A Big Thank You

It's official! In October GreatestHockeyLegends.com, now entering it's 4th season, had the third busiest month in site history!

When you combine sister site HockeyBookReviews.com I blew away my previous best for readership.

A big thank you goes out to my loyal readers.

Exclusive Excerpt From Jacques Plante: The Man Who Changed The Face Of Hockey

McClelland & Stewart has granted Hockey Book Reviews.com an exclusive excerpt from Todd Denault's new book Jacques Plante: The Man Who Changed The Face Of Hockey.

Read The Excerpt

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

Classic Snap Shot: Happy Halloween!

This is the origin of the painted goalie mask:


On Halloween 1972, Favell's white mask was painted bright orange in a prank to make him look like a Jack O' Lantern. It was the first goalie mask paint job in hockey.

All these years later mask painting has become big business, filled with personalized and intricate artwork. Flaming skulls and screaming spirits and wielding wizards and menacing gargoyles.

But I far prefer masks of the 1970s and even 1980s. Why? Because I can see the mask in the stands and on my television set. Sure the masks were simple, but that is far better than today's intricate masks only the goal judge can see. All these amateur airbrush mask painters today should stick to painting the sides of vans.

Give me Patrick Roy's Canadiens mask or Mike Richter's Statue of Liberty mask or Eddie Belfour's eagle or Andy Moog's bear any day of the week.

HHOF Haunted? - Some people believe the Hockey Hall of Fame is haunted. It turns out in 1953 a 19 year old bank clerk (the HHOF used to be a Bank of Montreal/BMO) killed herself with a gun in a bathroom.

Trivia With The Trivia King

Who is the only player to score 200 career goals without having at least one 20-goal season?

Find out the answer in my Hockey Books Reviews.com interview with the hockey trivia king Don Weekes.

Be sure to check out my book reviews of Don's two new books, World Class Hockey Trivia and the Biggest Book of Hockey Trivia.

New Jacques Plante Book

This weekend marks the release of one of the last big hockey titles this season - Jacques Plante: The Man Who Changed the Face of Hockey by Todd Denault.

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

I'm still waiting for my copy to arrive. In the meantime, here's an excellent article on the book and it's author. Robert at Eyes On The Prize previously interviewed Todd Denault.

Shoebox Memories: Paul Coffey

The first thing everyone thinks about when the name Paul Coffey is mentioned is his skating ability. Wearing skates several sizes too small, this guy was simply amazing. In a couple of strides he was able to glide through the neutral and offensive zones faster than those dogged checkers chasing him. He was every bit as silky smooth as he was lightning quick.

Scoring exploits are also always remembered. He retired as the 10th highest scorer in NHL history, even though he was a defenseman. Coffey tallied 396 goals and 1,135 assists for 1,531 points in 1,409 regular-season games. He added 196 points, on 59 goals and 137 assists, in 194 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He eclipsed the 100-point mark five times in his career, and set the single-season goal-scoring record for defenseman with 48 goals in 1986.

Full Paul Coffey Profile

Vote For Hockey Canada's Cheer

The three finalists in Pepsi's Join The Cheer contest have been announced. Now is your time to vote!

Classic Snap Shot: Sutter Brothers

The Sutter brothers, all six of them, defined hard, physical hockey in the 1980s. Sometimes that meant they had to battle against one another, as evidenced here as Brent (Islanders) and younger Rich (Flyers) go at it hard:

Top Ten Worst Shootout Attempts

Too Much Hockey On TV?

There is too much hockey on television nowadays.

Now I know the only people who will agree with me are my girlfriend and especially her three kids, but hear me out.

When I was growing up, the Canucks would be on TV maybe a couple of times a month. Or sometimes not at all. The Oilers and Leafs dominated Hockey Night in Canada back then, and the Canadiens were always available on the French channel. When the Canucks were actually on TV, it was a truly special event for me. I would anticipate the puck drop all week long.

Nowadays 70 out of the Canucks 82 games are televised on CBC, TSN or SportsNet. That is a lot of hockey, especially considering I make it a rule to watch every NHL team play in the regular season twice, including at least one game not against the Canucks. I would guess I watch 150 complete games in the regular season, plus games every night during the playoffs, Olympics and World Juniors. That would put me around 250!

With 70 Canucks games to watch I can analyze them so closely that there is rarely any excitement or anticipation before any game anymore, in the regular season at least.

The other 12 games, including tonight's showdown with the Los Angeles Kings, are available only on pay-per-view.

I for one will not be watching.

It will be nice to have a respite from my team. I will tune into the highlights at the end of the night and find out how they did, just like in the olden days when I convinced my mom to stay up late to watch the late night sportscast. Maybe, just maybe, by missing one game I will look that much more forward to their next game.

Besides, it couldn't hurt to take the night off from the Canucks. Maybe I'll play Wii with the kids, or watch a movie. Or TSN has a double header. Maybe I'll watch that instead.

Shoebox Memories: Tom Laidlaw

"Tom Laidlaw plays defense the way it is supposed to be played," said New York Islanders legendary coach Al Arbour back in 1985.

Arbour then continued, " He almost never makes a mistake, he takes the man out in the slot, is mobile enough to get the puck out of his own end by skating it, or, more likely, hitting the open man with a precise, accurate, pass. If he gets a chance to rush he'll take it, but he understands that is not his job. And he plays it the way most defensemen did in the old six-team NHL."

Tom's playing style was a throwback to the old six-team era, an art form almost extinct in today's hockey He never tried to be fancy with the puck, he just concentrated to do his job and that was to keep his opponents and the puck away from his defensive zone.

Full Tom Laidlaw Profile

Classic Snap Shot: Big Tim Kerr

When Tim Kerr parked himself in front of the goalie, it was liking parking a dump truck in the slot. He was so big that you could not see around him, nor could you move him. But you had to do something, because he was a master at tip-ins and rebounds, scoring 50 goals regularly, before injuries finally wore down the big man.

Tretiak Coming To Toronto November 26th

The Vladislav Tretiak Foundation and the Canada Eurasia Russia Business Association (CERBA) will be holding a charity auction at the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 26th, 2009 at 6pm. The guest of honour will be Vladislav Tretiak, the Soviet goaltending legend and general manager of the 2010 Russian Olympic team.

CERBA has held charity auctions in Moscow every year since 2002, raising money to help orphans, improve schools and sporting facilities and provide equipment to hospitals in rural Russia. In February 2009 they raised $130,000 US.

This will be the first ever CERBA silent auction outside of Russia.

Event prizes and auction items will include outstanding hockey memorabilia from the 1972 Summit Series and around the NHL, fine jewelry, personal tours of the Russian State Duma, exquisite dinners and many more exciting items. Proceeds will benefit children charities in both Canada and Russia.

More information can be found at the CERBA website or by calling Natalia at (416) 360-2299.

Shoebox Memories: Lorne Henning

This is Lorne Henning, the New York Islanders' 17th overall draft pick in 1972. The Islanders fared quite well in the draft, also landing long time NHL players like Billy Harris, Bob Nystrom, Richard Brodeur, and Garry Howatt.

Henning was drafted out of New Westminister in the Bruins first year in the BC city. Before that the B's played out of Estevan, Saskatchewan, Henning's home town. Henning was the hero of Estevan also starring in baseball. He was a WCHL all star who later captained the Bruins.

Henning would jump immediately to the NHL with the expansion Islanders, staying with the team until 1981. With the likes of Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy joining the team over the years, Henning adopted a defensive role with the team, starring as a one of the league's best penalty killers. In fact, he shares the NHL record for most shorthanded goals in a single playoff year, tallying three shorties in 1980.

That year was also the first year the Islanders won the Stanley Cup. The Islanders would go on to win 4 consecutive Stanley Cup championships, with Henning playing a very important role. In fact, the much re-played 1980 championship winning goal by Bob Nystrom was set up with a perfect pass from none other than Henning.

His role ultimately changed after that 1980 title though. He became a playing coach in 1981, assisting head coach Al Arbour. The Islanders of course went on to win four consecutive Stanley Cup championships. The 1981 title made Lorne the last playing coach to win the Cup.

Henning retired having played 544 NHL games, scoring 73 goals and 111 assists for 184 points. He was an exceptional clean player, picking up only 102 penalty minutes in that time.

Henning was behind the bench for 18-year NHL seasons, mostly with the Islanders but also with coaching assignments with the North Stars, Blackhawks and Mighty Ducks. He now serves as an assistant general manager in Vancouver.

Henning's son Brett was once a promising NHL prospect. Drafted by the Islanders in 1999, he starred (and studied finance) at the University of Notre Dame and played with Team USA at the 2000 World Junior championships.

Injuries forced Brett out of the game, but he has started his own company, and written his first book - 7 Pre-Game Habits of Pro Hockey Players - designed to help you become the best hockey player you can be. Check out my book review at Hockey Book Reviews.com, and enjoy my interview with Brett about his career, family and book.

Exclusive Images Of New Hockey Book

Andrew Podnieks is back with a beautiful updated book just in time for the Olympics called Canada's Olympic Hockey History, 1920-2010.

Over at Hockey Book Reviews.com I have the full review, including exclusive images from the inside of this beautiful new book that is shrink wrapped on store shelves.

Full Book Review

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

Classic Snap Shot: Roger Crozier

That's using your head! Good job, Roger Crozier.

Fever Season

You would have to be living under a rock to not know about the dreaded H1N1 flu virus. Even the hockey world is affected by it. Colorado goaltender Peter Budaj has contracted H1N1.

H1N1 is the worst flu since World War I. Now that Spanish Influenza virus seriously messed with the hockey world. The 1919 Stanley Cup championship series between the Seattle Metropolitans and Montreal Canadiens was cancelled after several players fell ill. Hockey Hall of Famer Bad Joe Hall of Montreal eventually died as he had contracted pneumonia on top of the dread flu.

This real life event serves as the setting for Eric Zweig's new fictional novel Fever Season by Dundurn Press.

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

Read the full book review at HockeyBookReviews.com.

Changing OT For The Better

Am I the only one who is really annoyed by 4-on-4 NHL regular season overtime?

I'm not even going to touch the whole get-a-point-for-losing debate, let alone the skills competition that follows a scoreless overtime. What I don't like is the 4 on 4 play, something which a lot of fans actually don't mind about the current set up.

4-on-4 overtime can provide for some of the most exciting action on the ice in any game, I will grant you that. But that is only when the game allows for transition offense, which depending on the teams, can be frequent. I will grant you that, too.

But when the transition offense is reduced to zone play, I get frustrated. I watch the two forwards cycle the puck with no third forward to open up shooting or passing lanes or to get into scoring position. I see most defensemen unwilling to pinch up, in fear of being caught on a turnover. What we end up with is frustrating hockey that just doesn't look right. Where's the other player?

Taking a player off the ice is just ridiculous. You don't take away players off of a baseball field in extra innings, so why should we do that in hockey?

Here's what we should do. Return to 5 on 5 overtime, but only allow 4 defensive players in the defensive zone. The result is essentially a power play for the offensive team. The defensive team can be rewarded for their hard work by springing the player trapped in the neutral zone, thus keeping alive the exciting transition play.

As a hockey purist I don't like all the rule changes over the recent past, especially regarding overtime and how games end. This would be a good way of fixing OT. I can live with the shootout, but we will have to do something about points for losing. I'll leave that for a future post.

Top Ten Stick Saves

Here's a TSN top ten video compilation of the best stick saves!

Shoebox Memories: Reed Larson

Reed Larson ranks as one of the greatest American born and raised hockey players in the history of the sport. That being said, he is rarely recognized as such. This is partly because his career pre-dated the generation of American stars that first gained acclaim in the NHL, players like Jeremy Roenick, Brett Hull and Chris Chelios.

Reed Larson's hockey sense was uncanny, as he could read plays develop better than most players. He was a top offensive defenseman throughout the early 1980s, thanks largely to his effective shot. He would score many goals in his career, and many of his assists were a result of rebounds or deflections from his booming point shot.

Full Reed Larson Story

Hitting The Post With Habs Stamps

When they officially unveiled the Montreal Canadiens centennial commemorative postage stamps I immediately had two thoughts.

1) That would make a great Christmas gift.
2) Memories of my last trip to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

It's been 4 years since I've been to the Hall of Fame in Toronto, far too long. I'll never forget that visit. I was the first person in the door. Later that day they let Valeri Kharlamov, Cam Neely and Murray Costello in to the Hall, too.

Inside, the Great Hall and Stanley Cup always steal the show, but it is the unexpected exhibits that really wow me. On this particular visit it was the new display of the world's largest collection of hockey themed postage stamps that amazed me the most. The collection was mostly donated by collectors Richard Mitchener of Ottawa and Gordon Juckes, the long time executive of what is now known as Hockey Canada, of Saskatchewan.

I am no philatelist, but I thought it was so cool. Not only were there stamps from Russia and Scandinavia and Canada, but completely unexpected stamps from South America and Asia and all sorts of non-hockey countries.

In fact, countries like Mongolia have more hockey-themed stamps than Canada. Why? Revenue is the simple answer. Countries that don't even know what a hockey puck is will issue stamps, almost always to commemorate the Olympics, knowing that world collectors will be buying but never using the stamps. It is no different here in North America, and it is big business.

Stamps have been around since 1840, first introduced in England. The United States first issued stamps in 1847 and Canada in 1849.

The first sports-themed stamp came in 1896. The Greeks honoured the resurrection of the Olympics with the special stamp.

The first hockey-themed stamps came in 1948. The Swiss issued 4 different stamps to commemorate the St. Moritz Olympics that year. The hockey stamp, pictured below, featured a maskless goaltender.


The Soviets had a hockey themed stamp in 1949, but Canada would not come out with a hockey stamp until 1956:

Canadian hockey stamps have been pretty rare, although Canada Post has gotten much more proactive beginning in the 1990s. Commemorative stamps have been issued for the 1972 Summit Series, NHL's 75th anniversary and a popular NHL All Star series.

The most famous hockey stamp has to come from Sweden. After Peter Forsberg's spectacular gold medal shootout goal against Canada in the 1994 Olympics, the Swedes immortalized the event in 1995 with a stamp. The only problem was Canadian goaltender Corey Hirsch refused to allow his likeness to be represented. The Swedes had to come through with a much more generic than historically accurate stamp:


Here's some more hockey themed stamps, these ones from Russia:


Some NHL themed stamps from Canada:




Here's a couple more hockey stamps from unusual countries, beginning with Cambodia:


This one is from Nicaragua:


Here's one from Afghanistan, long before the Canadians were stationed there:


How about these two from Belize:


I don't think I even knew Burundi was even a country:

I think we all know Chad is a country, but I don't think they have any idea what hockey is:

Lastly, here's an offering from Cameroon:

Shoebox Memories: Petri Skriko

Ugh. My foray into the world of fantasy hockey continues to make me look like I know absolutely nothing about hockey. I'm sure some will tell you I don't!

I'm in the CBC weekly fantasy pool, languishing around 20,000th spot! With the cap component I've decided it really comes down to luck. You have to guess who will be the streaky hot players each week. That is the only way you will gain significant ground.

For example - on Saturday night I picked up 18 fantasy points in 15 NHL games. On Sunday night I picked up 16 more fantasy points in just 3 NHL games. Luck.

One of the streakiest players I remember from my youth was Petri Skriko. One week in November, 1986 Skriko had three hat tricks - including one four goal game - in five games.

I could sure use some advice who will be Petri Skriko next week.

Classic Snap Shot: Igor Larionov

Here's Igor Larionov, one step ahead of Wayne Gretzky.


Everyone knows Igor Larionov was a great player. His passing and vision were spectacular. People may not know, however, that he was one of the brightest students of the game I was ever around. He was always learning, always helping, always teaching. I loved that part of his game."

-- Wayne Gretzky

Weekend Reading: Wayne Gretzky

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated's wonderful online vault (c'mon Hockey News, follow suit!), here's a look at Wayne Gretzky's cover shots with SI over the years:







As an added bonus, here's Gretzky's cover shot for Time Magazine: