Remembering Heffernan, politics, leeches and Thistles

The NHL All Star break is now over, and so too is Legends of Hockey Network's special commemorative coverage of All Star competitions vs. the Soviet National Team, specifically the 1979 Challenge Cup and Rendez Vous '87. If you missed it, simply click on the previous links. I will also be keeping these links on the right hand column of archives under "Special Interest"

There has been some news and features over the past few days:

First and foremost, the hockey world lost Gerry Heffernan last week. He only played one season in the NHL, 1943-44 with Montreal, but he won the Stanley Cup and was a member of the Razzle Dazzle Line with Buddy O'Conner and Pete Morin. Curtis Pashelka of the Contra Costa Times has a great article remembering Heffernan. He had a very interesting life both in and out of hockey.

Dave Stubbs of the Montreal Gazette/CanWest News Services tells us former tough guy Darren Langdon is entering the world of politics, but fell just shy of the Conservative nomination for the upcoming federal by-election in the Humber Valley (Newfoundland) riding. Hockey and politics have crossed over in the past. Currently Frank Mahovlich sits as a Canadian senator and Ken Dryden as a Member of Parliament., In the past Howie Meeker and Red Kelly played in the NHL while holding office. Coincidentally, I found this gem: Red Kelly remembers his political career in a Gary Levy interview with the Canadian Parliamentary Review.

Evan Weiner at NHL.com recently caught up with Eddie Johnston. A whole generation of fans remember Eddie only as the long time Penguins executive, but he was once a very good NHL goalie in the days before protective masks. In Weiner's "Off The Wall" segment, Johnston recalls suffering severe facial injuries that required the unusual use of leeches in order to lessen the swelling that had firmly shut his eyes. "I come up the next game and shut Chicago out 2-0," tells E.J.

Interestingly, the Dale Hawerchuk, Bryan Trottier, Glenn Anderson and Hayley Wickenheiser helped the 100th anniversary recreation of the Kenora Thistles-Montreal Wanderers Stanley Cup showdown.