A Book Review - Pucks On The 'Net by Joe Pelletier

It is said variety is the spice of life. If this is indeed fact, hockey fans who also enjoy the written word, will be in for a treat with the latest effort from author Joe Pelletier. The recently released Pucks On The 'Net, is a wonderful read for anyone who possesses a love for the history of the game. It is a delightful collection of hockey stories and the characters who brought them to life.

This is Pelletier's first venture into the world of e-book publishing. In today's digital environment, some people still resist the rapid rise of technology. In a changing marketplace, the e-book is gaining popularity with each passing day. It is allowing more work to be produced, thus enhancing selection choices for the buying public. As with any consumer product, quality remains the number one requirement. For the reader of Pucks On The 'Net, the format is secondary as the content quickly becomes the main focus.

Pucks On The 'Net opens with the reader becoming acquainted with the author. In a section called Personal Stories, Pelletier reveals hockey memories from his childhood to present day. There are eight stories under this heading, each covering a different aspect of Pelletier's association with the sport. Two of the best are Two Minutes For Booking and Thank You Jack Falla.

As the title indicates, Pelletier delves into his love of hockey books in Two Minutes For Booking. He fondly recalls visiting the library at age six with his mother and exploring new surroundings. Not satisfied with kid books, he moved over to the Young Adult collection. There before him, stacked on shelves, was a vision that brought joy and happiness. As Pelletier put it, "I'm talking real hockey books about real hockey players and real NHL teams." The story continues as young Joe discovers the Adult section where there are even more books.

Fast forward to 2008 and we find Pelletier engaged in the process of writing his own material. While working on a piece for one of his websites, HockeyBookReviews.com, he came into contact with author Jack Falla. The review pertained to Falla's Open Ice: Reflections and Confessions of a Hockey Lifer. After reading the review, Falla contacted Pelletier to express his thanks. Also, Pelletier built-up enough nerve to request an interview, which Falla consented to take part in. The encounter with the noted author and professor of journalism had a great impact on Pelletier. This becomes clear when Pelletier writes about the events following the interview. It is one of the most touching parts in Pucks On The 'Net.

Another marvelous reflection is called my 1972 Summit Series Confession. In 2002, Pelletier created the website, 1972SummitSeries.com, which became a huge hit. It was the launching pad for his future success. His confession is both fascinating and provides an interesting perspective on the 1972 series.

I first became aware of Pelletier in 2005, when I picked-up a book he wrote. With Wayne Gretzky gracing the cover in a Team Canada jersey, I couldn't resist adding Legends of Team Canada to my library. A photo on the back cover featured members of the Canadian National Women's hockey team. The text above the picture was the final selling point: "From Paul Henderson to Vincent Lecavalier, from Wayne Gretzky to Hayley Wickenheiser, today's stars meet yesterday's heroes in these pages. Together they comprise the best that have ever represented our nation. These are the true legends of Team Canada."

Following his personal accounts in Pucks On The 'Net, Pelletier unleashes a wide variety of stories. Known for his player biographies at GreatestHockeyLegends.com, Pelletier is at his best in crafting and presenting a total of twenty-nine hockey related tales over the remaining pages.Unique in nature, they cover a wide range of hockey history and are broken down into categories. For example, Crashing The Net covers goalies and Tough Guys the enforcers. Other sections include Pucks On The Net (a collection of various stories), International Ice, Last Line of Defense and Hockey Heroes.

Like any good narrative, the characters take a starring role. Pucks On The 'Net delivers big-time in this regard. Where else can you read about the exploits of Alfie Moore and Wayne Gretzky in the same publication? Pelletier should take a bow for bringing lesser known players to centre stage. It is a joy to read about Val Fonteyne, Camille Henry, Marcel Bonin, Don Saleski and Elizabeth Graham to mention a few.

Story after story generated a number of emotions and reactions. Reading Larry The Leech made me laugh. The Night Pat Quinn Knocked Out Bobby Orr put me in a nostalgic state. Who Is Better? Rocket Richard vs. Gordie Howe made me think. The Puck-Goes-Insky Buzinsky brought a smile to my face. Hockey's Most Important Players sent me scattering for pen and paper to create my own list. The mere mention of Mud March in The Best Names in Hockey History took me back to November 12, 1931 when he scored the very first goal in Maple Leaf Gardens on opening night.

Most of all, I was left wanting more.

With Pucks On The 'Net, Joe Pelletier has scored a hat trick. It is informative, entertaining and well written!

For further information, please visit www.pucksonthenet.com.

Digging into matters at Maple Leaf Gardens

Interesting news concerning items located in a time capsule at Maple Leaf Gardens. The find was made by workers conducting the renovations on the former home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. News Story.

Of note, is the location where the items were found. Media reports pinpoint the front entrance as the main area of focus. The last redo of the main lobby occurred during the summer of 1993. The highlight of the work involved murals of Leafs greats and moments being installed. These were the creation of artist John Richmond. At the time, the work was described as being extensive, but there was no news of finding any hidden treasures.

In the past, this wasn't always the case. During the summer of 1990 construction crews began work on a new weight room for the hockey club/ This involved building a tunnel under the Hot Stove Lounge. While conducting their duties, workers made several important discoveries, including pottery estimated to be 100 years-old.

From a hockey perceptive, there was an even bigger catch. The prize being a trophy found in Conn Smythe's former office. The space was being transformed for Don Giffin who held the position of president following Harold Ballard's death. Reports depicted the item as being a sterling silver and valued at $15,000. It originated back to a tournament held between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Black Hawks in western Canada. The competition took place after the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1936.

The two teams set out for the west with a series of matches scheduled for Winnipeg and Calgary, before reaching Vancouver for their showdown. The tour consisted of two games in Manitoba and three in Alberta. The B.C. portion also called for three contests.

For hockey fans west of Ontario, it was an opportunity to witness the game being played by NHL players. The action kicked-off in Winnipeg on April 16, 1936 and concluded on May 1st in Vancouver. On hand for the events was broadcaster Foster Hewitt. Many in the crowds were more eager to see the face behind the voice than the players themselves.

In Vancouver, the Leafs were crowned champions with total-goals being the determining factor. The Hawks won the first game 5-3, but Toronto bounced back with 7-2 and 3-2 victories.

News reports from the day painted this picture of the winners reward, "a handsome Gyro Club, Totem Pole Trophy." The Gyro Service Club sponsored the trip west for Toronto and Chicago.

While in Vancouver, both teams, when not battling on the ice, relaxed at The Commodore. It was considered the place to be when it came to enjoying the nightlife. Of course, the players were the toast-of-the-town. The orchestra saluted Toronto by cranking out "The Maple Leaf Forever", with Leaf players joining in. Not to be outdone, Chicago players pipped-up with a unique twist to the words by adding this chorus "Toronto Maple Leafs, runners-up forever".

With great anticipation, we await the details from this latest discovery.

The Jets Have Landed

In a previous posting this week, I chronicled the original Winnipeg Jets first and last games in Toronto.

Prior to the reborn Jets visiting the Air Canada Centre last night, I heard an interesting discussion on the radio. The debate seemed to focus on one question - how much of a relationship is there between the WHA/NHL Jets and the current edition of the club?

As we all know, the 2011-12 Winnipeg Jets have only two things in common with their predecessor - their name and the fact they are based in the city of Winnipeg. Any statistical references must be associated with the Atlanta Thrashers. Not the 1979 to 1996 Winnipeg Jets.

I last witnessed a live game featuring an NHL club from Winnipeg on New Year's Eve 1986. Spending the final hours of 1986 in Maple Leaf Gardens, watching the Leafs, seemed to be a terrific way to close out the year. Besides, there was plenty of time following the game to ring 1987.

Like their first and last trips to Toronto, a buzz surrounded the contest on December 31, 1986. Once again, the Leafs were front and centre. In this case, there were no player transactions, but a former Leaf coach, Dan Maloney, was making his return as bench boss of the Jets. At the end of his run with the Leafs, Maloney encountered difficulties with several players. As an example. Miroslav Ihnacak experienced a rough go under Maloney.

While all parties involved tried to put their slant on the situation, Leafs forward Russ Courtnall put the matter into perspective. "He was our coach, for what that was worth. So we wanted to win. But in the back of our minds were the two points. The two points were more important than beating our old coach," Courtnall explained to the media in his post-game scrum.

And that is exactly what Courtnall and his teammates did. The New Year's celebrations started early with the Leafs 6-1 victory over the Jets.

With all of this in mind, I trekked down to the Air Canada Centre last night to watch Winnipeg's new entry into the National Hockey League.

Making the rounds prior to entering the rink, I chatted briefly with former Leaf Mark Osborne on the set of Leafs TV. He played for the Jets following a trade from Toronto in 1990-91. The next year, after 43 contests in Winnipeg, he was traded back to Toronto.




Mark Osborne on the set of Leafs TV

Taking my seat in time for the warm-up, the first thing that grabbed my attention was the Jets new uniform. My first thought was those players skating around in circles aren't the Winnipeg Jets I remember. An immediate disconnect to the original Jets occurred in my thought process.

The warm-up

In the time following the warm-up and opening face-off, I inspected the Winnipeg Jets line-up in the program. As I read the names, I couldn't help but think back to the 1986-87 Jets. The club I watched play in late 1986. Missing were guys like Dale Hawerchuck and Thomas Steen. In a way, it really didn't matter. I couldn't picture Hawerchuk or Steen in the 2011-12 style of jersey.

When the action got underway, my entire focus turned to the game at hand. Watching Nik Antropov and Kyle Wellwood, two former Leafs, brought back memories of their time in Toronto. The young players on Winnipeg, Zach Bogosian, Alex Burmistrov and Evander Kane are a joy to watch. Rookie Mark Scheifele appears to possess the skills to stick with the team. Both Burmistrov and Scheifele scored their first NHL goals last night. Then, there is the top-flight talent who are expected to soar each and every game. This includes captain Andrew Ladd, defenceman Dustin Byfuglien and goalie Ondrej Pavelec.




Opening face-off

The first forty-minutes of play belonged to the Jets who took a 3-1 lead.

Adding a touch of class to the festivities, the Maple Leafs organization acknowledged Winnipeg's return to big-time hockey. With 11:56 remaining in the first period, public address announcer Andy Frost made note of the Jets last appearance in Toronto on March 13, 1996. He welcomed them back to the NHL fold and the large ACC crowd gave the Jets a standing ovation.




The Jets bench during their welcome back salute from the Leafs organization

Stretching my legs in the first intermission, I ventured up to the Leafs Alumni Box. A large group of ex-Leafs were on hand to watch the proceedings. One of them being Bill Derlago, another player who performed for the Winnipeg Jets. He suited-up for 57 regular season games in 1985-86 and 1986-87.

Toronto dominated the final frame and tied the score at three goals apiece. Both teams failed to score in the overtime, but Toronto earned the extra-point in the shootout with Joffrey Lupul bagging the winner.

On a stormy evening outside the Air Canada Centre,  it was the Maple Leafs who created all the thunder and lightning inside. The Jets were grounded after two periods of play and couldn't get clearance for lift-off.

Jetting off to Toronto

Tomorrow night marks the return of a National Hockey League team from Winnipeg to Toronto for a tilt against the Maple Leafs.

The Winnipeg franchise made their initial appearance in Toronto on December 29, 1979. Having survived the collapse of the World Hockey Association, the Jets were welcomed into the NHL for the 1979-80 season. Their final game in Toronto was played on March 13, 1996. The Winnipeg club was transferred to Phoenix in time for the 1996-97 campaign.

On both their first and final games in Maple Leaf Gardens, the Jets took a backseat to news surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Winnipeg hosted the Philadelphia Flyers on the Friday evening prior to jetting off to Toronto for their inaugural contest versus the Leafs. The Jets were in tough against the Philadelphia as Pat Quinn and his troops were in the midst of a 31 game undefeated streak. The Jets proved to be no match for the Broad Street Bullies who skated to a 5-3 victory. A record crowd of 16,038 watched the home side fail to put a halt to the Flyers run.

Although the Maple Leafs didn't play on the Friday night, they were the number one story leading off the nightly news. When subscribers to the Toronto Star opened their newspaper on Saturday morning, they were greeted with the following headline: LANNY McDONALD TRADE HAS SITTLER IN TEARS.

For most of the season, Leaf players were in a constant battle with Punch Imlach who held the general managers portfolio. Imlach, in his second-go-round in the position, was determined to establish his authority and let the players know who held the reins of power. As far back as training camp, he identified captain Darryl Sittler and his agent Al Eagleson as his main targets.

On the eve of Toronto's first regular season encounter against their new Canadian rival from Winnipeg, Imlach made a trade he knew would send his captain over the edge. In a transaction with Colorado, the Leafs GM shipped out Sittler's best friend and line mate Lanny McDonald.

There was little doubt Imlach had gotten into Sittler's head by using McDonald as a pawn. Following the warm-up of the Leafs/Jets game, Sittler removed the captains "C" from his sweater. Fans watching on Hockey Night in Canada followed the drama as it unfolded.

Under this backdrop, the Winnipeg Jets and everything else, took a backseat. Any anticipation of this new member to the NHL taking centre stage fizzled. Any buzz of the new-kid-on-the-block never materialized.

If the Jets thought Toronto would be off their game as a result of the commotion, they had another thing coming. The game was close following forty-minutes of action. Toronto held a 2-1 advantage on goals by Walt McKechine and Rocky Saganiuk. The Jets Bill Riley sandwiched a goal in between the two Leaf markers.

Winnipeg's hope of staying close in the final frame, disappeared quicker than the "C" off Sittler's jersey. The Leafs rifled four unanswered goals past Winnipeg goalie Pierre Hamel. Getting on the score sheet in the third for Toronto were Ian Turnbull, Bob Stephenson, Saganiuk and Tiger Williams. In goal for the Leafs was Paul Harrison.

Fast forward to March 13, 1996, when Winnipeg toiled on the Gardens ice for the final time as the Jets. Their swan-song in Toronto received about as much attention as their first engagement in 1979. Once again, it was a case of the Leafs stealing all the thunder. This time, it was Cliff Fletcher working behind the scenes implementing moves to shake-up his line-up.

The Jets potential final match in Toronto was overshadowed by Fletcher's make-over. Prior to the contest, Fletcher made a huge splash when he sent Kenny Jonsson, Darby Hendrickson, Sean Haggerty and a first-round draft choice to the New York Islanders. In exchange, Fletcher obtained the services of former Toronto fan favourite Wendel Clark, Mathieu Schneider and D.J. Smith, both defencemen.

Just in case this trade wasn't big enough to capture the headlines, Fletcher announced another move following the game. In a salary dump, the Leafs sent forward Dave Andreychuk to New Jersey for a couple of draft picks.

Like their initial visit to Toronto, the Winnipeg Jets final trip fell victim news wise to the Leafs off-ice activity. In a repeat performance from 1979, the game failed to be the lead story. In the same manner as Punch Imlach, Fletcher's wheeling and dealing made the game an after thought.

After regulation time came to a close, the two teams were unable to settle the matter in overtime. The game ended in a 3-3 draw. Toronto and Winnipeg exchanged goals in period one, with Andreychuk and Doug Gilmour connecting for the Leafs. Hitting the twine for the visitors were Keith Tkachuk and Mike Eastwood. The Leafs took the lead in the second thanks to Andreychuk's hot-hand.

The Jets would get the equalizer in the third. Their final goal in Toronto from that era would come off the stick of Mike Eastwood.

Reborn this summer, the new Winnipeg Jets make their first appearance tomorrow evening in the Air Canada Centre. Will Brian Burke step-up-to-the-plate and follow the tradition of pulling off a monster deal prior to these special visits by the Jets?

Welcome back Winnipeg!

Maple Leaf Gardens Update

Last week, I made another trip downtown and ventured over to Church and Carlton.

There isn't too much to report, as most of the activity is taking place inside the building. However, I observed one striking addition.

As the above photos depict, the storefront windows have been fitted, resulting in the Gardens appearance taking on a whole new look. Although a portion of the wonderful brickwork has been removed, the glass provides a completely different look. These photos were shot along Church St. where a number of stores were located in the early 1930s.

These photographs show the workmen going about their duties. A constant flow of workers were coming and going during my time on the site.

All along, I kept thinking back to the spring and summer of 1931, when the building was first put up. In a mere five to six months, the project was completed. The scheduled opening for the Loblaws/Ryerson remodel is this fall. From what I have witnessed, this goal will not be accomplished.

Conn Smythe must be rolling over in his final resting spot!

Bring in the New!

Last night, the National Hockey League rung in the new season with a trio of games on the docket.

The Boston Bruins continued their Stanley Cup celebrations, then played host to the Flyers. Playing the role of party spoilers, Philadelphia squeaked out a 2-1 decision over Boston.

Out west, Stanley Cup finalists, Vancouver, battled the Pittsburgh Penguins. Trailing in the third period, the Canucks drew even with Pittsburgh, but fell in the shootout.

At the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, the Maple Leafs and Canadiens added another chapter to their historic rivalry. The Leafs, hoping for a quick start to begin the season, shutout Montreal 2-0 with James Reimer blocking all shots directed at the Leaf goal.

The stage was set for Maple Leaf fans to party prior to the home opener

The event was held in Maple Leaf Square beside the ACC

The huge outdoor screen showed Leaf highlights

A popular attraction was the Leafs mobile truck which showed the history of the Leaf jersey

The 1967 sweater which serves as the third jersey in 2011-12

In 1942, Montreal and Toronto helped open the initial campaign of the Original Six era.

On the evening of October 31, 1942 Toronto and the New York Rangers met in Maple Leaf Gardens. While fans looked forward to a new hockey season, they couldn't be blamed if their attention was elsewhere.

The headlines in papers across the country kept them aware of events relating to fighting taking place in World War Two. This situation dominated the news. As the Leafs and Rangers were about to collide, troops in Egypt were in a struggle with their German counterparts.

Hockey was not immune when it came to supplying men for active duty. With a number of regular players in the service, roster positions were being filled by new faces.

For their opening contest in Toronto, New York's squad included a complete line composed of new youngsters. This combination included two 19 year-old players, Bill Goode and Lin Bend. The final spot was secured by 18 year-old Joe Bell. All three were members of the Memorial Cup champion  Portage La Prairie Terriers.

In goal, the Rangers went with rookie Steve Buzinski. He was signed by the Rangers as a replacement for Sugar Jim Henry who was on active duty.

Toronto, who were defending Stanley Cup champs, struck early against Buzinski. By the end of period one, the Leafs held a 3-0 advantage. Following the second period, New York trailed by a score of 4-2. The Leafs added 3 more tallies in the final frame and coasted to a 7-2 victory. 

The Leafs young players made a major contribution to the winning effort. Gaye Stewart, Dud Poile and Shep Mayer combined for 3 goals and 4 assists.

In Montreal, there was a similar story. Between the Habs and Bruins, four players were making their first appearance in the National Hockey League. New to the Bruins roster were Bill Shill, Don Gallinger and Jack Schmidt.

Although there was only one rookie to crack the Canadiens line-up, he turned out to be a significant find. The player in question was Maurice "Rocket" Richard. And it didn't take him long to become involved in the scoring. The first goal was scored in the first-minute of play by Tony Demers. Assisting on the goal was Richard.

The Bruins and Canadiens entered period two knotted at a goal apiece. Montreal took over in the second period building-up a 3-1 lead. The Habs limited Boston to one goal in the third, thus winning the contest 3-2.

Baz Bastien : A Training Camp to Forget

 With NHL training camps coming to a close, coaches and players prepare for the upcoming 2011-12 campaign. While veteran players worked on their timing and getting into game shape, rookies made every effort to impress and earn a spot on the opening night roster. The goal of all concerned was to avoid any serious injuries.

During training camp for the 1949-50 season, goalie Baz Bastien suffered a devastating injury that would bring his playing career to a sudden end.

After playing for the Toronto Marlboros in the OHA Sr. "A" League, Bastien joined the Cornwall Flyers (QSHL) in 1942-43. Like many individuals, Bastien's life went in another direction when he enlisted for military service during World War Two. When he returned in time for the 1945-46 hockey season, he found employment with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With Turk Broda in the service, the Maple Leafs turned to rookie Frank McCool as their starting netminder for the 1944-45 season. McCool, a native of Calgary, Alberta didn't disappoint Conn Smythe and coach Hap Day. Of the 50 games he played in the Toronto goal, McCool posted a 24-22-8 record with 4 shutouts.

His outstanding play continued into the playoffs. In 13 contests, he won 8 and lost 5 with a 2.23 average. Of his 8 victories, 4 were shutouts. The 1945 Stanley Cup Final went to 7 games, with McCool and his teammates winning the deciding game 2 to 1 against Detroit in the Olympia. In addition to winning Lord Stanley, McCool was named winner of the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.



Baz Bastien

Playing at the top-of-his-game, McCool's, biggest challenge - negotiating a new contract - was still ahead of him. He quickly found out it was much easier to face Rocket Richard than an NHL owner. To make matters worse, his opponent in this battle was Conn Smythe.

As the 1945-46 hockey year started, the Leafs were missing both Broda and his replacement, Frank McCool. Without a new deal, McCool was absent from training camp and not in the opening night line-up. When Toronto played their first regular season game on October 27, 1945, their was a new sheriff defending the Leafs goal - Baz Bastien. Fresh off his military service, Bastien was recruited by Leaf management with hopes he could repeat McCool's success from the previous season.

Starting his first National Hockey League game at home in Maple Leaf Gardens, Bastien and the Leafs played Boston to a 1-1 draw.

The Globe and Mail gave Bastien a good review for his opening night performance. "Facing organized NHL firing for the first time, Baz Bastien handled his assignment in good style. He had more work than Paul Bibeault, the ex-Leaf, at the other end of the rink. But neither goalie was overworked."

The only Bruin to beat Bastien was right winger Bill Shill.

On November 1, the Leafs hit the road for a tilt against the Montreal Canadiens. The defending Stanley Cup champions fell 4-2 to the Habs. As expected, with the first defeat of the new year, Hap Day was questioned about his goaltending situation. "Have you sent for McCool yet?" asked one member of the media. Not wanting to add further pressure upon his rookie, Day deflected attention away from his goalie. "No. Bastien played very well indeed. Canadiens have three lines with centres like Lach, O'Connor and Reay. I think if anything, they're stronger than last year," said the Leaf coach.

In game three on the 1945-46 schedule, the Leafs played host to the New York Rangers. Once again, the Leafs failed to support their first-year goalie as the Rangers coasted to a 4-1 victory.

On November 4, Toronto travelled to Chicago for an encounter against the Hawks. And things didn't get any better for the visitors. Chicago pounced on the Leafs and took a 3-0 lead by the 19-minute mark of the first period. They went on to trounce Toronto 7-4. Of course, all eyes were once again on Bastien. One scribe suggested Toronto's slogan was now "Keep cool, boys, without McCool, the worst is yet to come.

The era of Baz Bastien as the Leafs goalie came to an conclusion following their next game. Just as his time in the NHL started against Boston at Maple Leaf Gardens, it would end versus the Bruins at home. On November 7, Boston downed Toronto 4-3. The brunt of fan frustration towards the Leafs slow start fell squarely on Bastien. There were chants of "Bring back McCool" and Bastien heard from the boo-birds late in the game.

When the Leafs played in Detroit on November 8 to tangle with the Red Wings, they had a new starting in their line-up, Gordie Bell. Although there was a new face in the Leafs net, the result was the same. The Wings skated to a 3-2 win.

The contract dispute between McCool and the Leafs was resolved on November 21, 1945. On February 6, 1946, Turk Broda returned to action after spending three years in the military. The Leafs and Broda had to settle for a 3-3 tie against the Bruins in Boston Garden. Broda surrendered his first National Hockey League goal since the 1943 playoffs. He was beaten by a 30-foot shot off the stick of Boston defenceman Murray Henderson in the opening frame.

Following his stay with the Maple Leafs, Bastien was assigned to play for the Pittsburgh Hornets in the American Hockey League. From 1945-46 to 1948-49, Bastien spent most of his time guarding the Hornets net. In 1946-47, he split his time between Pittsburgh and the Hollywood Wolves of the PCHL. He was named to the AHL First All-Star Team in 1947, 1948 and 1949. In 1948 and 1949, Bastien had the fewest-goals-against in the AHL, thus earning him back-to-back Hap Holmes Memorial Awards.

In September 1949, Bastien and his Pittsburgh teammates were attending training camp in Welland, Ontario. During a training session, Don Clark took a shot from the blue line. Unfortunately, Bastien never saw the incoming shot which struck him in the face. The stricken goalie was transported to Welland Hospital where Dr. Henry McRea performed an operation to remove Bastien's right eye.

"I guess I've had it as far as goaltending is concerned, but I'm certainly not through with this game. I like hockey too much to drop it now and although I don't know exactly what I can do to stay with it I think I will find something," said Bastien concerning his future.

On October 17, 1949, the Maple Leafs and Hornets held a benefit night in Pittsburgh with proceeds going to assist Baz Bastien. A small crowd of 3,225 took in the game. It is believed many stayed away due to a steel strike. The parent club shutout Pittsburgh by a score of 4-0. A total of $4,804 was raised.

Bastien's goal of remaining in the game was accomplished on December 31, 1949. It was announced he would be taking over the coaching duties in Pittsburgh. His predecessor, Bob Davidson, would return to the Toronto management team

Aldege "Baz" Bastien remained in  the game until his death in 1983.