A ROOKIE SEASON TO REMEMBER FOR TONY ESPOSITO

In the history of the National Hockey League, two Chicago Black Hawk goalies hold records that have withstood the passage of time.

Glenn Hall's record for appearing in 502 consecutive games (1955-56 to 1962) seems out of reach taking into account a number of factors. Long gone is the era of a netminder playing in every game of the schedule and the exposure to injuries.

Then, there is the standard set by Tony Esposito in the 1969-70 season.

Esposito made his NHL debut in 1968-69 with the Montreal Canadiens. In 13 games, he went 5-4-4, and recorded two shutouts. On June 11, 1969, he was claimed by the Hawks in the intra-league draft.

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 loses and 8 ties.

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. 

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."

After the game, Esposito talked about his record breaking performance.

"It was a team effort. We controlled the game from the opening faceoff. My shutout was not significant."

Esposito was asked to recall when he became aware he was on the verge of making history. "Not until late in the game. The result is the important thing, not the score."

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.

A SPECIAL HAT TRICK FOR RICHARD MARTIN

When the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on March 27, 1976, at Maple Leaf Gardens, it was Buffalo's French Connection Line - Perreault-Martin-Robert -  that caused all the damage.

Late in the third period, the Sabres, on two goals by Richard Martin and one from Gilbert Perreault, held a 3-2 lead over Toronto. Their victory was clinched when Martin scored an empty net goal.

"Although Perreault had a good shot at the open net, he relayed to Martin to give him his seventh three-goal game of the season," wrote Frank Orr of Martin's third marker.

As a result of Perreault's unselfish act, Richard Martin was able to tie an NHL record with his seventh hat trick of the season.

At the time, Martin shared the record with Cy Denneny (Ottawa), Joe Malone (Montreal), and Phil Esposito (Boston).

The National Hockey League record for three or more goal games is held by Wayne Gretzky with 10. He set the mark in 1981-82, and matched it in 1983-84.

FOOT LOOSE

On March 26, 1957, the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers opened their semi-final series at Madison Square Garden.

Although he only allowed one goal in a 4-1 win, Habs goalie Jacques Plante did more than fend off scoring chances by the Rangers.

As the picture below shows, Plante did his best foot work on New York's Red Sullivan. The caption notes that, "It doesn't pay to fool with Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens' nomadic goalie. Before this sequence of pictures began, Plante had been held behind his goal by New York Rangers' Red Sullivan. In the top left photo, Plante sans stick, chases Sullivan. Top right, he extends a dainty foot. Bottom left, Sullivan's on his way down. Bottom right, there he goes."

The Canadiens went on to win the series 4-1 and advanced to the Stanley Cup final to face the Boston Bruins. A game 5 victory over the Bruins on April 16, gave Montreal their second consecutive Cup.

And it didn't stop there. The Canadiens captured the Stanley Cup in 1958, 1959, and 1960, to make it five straight in the final.

BILL BARILKO

When current and past generations read about former Toronto Maple Leaf defenceman, Bill Barilko, they are sure to learn about his sudden and tragic death in the summer of 1951. His last hockey game was on April 21, 1951, when he scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in overtime against the Montreal Canadiens.

There are all those wonderful images, similar to the one above, of a young Barilko with a bright future.

It hits you like a ton of bricks falling from the sky that today would've been Bill Barilko's 93rd birthday.

If only...

BILL MOSIENKO'S RECORD GAME

A look back at the game on March 23, 1952, when Bill Mosienko set an NHL record for the fastest three goals. Please click the photos below for a better read.

WHEN DAVE KEON BECAME MY HOCKEY HERO

Hard to believe my boyhood hockey hero, Dave Keon turns 80 today.

For a young player, there was no one better to emulate with his diligent pursuit of the puck on offence and defence, smooth skating, setting up teammates, leadership, and wicked backhand shot.

In the era when a Leaf game on Hockey Night in Canada was joined in progress, I wanted to know were the Leafs winning and did Keon score a goal.

When asked who my favourite Leaf is, I can name the game that made me a huge Keon fan. The circumstances are verbalized without hesitation.

Here is the story.

On April 9, 1964, the Toronto Maple Leafs were in Montreal for game 7 of the semi-finals against the Canadiens. The Leafs had forced a seventh and deciding showdown with a 3-0 victory at Maple Leaf Gardens two nights earlier.

The anticipation for this Leaf fan was unbearable. One moment, I was so high thinking of a Toronto win, then so low on the thought the Leafs might falter.

Come game night, it was a bit of a relief when the puck was dropped and all I had to do was watch. I was ready to cheer for my team and be behind them win or lose.

Looking back, I remember the game for one reason. I had found my first hockey hero and he was Leaf center, Dave Keon. In an amazing performance, Keon scored all the Leaf goals in a 3-1 win to put his club into the Stanley Cup final for the third consecutive year.

When I went to sleep that night, the decision had been made. To be a complete hockey player, I must emulate what Keon did against the Habs in game 7. I was two years away from playing organized ice hockey, but my Keon skills could be developed in the school yard, driveway, and on the street. Also, it was important to watch Keon and study how he played.

My memory of how Keon's goals were scored are vague with the passage of time, so I've delved into the newspaper archives to gather the details.

The following descriptions are from newspaper reports the following day...

GOAL #1, FIRST PERIOD, KEON FROM McKENNEY AND BAUN, 8:22

Bobby Baun had taken a pass from the corner from George Armstrong and directed a shot at [the] goal. The puck struck milling bodies in front of Hodge [Charlie, Montreal's goalie], and Don McKenney had one whack at it before Keon pounced on the loose puck and whacked it home.

GOAL #2, FIRST PERIOD, KEON FROM ARMSTRONG, 11:15

He made it 2-0 on a breakaway with the help of George Armstrong at 11:15 of that opening period while teammate Andy Bathgate was serving a penalty.

Keon's second goal came while Leafs were shorthanded. Bathgate was serving a penalty when Armstrong took the puck out of his own zone, slid a perfect pass up to Keon who outraced Jean-Guy Talbot and slapped a low shot into the corner past Hodge.

GOAL #3, THIRD PERIOD, KEON FROM ARMSTRONG AND KELLY, 19:49 

Red Kelly saved the day. He carried the puck out of his own zone, skated up right wing and let go a backhander that hit the near goalpost. Kelly pursued the puck behind the Montreal net, got it to George Armstrong and the Leafs' captain slid it out in front where Keon was unattended for an unobstructed shot at an unattended goal.

 In what Dick Beddoes called "A hockey night to remember," Keon told reporters, "I scored those goals for my dad." Keon added, "He's been pretty sick, I've been thinking about him a lot this series." As for his performance Keon said, "I was shooting the puck with more authority, instead of fooling with it." Showing his sense of humour, Keon stated, "And I guess you know shooting is important in this game."

Here are some other quotes from Keon.

 "All the goals were clean. On that first one, the puck may have hit Provost's [Claude] leg. I don't know. But I was right in the slot when the puck came to me from McKenney. I'm happy that I got three. They came in handy."

Toronto faced Detroit in the Cup final and once again went the distance. They shutout the Red Wings in game 7 by a 4 to 0 score.

But it will always be Keon's spectacular outing in game 7 at The Forum that I will remember.

"Don't miss this boy [Keon] or he'll haunt you later on," wrote Leafs' scout Vince Thompson in the 1950s to his boss Bob Davidson, who was Toronto's head scout.

Well, that boy is now 80-years-old with four Stanley Cup championships, an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and voted the greatest Toronto Maple Leaf player of all-time in 2016.

Since April 9, 1964, he has been my hockey hero.

Happy birthday, David!

BOBBY ORR TURNS 72

During these difficult days of the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, and self-isolation, there isn't much joy. The news is mostly doom and gloom.

But what a joy it is to wish hockey icon, Bobby Orr, a happy 72nd birthday!

In the early 1960s, Wren Blair ran both the EPHL Kingston Frontenacs and the EHL Clinton Comets. Also, he served as a scout for the Boston Bruins. Part of his responsibilities was to bring the Oshawa Generals, sponsored by the Bruins, back to life in the Metro Major Junior A League.

But his biggest assignment was to sign Bobby Orr to a Junior A Playing Card prior to the 1962-63 hockey season to skate for the Generals. Also, this meant Orr became property of the NHL Bruins.

Blair first scouted Bobby Orr in 1961, when the native of Parry Sound, Ontario, played Bantam hockey. Orr's team was facing Gananoque in the Eastern Ontario final.

In his book, The Bird: The life and Times of Hockey Legend Wren Blair, he wrote about attending the game and talking with Orr's coach, former NHL defenceman Bucko MacDonald.

I didn't know his name until the game was over. The kid had played the entire game. He never left the ice, except once when he got a two-minute penalty ... "Wren, his name is Robert Gordon Orr." That was the first time I had ever heard this young man's name. "As you know Wren, I am a part time scout for the Detroit Red Wings, and he is going to Detroit, so I wouldn't waste my time."... I've often been asked by many people if I discovered Bobby Orr. I certainly did not discover Bobby Orr, probably  none of us from Boston did. Bucko already knew that Orr was a great talent before we saw him that day.

Wren Blair signed Robert Gordon Orr when he turned 14 in March of 1962.

And as they say, the rest in history.

LOOKING BACK ON PHIL MALONEY

PHIL MALONEY: 1927-2020

Like many from his generation, Phil Maloney, who passed away last month, played during an era when there were only six NHL teams. Getting a crack to join an NHL roster meant that a player made every effort to join an elite group.

After two seasons in the QSHL with the Shawinigan Falls Cataracts, Maloney turned pro in 1948-49.  The Montreal Canadiens were eager to sign Maloney, but he turned down their pitch and he signed with the Boston Bruins. They assigned him to the AHL Hershey Bears where he put up decent numbers - 29 goals & 50 assists - and earned a promotion to the Bruins the following year.

The 1949-50 edition of the Boston Bruins got off to a rocky start and didn't get their first victory until nine games in. Maloney's first period goal helped the Bruins defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 at Boston Garden.

In his rookie year, Maloney produced 15 goals and seemed to be on track for a productive  sophomore season. But it also made him an attractive component in trade discussions. He was the added body that could bring a deal to fruition.

That possibility materialized on November 16, 1950, when Boston shipped Maloney, Fern Flaman, Ken Smith, and Leo Boivin to Toronto for Bill Ezinicki and Vic Lynn. At the time of the trade, Maloney scored two goals in thirteen contests with the Bruins.

Maloney was immediately assigned to the Leafs' farm team in Pittsburgh, but did see action in one game with the Leafs. He made his debut with Toronto on January 9, 1951, at the Olympia in Detroit. Maloney was called up to replace an injured Ted Kennedy at centre. And he made the most of the opportunity. Maloney scored the opening goal on a backhand that beat Terry Sawchuk at the 16:01 mark of the first period.

A reporter noted Maloney "tried hard throughout and didn't look out of place."

Upon his return to Pittsburgh, Maloney continued to help the Hornets on offence. One of his finest efforts came against the St. Louis Flyers on February 24, 1951. He scored one goal and added five assists for six points.

The following season, Maloney returned to the Hornets and waited for another call from the Leafs. The call never came and he spent the entire year in Pittsburgh.

In 1952-53, Maloney started the year in Pittsburgh and got a vote of confidence from his coach, the legendary King Clancy.

"He's come up in leaps and bounds," said Clancy of his leading scorer. Also, Clancy predicted that Maloney would be up with the Leafs "after the first of the year."

Clancy was a bit off on his prediction, as Maloney got an early Christmas gift when Conn Smythe summoned him for a Christmas Eve encounter against the Montreal Canadiens at the Gardens.

"Maloney was used at centre and on his showing, the brass might find it hard to send him back to the farm," observed The Globe and Mail.

Through the month of January, Maloney continued to wear the blue and white and decision day on his future with the Leafs came on February 15, 1953. It was on that date Smythe, Hap Day, and Joe Primeau tagged Maloney as the Leafs one player allowed to be recalled on a permanent basis.

As Conn Smythe stated, "It would be a stinking trick to send Maloney down to the minors."

In 29 games with Toronto in 1952-53, Maloney scored two goals and added six helpers.
In a decade that saw the decline of the Toronto Maple Leafs, they failed to make the playoffs. Maloney was no longer in Toronto's plans and once again, he found himself in the minors.

The next season, Maloney split his time between Pittsburgh and the QHL Ottawa Senators.

Maloney hit his stride 1954-55 when he left the Senators to join the WHL Vancouver Canucks. In 37 games with Vancouver, he recorded 43 points. Maloney's best year with Vancouver was in  1967-67, when scored 35 goals and 59 assists for 98 points in 70 games. This enabled to be named the WHL most valuable player.

In his fourth term with Vancouver, Maloney saw action in 13 contests, then was sidelined with a shoulder injury. Around this time, the Chicago Black Hawks were on the hunt for help and sought to obtain Maloney.

Negotiations to complete a deal to send Maloney back to the NHL involved Vancouver, Chicago, and the New York Rangers. His NHL rights were owned by the Rangers, but they needed the Canucks to sign off on Maloney being moved to the Windy City. Vancouver, a farm team of the Rangers, wouldn't budge until they received compensation from New York. After months of bargaining between all the parties, a deal was reached just before Christmas.

When all was said and done, Maloney was sold to the Hawks, and Vancouver received $7,500 and the contract of Ray Cyr, who was already on their roster, and future considerations. But most importantly, it was agreed that if Maloney didn't work out in Chicago, he would be returned to Vancouver.

The transaction went down on December 21, 1958.

Maloney finished the season with Chicago, but in 1959-60, the Hawks sent him to Buffalo in the American Hockey League. He played 46 games with Buffalo, and 24 with Chicago.

The next year, Maloney returned to the Bisons and experienced his best season in pro hockey. His 102 points resulted in him winning the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL most valuable player.

Despite his success with Buffalo, Maloney decided to head west back to the WHL and the Vancouver Canucks. He spent his final nine years with the Canucks.

Highlights of his career included two MVP Awards in the Western Hockey League and two championships with Vancouver. All of this made Maloney one of the most beloved Canucks of all-time. He was inducted into the British Columbia Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.

Not wanting to leave the game after his retirement, Maloney joined the coaching ranks. This included minor league stops in Vancouver and Seattle.

His chance to jump into the NHL coaching fraternity came in January 1974, when the Vancouver Canucks canned Bill McCreary. In February 1974, Maloney added the role of general manager to his portfolio.

Maloney was behind the Vancouver bench for 232 games and posted a 95-105-32 record. In the playoffs, his record was 1-6 in 7 contests.

After not achieving the desired results, Maloney stepped down as coach, but remained in the front office as GM. On December 21, 1976, Maloney named Orland Kurtenbach as his replacement.

"I can no longer tolerate the situation," said Maloney of the Canucks dismal start (9-23-3) to the 1976-77 season.

The Canucks failed to make the playoffs and it led to shake up that resulted in both Maloney and Kurtenbach being let go.

Phil Maloney was born on October 6, 1927, in Ottawa, Ontario. He passed away on February 21, 2020, in British Columbia.

HENRI RICHARD: 1936-2020

A BIG LOSS FOR THE HOCKEY WORLD

When I was a youngster watching my beloved Toronto Maple Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada during the Original Six era, one Leaf stood out for his tenacious pursuit of the puck and ability to create scoring chances. And that individual was Dave Keon. But Keon wasn't the only player I watched when it came to being all over the puck and setting up his linemates. Besides Keon, I considered Detroit's Norm Ullman and Montreal's Henri Richard as the NHL forwards to emulate for a determined and graceful style of play.

On March 6, Henri Richard passed away at the age of 84.

It was really no big surprise when Henri Richard decided to become a hockey player. His older brother, Maurice, was already an icon when young Henri joined the Montreal Canadiens in October 1955. At the age of 16, he was already a star in Quebec. Henri was 19 when he attended the Canadiens training camp in September '55 at the Verdun Auditorium.

Montreal had a good idea that their hot prospect was ready to make the jump from the Junior Canadiens to the big league club. In his final season in the QJHL, Richard led all scorers with 66 points in 44 contests. He was a gifted center, with a right-hand shot, but was considered small when it came to height, and had a slight build.

Henri Richard made his National Hockey League debut at home in the Forum on October 5, 1955. Although his name didn't appear in the scoring summary, Richard's performance didn't go unnoticed.

"The young Richard skated fast and elusively, manoeuvred well, but had a habit of carrying his stick too high," noted a newspaper report.

His first NHL goal was scored on October 15, on home ice. At the 5:14 mark of the second period, Richard got the puck past New York goalie Gump Worsley, with assists going to Bert Olmsted and Jean-Guy Talbot.

By the end of December, Richard had raised his goal total to 11, the best for NHL freshmen. On the night he scored his 11th goal, his brother hit a goal scoring milestone when he connected for his 500th goal. This figure combined his goals for the regular season and playoff games.

This contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Montreal on December 29 is an example of how quickly Henri had managed to make a name for himself. While it was a big night for Maurice, The Pocket Rocket, a nickname given to Henri, also had a banner night. In Montreal's 5-2 win, Henri produced one goal and added three assists. One newspaper headline noted, "Even When He Pots His 500th Goal Rocket Shaded by the Pocket Rocket."

In a December '55 interview with the hockey magazine, Blueline, Toe Blake shared his report card on his prized rookie.

"He carries the puck well, can make a play, has a good shot and has already shown us that he can score goals in the NHL," said the Habs coach. Blake went on to say, "He's not afraid of the rough going and shows remarkable savvy for a youngster of his size."

Further down in the article, Maurice Richard provided this review of his now teammate, Henri.

"He has rare speed, a good shift, and he wants to play," stated The Rocket. "It's ambition that counts, and he has enough for two or three guys."

As the Canadiens closed out 1955 on December 31, Richard suffered a sprained ankle that left him out of the line-up. He returned to action on January 18 against Toronto. One reporter wrote of Richard's return that he "was elusive as ever in the first two periods."

At the conclusion of the 1955-56 season, Henri Richard finished with 19 goals and 21 assists for 40 points in 64 games.

In many ways, Richard's first NHL campaign was a map for his future. He established himself as a hard working, and skilled playmaker. The Richard name wouldn't hamper his progress. He wouldn't be buried in the shadow of his big brother.

Another standard that would remain with him throughout his career was set in Richard's first appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs. On April 10, 1956, Montreal captured the Stanley Cup against Detroit. It was Richard's first of eleven Cups and it remains to be National Hockey League record for most Cups by a player.

And in the Stanley Cup final, Henri Richard lived the dream of scoring several Cup-winning goals.

The first came in the 1966 Cup final against Detroit. In game six at the Olympia, Richard scored a controversial goal at 2:20 of overtime. The Red Wings claimed that Richard used his glove to push the puck past Roger Crozier. When interviewed after the game, Richard told the press the puck went off his hip into the net.

Richard repeated his heroics in the 1971 Cup final at Chicago Stadium and he did it in dramatic fashion. At the 18:20 mark of the third period, Richard scored the equalizer to send the contest into overtime. Then, with everything on the line, Richard worked his magic one more time. After taking a pass from Rejean Houle, Richard moved past defenceman Keith Magnuson and only had Tony Esposito to beat in Chicago's net. The Cup-winning tally was scored at 2:34 of OT.

As expected, Richard was pleased with the result. He said afterwards that it was "the best of the 10 Stanley Cups I've won."

Earlier in the Cup final, Richard openly criticized Montreal coach Al MacNeil for his line changing decisions. Richard addressed the situation following game seven.

"I should have kept my mouth shut," said Richard. "But I just lost my temper, it was one of those things I'll always be sorry for. Now maybe everybody will forget."

That wasn't the first time Richard was at odds with Montreal management. Unhappy with his ice time in February 1968, Richard requested to be traded if he wasn't used on a regular basis.

He left the team and told Canadian Press, "I cannot sit on the bench. If the money is not coming in [if he left the game for good] I would have to change my life a little and live with less money. But I'd rather do that than what I've been doing."

Eventually the matter was resolved and Richard helped the Canadiens win another Stanley Cup. The four game sweep over the St. Louis Blues was Toe Blake's last Stanley Cup as coach of the Habs.

On December 20, 1973, Richard reached the 1,000 point mark when he assisted on a goal scored by Jim Roberts.

The Montreal Canadiens celebrated the career of their captain on January 26, 1974, with Henri Richard Night at the Forum. Through a donation drive, $111,000 was raised and Richard requested  the donation be turned over to St. Arsene Orphanage.

During the summer of 1973, Richard signed his final contract with the Montreal Canadiens. It was a two-year deal that made him the highest-paid Hab. Richard turned down an offer from the WHA Houston Aeros.

Richard, now 39 years-old, announced his retirement on July 14, 1975. He talked about his decision during a press conference.

"After 20 years, a good thing is coming to an end," said Richard. "I thank the Canadiens hockey club for their confidence in me and their understanding of me." He also pointed out that his age and the amount of travel influenced the direction he took.

Richard skated in 1256 regular season games and recorded 358 goals and 688 assists for a total of 1046 points. In 1957-58 and 1962-63, he led the NHL in assists. The assist stat cemented his reputation as a skillful playmaker. In 180 playoff tilts, he amassed 129 points on 49 goals and 80 helpers.

He was named to the First All-Star Team in 1958, and the Second All-Star Team in 1959, 1961, and 1963. He played in a total of ten All-Star Games. Richard was named the winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 1974. It went to a player for his perseverance and sportsmanship. The Canadiens retired his number 16 and a banner was raised to the rafters.

Once he hung up his skates, Richard looked after the very popular tavern he owned in Montreal until its closing in 1986. Also, he became a spokesperson for the Pop Shoppes in Quebec and ultimately a co-owner with former Toronto Maple Leaf Eddie Shack. The former Leaf was a spokesperson for the Ontario division. The company sold soft drinks.

The final recognition of Richard's great career was in 1979, when he became an Honoured Member in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Richard entered the Hall with Harry Howell and Bobby Orr.

In his speech, Richard made reference to his association with Eddie Shack and the Pop Shoppes.

"Twenty years in the National Hockey League and I end up with Eddie Shack."

The line brought the house down.

Henri Richard was born on February 29, 1936, in Montreal, Quebec. He passed away on March 6, 2020, in Laval, Quebec.

BOB GOLDHAM NIGHT IN DETROIT - 1955

On the evening of March 3, 1955, Detroit hockey fans celebrated Bob Goldham Night at the Olympia in Detroit.

Goldham joined the Red Wings in an off-season deal on July 13, 1950. He became a fan favourite for his unique ability to block shots. This skill was also greatly appreciated by his teammates, especially, those that played between the pipes.

Already a two time Stanley Cup champion with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Goldham added two more Cups with Detroit before he was honoured with his own night. And he added another in the 1955 Stanley Cup final.

To recognize and salute Goldham for his steady play, his fans, along with the Red Wings, created a committee in January of 1955 to organize Bob Goldham Night.

A number of written tributes were received with glowing words for Goldham the hockey player and  man.

Clarence Campbell, the president of the National Hockey League, wrote, "I'm very happy to join your project to salute a very fine hockey player and a real gentleman."

Bucko McDonald, Goldham's partner on the Leafs' blue line in his rookie season, wrote, "I'm very happy that you are going to be rewarded for your long and faithful service in the National Hockey League - in my estimation there is no one more deserving of this than you are. I have very happy memories of our hockey days together."

Prior to the big night, the city of Detroit's Common Council passed a resolution that honoured Goldham. "Now let it therefore be resolved that members of the Common Council on behalf of the people of Detroit hereby join his thousands of friends and admirers in paying tribute to Robert John Goldham, a champion Red Wing, a great athlete and gentleman who has enhanced and glorified the traditions of great sportsmanship."

Michigan governor, G. Mennan Willams (C) and Detroit City Council president, Louis Miriani, present Bob Goldham with  a scroll and a plaque.

The mayor of Goldham's hometown, Georgetown, Ontario, planned a trip to the Motor City. John T. Armstrong wrote, "It is my intention to be there and we have purchased an 8-mm projector and camera for presentation to Bob."

Although Goldham was in uniform for the pre-game ceremony, he didn't dress for the contest.

 "The unfortunate part of the evening, however, was my inability to play as I had a bad ankle and was out of the line-up," Goldham recalled.

"They presented Elly and I with a new station wagon and all sorts of gifts. At my night in the Olympia, the mayor of Georgetown was there making a presentation. Our good friend and neighbour from Toronto, Bert Delany, presented me with fishing equipment. Ted Lindsay, on behalf of the players, gave us a tea service."