a defenceman in a single regular season contest. His five goals were scored against Ed Giacomin and Jimmy Rutherford.

Maple Leaf president, Brendan Shanahan, commented on Turnbull's selection. "Ian was a guy I thought didn't get the kind of credit for the kind of Leaf he was. My interpretation of this award was it had to stand the test of time. It's only been given out 22 times in Leaf history."

And what does Turnbull think of the longevity of his NHL record?

"I set it, but this concept of holding it, no. It's there for anyone to knock down. Some guys have come close. But it would be pretty unlikely the way coaches are in the game. Players play what's required in the script, they don't freewheel like we did."