Relief Goaltender

This is Randy Exelby. His first taste of NHL action quite literally was a relief appearance.

Exelby was called up to Montreal as both Patrick Roy (tonsillitis) and Brian Hayward (flu) were ill. Roy played this particular game against Buffalo, with Exelby as the back up. He played 57 minutes of the game, but needed to take a 3 minute break in the second period to go to the bathroom.

Coach Pat Burns could not help but laugh when the linesman informed him Roy, who was frequently rehydrating, needed the bathroom break. So he gave Exelby the nod, giving the rookie his first action in the show, as they say.

Here's the full Randy Exelby profile.

Classic Snap Shot: Gordie Howe Celebrates His Birthday

This photo comes from March 31st, 1974, Gordie Howe's 46th birthday. He is celebrating his birthday with his sons/teammates Mark and Marty before a WHA game.

Bruins-Leafs Game Suspended Due To Curfew

March 31st, 1951 saw the Boston Bruins travel to Toronto take on the Maple Leafs in game two of their playoff semi-final. It was a notable game because it was never decided.

The game was called at 11:45pm, after one period of overtime, with the scored locked at 1-1. The province of Ontario had a Sunday curfew, which banned sporting events on Sundays. This particular game - which of course started on Saturday - ran late due to many penalties. The play had to be halted several times to allow rink attendants to scrape the blood off of the ice.

The game was ruled a no-contest. Toronto went on to win the series four games to one.

World's Oldest Manufactured Hockey Stick

This is believed to be the world's oldest manufactured hockey stick:


That's owner Mark O'Connell showing off the stick to Sidney Crosby.

This 42 inch stick has been authenticated by the Hockey Hall of Fame. It is believed to have been created in the 1870s, as early as 1871, by an American sporting goods company called Ditson, which was the forerunner to Spalding.

The stick could be worth millions of dollars. Which is amazing given that for years not only did this stick sit on a work bench in Mark O'Connell's garage and was even used by his son in road hockey games.

O'Connell has been the told this stick has more historical significance than previously celebrated old sticks, including a stick that was for sale at the Olympics for over $2 million and was appraised as high as $4.5 million.

But O'Connell is not looking to sell his stick. Not yet anyways. The stick has provided him with more valuable opportunities.

O'Connell has been travelling the country, sharing the stick with Canadians. The stick has given him the opportunity to see this great country and experience it's undying love for hockey. Not to mention meet many great Canadians and hockey legends.

Keep your eye out for Mark O'Connell and the world's oldest manufactured hockey stick. He may be coming to your town one day soon.

Classic Snapshot: Orr and McDonald

Look at this beautiful photo of Bobby Orr and a young and mustache-less Lanny McDonald.

Cherry Biopic Fantastic

This is what Don Cherry really looked like in 1955:


But for now the 1955 Cherry looks a whole lot more like actor Jared Keeso, pictured to the right. Keeso was amazing in Sunday night's part one of the Don Cherry biopic Keep Your Head Up, Kid.

My expectations are always pretty low for these type of things. Maybe that's why I was blown away with the movie Sunday night. Never mind the fact that Cherry is perhaps Canada's most unmistakable personality in Canada. It took no time at all for me to forget all about that and really get into enjoying this show.

Keeso is fantastic, and the show's production quality is amazing. The hockey scenes are great. There is a very authentic minor league feel of days gone by. And even an objective Cherry basher (if there is such a thing) can't help but be pulling for the youngster as he tries to fulfill his hockey dreams.

Do yourself a favor. Make sure you tune into Monday night at 8pm to catch the conclusion of Keep Your Head Up, Kid: The Don Cherry Story.

Don Cherry Movie Starts Tonight

Keep Your Head Up, Kid - CBC's Don Cherry biopic - airs in two parts Sunday and Monday nights.

It is a "story about success and failure and perseverance." That's how Jared Keeso, who portrays Cherry, describes the film.

The film was written and produced by Don's son Tim, a long time television producer in Canada. While most Canadians know Don as the loud television personality, this movie does not cover that. Instead it chronicles Cherry's life as a youth, a minor league hockey player and long time coach.

CBC has lots more information.

Slap Shots

Putting the puck on the 'Net:

• More than 50 Penguins legends will gather in Pittsburgh for the game vs. NY Islanders on April 8th.
• A very frail Pat Burns was on hand, as was Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as they announced a new arena in Quebec will be named in Burn's honor.
• Glen Hanlon has been announced as the new coach of the Slovakian national team. Good luck Glen. From what I understand, you are taking over just as one generation ends and there's not much coming to replace it.
• Remember Brian Curran? He's in a whole different type of fight now.

As always, join me on Twitter @HockeyLegends

No Horsing Around With Baillargeon

This is Paul Baillargeon, a famous Quebec strongman and wrestler. Paul's specialty act was lifting horses. Once source I found suggest he once climbed a telephone pole with a horse on his back!

I do not know that Papa Baillargeon ever helped son Joel Baillargeon in his training for his own pro-sports career, but he could be proud of his son for making it to the National Hockey League for 20 games, the last five of which were with his hometown Nordiques.

The left winger was noted as a zealous bodychecker but not a goon. He was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets 113th overall in 1983, and would play 15 games with the team split between the 1986-87 season and the 1987-88 season. He picked up two assists.

He was later shipped to Quebec where he mostly played with their farm team in Halifax. As mentioned Joel did crack the Nordiques line up for five games during the 1988-89 season. The Nords were a very weak team at this point in their existence. I don't think the strength of the entire Baillergeon family could have lifted the Nordiques out of the NHL basement.

In addition to being a strongman and wrestler, Paul Baillargeon was a very successful hotelier in Quebec City, and president of the Quebec City Hotel and Restaurant Association. It is unclear if the family is still in the business today.

This is just another example of how the worlds of hockey and wrestling have been linked in Canada. For more information, check out my special article "Wrist Shots and Wrist Locks."

Original St. Louis Blues Jerseys

Take a look at these Blue Notes:


That is Lynn Patrick and Sid Saloman III celebrating the announcement of the St. Louis Blues as a NHL expansion franchise for 1967. The digs they were wearing were the first publicly released rendition of the team's look.

Obviously some changes were made prior to the team's first NHL puck drop.

Exciting Times at VPL

I've been spending lots of time here at Vancouver Public Library (beautiful building, isn't it?), going through mountains of books and accessing 40 years of The Hockey News archives. Some things never change.....Hamilton wants team, Flyers have goaltending issues, and Leafs are "a disaster."

I have gathered 100s of new files for player biographies, and will be looking to add these files over the coming months. In the meantime feel free to look through the 1200 or so player profiles I already have here.

Have a great weekend!

Bobby Orr's Dad Was Great Player, Too

Here's a passage from Howard Liss's 1972 book Strange But True Hockey Stories:

"Parry Sound is a small town about 100 miles north of Toronto. It gets mighty cold up there. Frigid winds whip down on parry Sound from Georgian Bay, a body of water connected to Lake Huron. The ice starts forming along the shore and on rivers and streams late in November or early December, and it doesn't break up until April.

"Hockey scouts have learned that many good prospects come from faraway places like Parry Sound. Kids start skating soon after they learn to walk, and more often than not they are carrying hockey sticks. Scouts trek out to places like Parry Sound because they know that they may discover a great hockey player. Such players as Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio and Jean Beliveau came from the far reaches of the Canadian north.

"In 1942 Harold "Baldy" Cotton, chief scout of the Boston Bruins, heard about a couple of young players in Western Ontario named Pete Horeck and Doug Orr. Cotton went to see them play and was quite impressed. Horeck looked good, but Orr looked even better. He was a fast skater, a better stickhandler, and he was bigger and stronger than Horeck. Cotton wanted them both to try out with a Boston farm team.

"Horeck agreed, but Doug Orr had other plans. World War II had broken out and he wanted to enlist in the navy. So Horeck reported to the Atlantic City Seagulls of the Eastern Hockey League, and Doug Orr joined the navy."

The rest, as they say his history. Horeck went on to the American Hockey League and then to NHL for several years, playing with Boston, Chicago and Detroit. Doug Orr returned home after the war, but at the age of 21 opted not to pursue hockey again. He immediately found a job to support his wife and growing family, a family that included third child Robert Gordon Orr.

Twelve years after the birth of Bobby Orr the Bruins scouts, this time led by Milt Schmidt, Lynn Patrick and Wren Blair, headed to an Ontario Bantam Championship. They came away amazed by the 12 year old Orr.

Liss quotes the Bruins first impressions of their new found prodigy:

"Incredible! The way that boy skates without wasted motion. Reminds me of Doug Harvey," said Schmidt."

"No, no," rebutted Patrick, "He's more like Eddie Shore - he keeps the puck in front of him, always looking for an opening."

The Bruns went on to sponsor the Parry Sound teams to ensure they had first crack at Bobby, and, believe it or not, they signed him when he turned 14.

Liss speculated that we may never have heard of Bobby Orr had Doug pursued his own NHL career first.

"No one doubts that Bobby Orr was the most spectacular player in a generation. But luck may have played its part in his success. Some sportswriters think that if Doug Orr had played big league hockey, no one would ever have heard of Bobby Orr.

"If Doug had accepted Baldy Cotton's offer of a tryout with Boston, he would have become a Bruin and Bobby might have grown up in Boston instead of Parry Sound. Bobby would have had fewer opportunities to skate and perhaps less encouragement from his father. In fact, he might not have been a hockey player at all."

Joe Krol

Canadian sporting fans of the 1940s and 1950s certainly knew the name Joe Krol. He was the "King" of the Canadian Football League. Starring as a quarterback, running back, defensive back and placekicker/punter, Joe Krol one of the greatest Toronto Argonauts ever.

But there was another Joe Krol in the sporting world at pretty much the same time. This Joe Krol, 4 years older and born in Winnipeg, starred in hockey. He briefly appeared in the National Hockey League, splitting time with the two New York teams, before having his career disrupted by World War II.

Krol would make a pro hockey living in the New York and Philadelphia area from 1935 through 1942. Originally playing with the New York Rovers of the EHL, he was probably best known as a Philadelphia Ramblers of the IAHL. Over the course of those four seasons he twice played games for the New York Rangers, three seasons apart. In his second game, in 1939 when he replaced the injured Cecil Dillon, he even scored 1 goal and 1 assist, but was returned to the minors.

Someone in New York must have noticed the left winger' one good game with the Rangers. In 1941-42 the cross town Americans, now known as Brooklyn, rescued Krol from the minor leagues. He played in 24 games, scoring 9 goals and 12 points.

That would be the end of Joe Krol's hockey career. World War II summoned. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, achieving the rank of leading aircraftman. He continued playing hockey with RCAF teams based in Vancouver and Winnipeg.

Upon his discharge from military service Krol did not put the skates on again. Instead he found a job with Air Canada in Winnipeg and then Montreal. He would work their for over three decades.

Joe Krol died on October 26th, 1993 in Calgary.

From best as I can ascertain through the newspaper archives, Joe Krol was a very solid minor league player and was well thought of by NHL teams. He appeared to have had some bad timing in that his NHL break came just prior to his departure to the armed forces where he discovered another rewarding career.

Red Wings Played Prison Hockey Team In 1954

Outdoor games are definitely a highlight of the NHL season nowadays. From Fenway Park in Boston to Wrigley Field in Chicago to Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton to Red Square in Moscow, they provide great memories for all hockey fans.

There likely were not too many spectators for arguably the most infamous outdoor game involving a NHL team, though.

On February 2nd, 1954, Gordie Howe and the Detroit Red Wings played a game in 21 degree Fahrenheit temperatures on an outdoor ice surface constructed at Marquette Prison in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

It seems Detroit's manager Jack Adams made a deal, mostly in jest, that the Wings would scrimmage against the inmates. Adams had visited the prison to visit a couple of mobsters by the name of Ray Bernstein and Harry Keywell, notable Detroit sports fans before their incarceration. He promised the duo the Wings appearance at Marquette, knowing full well that the prison had no facilities and no hockey team.

That changed shortly thereafter, as the prison hired Oakie Brumm, a celebrated University of Michigan hockey player, as the prison's director of physical activity. He arranged for the outdoor ice surface, and then hounded Adams to come through with his promise.

Adams donated used equipment to the inmates so that they could practice. Then, on Groundhog's Day 1954, the Wings faced-off with the criminals, some of whom were incarcerated for crimes that would make hockey tough guys look like teddy bears.

Not surprisingly, the game was a mismatch. The Wings were up 18-0 after the first period, and that's when they stopped keeping score. On account had Gordie Howe circling around the net unimpeded three times before finally taking a shot and scoring.

At the end of the game the victorious Wings were awarded a "honey bucket," a pail prisoners used in their cells as toilets. Adams hoisted the trophy up high, as if it were the Stanley Cup.

Adams is quoted as saying "This is a great day. I'm proud of having such a fine farm team up here in the north. The only trouble is, you guys sure have made it tough for me to recruit any of you."

Slap Shots: History Will Be Made

A few slap shots to the 'Net of things of historical interest while I was away:

• Gotta love this: The NHL's new advertising campaign for the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs is History Will Be Made. The two earliest released commercials involve Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux.
  
• Teemu Selanne got his 600th goal. He needs two more to pass countryman Jari Kurri. He's got 11 games left to do it, assuming he does retire this year.
  
• Who's the greatest Finnish player of all time? Selanne or Kurri?
• Robin Bouchard scored his 683rd career minor league goal, passing Don Parsons. I have never heard of either of them, but in their own way they too are great hockey legends.
• Mike Emrick called his 3000th pro hockey game. That's the equivalent of almost 37 seasons for a player!
• Darren Eliot chimes in with his memories of The Great One.
• NHL.com apparently will open it's magical vault and allow online users to access on demand classic games - for a price.
  

Lou Jankowski Passed Away

Not many sources reporting it, but former NHLer Lou Jankowski died on Saturday. He was 78.

Jankowski played 130 NHL games with the Red Wings and Blackhawks back in the 1950s. He lived his later years in Florida where he was a regular at Tampa Bay Lightning games.

Classic Snap Shots: Cam Neely and Ulf Sameulsson

Jackie Keating

Standing at 5'7" and reportedly weighing in as low as 135lbs, John "Jackie" Keating was one of the smallest players to ever play in the National Hockey League.

The proud New Brunswicker, nicknamed the Miramichi Flash, played 35 games over the course of the 1931-32 and 1932-33 seasons for the New York Americans. In that span he tallied 5 goals and 5 assists for 10 points in an otherwise unnotable NHL career. He spent several years in the minor leagues, most notably with the AHL Providence Reds.

Yet Keating remains a legend of hockey, especially in the maritimes. He was a long time senior player in St. John, playing with the Fusiliers, Beavers and Garrison. He was an equally celebrated hockey coach, guiding the Beavers for nine years including in 1946 when the team won the Martime championships and competed for the Allan Cup. One of his players, Gus Kyle, even went on to NHL success.

Kyle stepped down as coach bu became a director of minor hockey in Saint John while also managing the summer baseball team. Keating was also a heck of a ball player in his day, winning a batting championship in the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League in 1927 with a .389 batting average

Keating, who worked as a city surveyor, is definitely a sporting legend in Saint John and New Brunswick, with his contributions in both hockey and baseball being felt for years. He was inducted into the provincial Sports Hall of Fame in 1973.

Highlight Of The Season This Weekend

This really has been a most amazing hockey season for me.

It all started with the National Hockey League and my favorite team the Vancouver Canucks coming to my hometown for Hockeyville. That may have been the greatest weekend Terrace, BC has ever seen.

The Canucks are in the midst of a memorable season, especially my two favorite players - Daniel and especially Henrik Sedin.

Of course there was arguably the greatest hockey tournament of all time, held right here at home in Vancouver. Sidney Crosby's Golden Goal will be remembered forever.

While I'm still hoping against all odds of a Stanley Cup championship in Vancouver to end this season, my personal hockey highlight will be this weekend. And I have Brett Henning and his father Lorne Henning to thank for it.

The Canucks host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night, one night before my girlfriend's daughter's 16th birthday. The Hennings were kind enough to arrange 4 tickets for myself, Kylie, her mother and her best friend. We surprised her with a weekend shopping getaway to the big city and her first NHL hockey game.

Watching her enjoy this game will be my personal highlight of this most amazing hockey season. Happy Birthday Kylie. Enjoy the game, and oh, keep your eye on the score clock for an additional surprise.

I will be spending all of next week down in Vancouver, doing tons of research. I will resume updating the site daily on Sunday. In the meantime be sure to follow me on http://twitter.com/HockeyLegends. Join me on Facebook for photos of the weekend.

Japan Upsets Canada: Triple Gold Dream Over

Japan played a perfect defensive game plan and scored late in the game to pull off a big upset in the Sledge Hockey semi-finals. They defeated Canada 3-1, thanks to a goal with 73 seconds left in the game.

The crowd seemed stunned and the Canadian players are no doubt very disappointed. But they should also be very proud. Their play has earned the sport of Sledge Hockey not only 1000s of new fans across the country but a whole new respect for the sport and the athletes.

Great job guys. I can't wait to watch Canada in the bronze medal game on Friday. Do yourself proud and bring home a medal!

The Mighty Atom and The Stratford Streak

No NHL team is better at their honoring former stars than the Montreal Canadiens. That's a good thing considering they have more former stars than most teams combined.

If there is one ceremony that sticks out more than others it definitely would be the night in 1984 when "The Mighty Atom" Aurele Joliat returned to the Montreal Forum.



Joliat was a spectacular player in his day back in the 1920s and 1930s. Even though he was awarded the 1934 Hart Trophy, the three time Stanley Cup champion was always in the shadow of Howie Morenz. Here's a few clips of Joliat recalling the great "Stratford Streak."

NHL Needs WWE's Chairmen

Kudos goes out to the WWE, who have eliminated a staple of their product for the safety of its performers:

From the Baltimore Sun: "WWE has officially banned chair shots to the head."

Meanwhile, the NHL continues to turn it's back on the Marc Savards, David Booths, Eric Lindros' and Don Sandersons. Not to mention the safety of hockey players at every level everywhere.

Classic Snap Shot: Wayne Gretzky

Luck Of The Irish

It is one of the most unique game worn Toronto Maple Leafs sweater in hockey history. It sold last year at ClassicAuctions.net for nearly $38,000!


The story behind this green wool sweater, complete with the shamrock on the back, is amazing. It was actually worn in a league game back on St. Patrick's Day, 1934. While the rest of the Leafs wore their familiar blue, King Clancy wore this very special outfit for the first period. In the second and third Clancy had to return to his normal jersey as Lester Patrick, coach of the opposing New York Rangers, complained about the alternate jersey on the ice.

Why was the impish Clancy wearing this jersey? The Leafs were hosting "King Clancy Night." Clancy was as big a star as Toronto has ever seen. They honored him with the night, the jersey, and a number of stereotypical gifts that would keep any Irish eyes smiling.

Several junior players stepped on to the ice through large potato props. Red Horner emerged from a boxing glove. New York Ranger's star Bill Cook hid in a shamrock. All the while the Knights of Columbus Minstrel Band played Irish music.

But the highlight of the night was when Clancy was introduced to the sold out arena. There has never been anything quite like it in sports before or since.

Here's Clancy's own memories of the event:

When my turn finally came, the lights were all turned out and, dressed in royal robes and wearing a crown, I was ushered in on a big throne pulled by Hap Day. As the float reached the middle of the rink, I got hit in the face with a handful of soot from (Hap) Day and (Charlie) Conacher. When the lights came on, I looked like Santa Claus but my face was pitch black. It took me two or three days to get that stuff off.

This was a wonderful night to give anybody and I have wonderful memories of it. There is also a grandfather's clock at home which is worth more than any amount of money because of the inscription on it: 'From the Toronto Maple Leafs to King Clancy on St. Patrick's Night 1934.'"

Here's some photographic evidence of the evening:


The Leafs won the game 3-2. Talk about luck of the Irish.

Tavares' Big Night

After really hitting a wall in the last 20 or so games, John Tavares erupted for a memorable 5 point night against Vancouver on Tuesday, scoring 2 goals and 3 assists. The Islanders won the game 5-2. By the way, the last time the Islanders won in Vancouver (1999), John Tavares was 8 years old.

According to Islanders statistician and good GHL friend Eric Hornick, Tavares equaled a Islanders' team record. Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, Pat Lafontaine and Mikko Makela (remember him?!) all had 5 points in a game in their rookie seasons.

Interestingly, only 5 NHL rookies have ever had better nights:

8-Peter Stastny, Feb 22, 1981
8-Anton Stastny, Feb 22, 1981
7-Wayne Gretzky, Feb 15, 1980
7-Sergei Makarov, Feb 25, 1990
6-Wayne Gretzky, Mar 29, 1980
6-Gary Suter, Apr 4, 1986

You'll notice the Stastny brothers both scored eight points in the exact same game, a crazy 11-7 win over the Washington Capitals. Here's the full game summary, courtesy of the Hockey Summary Project.

Slap Shots: Dan Quinn Goes To Masters

Time to put the puck on the 'Net:

• Former NHLer Dan Quinn to caddie for Ernie Els at Masters
• Bruins with great gesture to family of late Bill Speer
• Old Rocket Richard documentaries come to DVD
  

More as always on Twitter @HockeyLegends.

Revamp Suspensions, But How?

Okay, so Alexander Ovechkin gets two games for his reckless hit on Brian Campbell. Steve Downie gets zero for slew-footing Sidney Crosby.

Both were reckless, dangerous plays that need to be eradicated from the game. So why does one not result in a suspension?

Here's why, according to @TSNBobMcKenzie:

Why Ovie was suspended, Downie not? U won't like it, but it's one word - injury. If Crosby injured, Downie sits. If Campbell not, Ovie plays

I have a problem with that. I always have. I remember during the whole Todd Bertuzzi episode thinking that if Steve Moore was not seriously injured, not much would have happened. And that I had seen far worse incidents go undisciplined simply because the victim was somehow not seriously hurt.

In that same season as the Bertuzzi incident I remember Doug Weight deliberately deliver a vicious cross-check to the face of Henrik Sedin. Somehow Henrik got up and walked away, but why was Weight, like Downie several years later, not disciplined?

If you want to truly eliminate dangerous behaviour on the ice, you need to punish those who commit fouls even if somehow there was no injury as a result of the act.

Everyone always calls for a revamping of the NHL discipline system, but no one ever comes up with a reasonable new standard. Suspended as long as the player is injured? Not going to happen. Revoke the instigator rule and allow the players to settle things on the ice? Also not going to happen.

I do not know the answer, either. But I do know I want to see changes that eliminate reckless players, whether they injure someone or not.

Funny Feeling In Vancouver

That's Mike Bossy scoring against "King" Richard Brodeur in the 1982 Stanley Cup finals.

For many Vancouver fans like myself, that was the first great moment in Canucks team history. Against long odds, and completely unexpectedly, the Canucks were in the Stanley Cup finals.

A similar situation unfolded in 1994, although that team was far better and were a couple of game 7 goal posts away from actually winning the Stanley Cup.

Aside from those two glorious springs, playoff hockey in Vancouver has historically been more about early exits. More recently it has been more about disappointing results.

But there is a funny feeling in Vancouver these days. Perhaps it is just post-Olympic optimism, but it seems to me that for the first time ever the Canucks fans see their teams as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.

Now they said that of teams in both the Pavel Bure/Trevor Linden and Markus Naslund/Todd Bertuzzi era, but those experts were ultimately proven wrong. And I don't know that Canucks fans even dared to believe in it back then, anyways. Years of disappointment can be really hard on a fan.

But this spring I like Vancouver's chances so much that I'm willing to risk jinxing it by coming right out and saying it. I'm not quite going to pick them to win the Stanley Cup just yet, but, if healthy, I like their chances in the Western Conference.

Chicago is the odds on favorite, no doubt. Vancouver has some concerns - I don't like the 3rd and 4th lines and the lack of a #1 defenseman. But I do not know that Vancouver has ever entered the Stanley Cup playoffs with a better team.

Game Worn Jerseys

There is less than two days left in the current offering from ClassicAuctions.net. There are some bargain prices out there, in my estimation. Especially on game worn jerseys. Now is a great time to pick one up.

Now, a lot of the bargains are of no-name players. But we all have personal favorites over the years, and picking up a game worn jersey of such a player under $200 is cheaper than buying an authentic replica at your local retailer. Glen Wesley, Steve Smith, Eric Daze, Bob Kudelski, Darryl Sydor, Glen Murray, Tyler Wright and Steve Staios are among the players included in this category.

If you want to get a little pricier, you can go after a Sidney Crosby, Martin Brodeur or Alexander Ovechkin (Team Russia) game worn. Consider it a long term investment.

Some of the most interesting older game worn jerseys available include Tim Horton, Patrick Roy, Mario Lemieux, Guy Lafleur, Jaromir Jagr, and, rarest of them all, Gilles Meloche's Cleveland Barons uniform.

Here is the complete listing of game worn jerseys currently available at ClassicAuctions.net.

Remembering Bob Attersley

Sad news to pass along this weekend - hockey legend and Olympian Bob Attersley died on Friday. He was 76.

Attersley is a hero in the Ontario city of Whitby. He was a long time senior hockey player with the legendary Dunlops. They were crowned as Canada's amateur champs in 1957, winning the Allan Cup. They represented the country at the 1958 World Championships, where they knocked off the mighty Soviets thanks to Attersley's winning goal with three minutes left in the game. Attersley was one of the Dunnies added to the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen team that represented Canada at the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley, bringing home the silver medal.

Attersley, a former Oshawa Generals junior star, never played in the National Hockey League. Instead he chose to play semi-pro hockey in Kingston until 1962. His #15 Dunnies jersey is honoured in Whitby alongside more modern day heroes like Joe Nieuwendyk, Gary Roberts and Keith Primeau.

He lived in Whitby much of his life, serving as mayor from 1980 to 1991. He had served the area politically in one capacity or another since 1964. He was also a prominent businessman in the area.

The Man In The Mirror

Of all the items listed at the current ClassicAuctions.net offering, this Bobby Orr mirror inexplicably excites me:


Bobby Orr pitching whiskey to you every time you check your look. And does this vintage mirror not absolutely scream 1970s.

Bobby is looking positively dapper in that white turtleneck and sports jacket. He doesn't look like he's aged a bit in 35 years. I wonder if this mirror would have the same effect on me?

Those Were The Days: Turk Broda

Here's a funny story about Maple Leafs goaltending great Turk Broda, as told by Max Bentley to Jack Batten in the excellent book, The Leafs In Autumn:

"This one night Turk took me to a Chinese restaurant. In the middle of the place there were some very deep stairs. Turk had had a lot to drink and, my gosh, he fell all the way down the stairs. He hurt himself something bad. Next day at practice, he went up to Hap Day.

"Boy, do my bones ache," Turk told him. "I got a really bad case of the flu."

All week he kept that up. "Boy, I wish this flu would go away."

I don't know if Hap ever caught on. The thing was, you couldn't ever get mad at Turk. I was always grateful to him.

Gretzky's First Bodyguard

His longevity was amazing, especially considering Wayne Gretzky was one of the scrawniest hockey players ever to compete in the sport that prides itself as warriors on ice.

One of the reasons Gretzky survived was that he had "bodyguards" on the ice. No one dared to touch Gretzky, because if you did, his teammates were quick to the rescue. Both the Oilers and Kings loaded up on tough guys, with Dave Semenko and Marty McSorley being the most notable.

So who was Gretzky's first bodyguard? His grandmother.

This is Paul Reinhart. He was an absolute dynamo of hockey in his youth. A chronic back injury really prevented him from achieving his destiny as one of the true great defensemen of the 1980s, but even with the injury his intelligence and puck skills were obvious.

An interesting story about the man they call "Rhino" - As a kid he played often against Wayne Gretzky's peewee team. But there was one game in particular both remember more than all others. In that particular game Reinhart pinned The Little One against the boards in a rink with no glass to stop the puck from going out of play. He picked the wrong spot as Wayne's grandmother was right there. She grabbed her purse and clubbed Reinhart over the head and told him to "leave my Wayne alone!" Gretzky later joked that the Oilers were looking to sign Grandma Gretzky if Dave Semenko ever got injured.

Grandma Gretzky, Mary to those who knew her well, also served as Wayne's first goalie. She loved hockey, especially the Leafs. Her favorite hockey player was Frank Mahovlich.

When Wayne was just a youngster the family would often visit Mary on Saturday nights. The whole family gathered around the TV to watch Hockey Night In Canada. Little Wayne was more interested in playing the game, even back then.

He would slip and slide in his socks across the polished up pine floor, pretending to skate like the heroes on TV. Mary would give him a ball and a mini stick, the plastic kind you get in a souvineer shop. She would sit in her easy chair and let Wayne take shots all night long, earning as many bruises on her legs as saves she would make.

The Golden Jet

The story of Bobby Hull learning how to skate has taken on the status of legendary lore.

When Bobby was four years old, his older sisters Maxine and Laura took him down to open sheet of ice a stone's throw from thier home in Point Anne, Ontario. They laced him up and after a few turns holding his sisters' hands, he was left to his own devices. The sisters skated away, no doubt assuming some hilarity watching young Bobby trying to get back to them. Much to their surprise, Bobby was able to skate, right from the get go.

The legend makes it sound like Bobby Hull was born to play hockey, and given the career he had in the game, few would argue with it. Bobby himself was too young to remember the incident, but did offer the following comments:

"I don't doubt (his sisters') word, but I do doubt that I could do any more than just get along. Anyway, there must have been something about the way I got along or the encouragement of my sisters that kept me at it. I was back the next day, and every day after that, skating until I was exhausted. Even at that age I must have had more than my share of muscle.

That muscle also became legendary. No one was stronger than Hull, not even his idol Gordie Howe. Those two could have combined to have won a tug-o-war contest against a team of Clydesdales.

Hull got his muscle from working on the family farm. Right from an early age he was assigned chores every day. He would bale hay, dig ditches, chop down trees, tend to the cattle and build corrals and barns. He would do this and his homework all in a big hurry, too. He wasn't allowed to play hockey until he was done.

Hull loved the farm, tending to several during and after his career. Sure, his hockey commitments both allowed him and forced him to hire out, but more likely than not you would see Bobby Hull out there slaving away, enjoying every minute of it.

The Stratford Streak

Check this out:

It is the game program from the Howie Morenz benefit game on November 2nd, 1937.

Collecting game programs is an intense passion for some collectors. The more famous the game the more valuable the prize. Few games are as famous as the Morenz game.

The game was played at the Montreal Forum, and pitted a team of NHL All Stars against players of the Montreal Canadiens and Montreal Maroons. The proceeds of the game were given to the family of the late-Howie Morenz, the NHL's first superstar. He had died the previous March due to complications of a broken leg he suffered in his final NHL game.

This particular program consists of 56 articles. Included inside are tribute articles penned by Elmer Ferguson, Baz O'Meara and Len Rountree.

The program is available at ClassicAuctions.net. The price of the item at the time of this publishing is a steal.

Slap Shots: Some Things Never Change

Time to put the puck on the 'Net:

• One of the biggest reasons the Russians lost the Olympic quarter-final game was poor coaching by Vyacheslav Bykov and Igor Zakharkan. Vlaidslav Tretiak has gone on record saying both coaches will return. Curiously, he hinted Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin may have had some input in the decison.
• Everyone is very critical of Gary Bettman for his lack of embracing future Olympic Games. But no one ever gives him much credit for opening the door originally.
• Matt Cooke gets no suspension for his terrible hit. As Scott Morrison tweeted @morrisonHNIC "As distasteful at the Cooke hit was you can't presume intent to injure and under existing rules it was legal. Sad but true."
• Here's a fascinating compilation of statistics courtesy of Scott Cullen of TSN.
  

For more thoughts and conversation, join me on Twitter @HockeyLegends.

Bobby Orr Talks With Bobby Hull: Like You've Never Seen Them Before

The Pembroke Peach

This is Frank Nighbor, the legendary "Pembroke Peach."

He played on Stanley Cup championship teams in 1920, 1921, 1923, and 1927. He was also the initial winner of two of the games greatest trophies: The Hart (1924) for Most Valuable Player; and the Lady Byng (1925 and 1926) for gentlemanly play and sportsmanship.

Because he was so gentlemanly he almost instantly became Lady Byng's favorite player. Lady Byng was the wife of Canada's Governor General, the Queen's representative in Canada. She was so impressed with Nighbor's clean play and sportsmanship she had the trophy for the most gentlemanly player made.

Because he played back in the 1920s every picture of Nighbor is in black and white. It's a shame, as these orange, black and white sweaters are quite something to see.

For more than a few thousand dollars you can show off Nighbor's colorful 1927-28 sweater in your hockey den. ClassicAuctions.net has an authenticated game-worn Nighbor sweater for sale. The going price was nearing $15,000 when I published this article.

It really is an amazing collectible. It is an wool uniform with a felt and chain-stich shield proclaiming "World Champs 1926-27," referencing the team's Stanley Cup championship the previous season. There is only one other authenticated vintage Ottawa Senators sweater known to exist, also a Nighbor original.

Slap Shots: To The Head

Time to put the puck on the 'Net:

Matt Cooke

• I really want to like Matt Cooke. He does great charity and community work. The fact that he is one of classiest guys off the ice is one of the NHL's best kept secrets.
  
• On the ice he has nowhere near as much respect. The pest has long considered to be an at-times dirty player, who never backs up his own actions. While I fully believe Cooke intended to hit Marc Savard shoulder on shoulder, he has a bad history of hitting people in vulnerable positions.
• These blind side hits need to be removed from the game. Hits to the head need to be automatic penalties. But before we vilify Cooke too much, let's remember he did not use his stick, elbow or forearm here. To some degree this was a hockey play gone horribly wrong, but not a blatant attack.
  

New Rules?

• Why is it hockey is the one sport that is constantly changing the rules? And everyone has a suggestion or ten on how to improve the game.
• Expect those suggestions to come fast and furious this week, as NHL general managers meetings are being held in Boca Raton, Florida.
• One interesting tweet from Darren Dreger: NHL GM subcommittee is looking into the possibility of a qualification series for the 8th seed in each conference.
• One thing is for sure - NHL teams would love to see more teams make the playoffs, because that means more gate receipts. And since the players salaries are all paid for by playoffs, this is all cash in the pocket.
  
• With so many teams operating on break-even business plans for the regular season, more playoff teams is desired. A qualification series could be a good alternative. 16 out of 30 teams making the playoffs is a good number, but this would allow other teams their own playoff revenue and excitement. It would also reward the best teams with some time off.

Random Thoughts

• Why are the general managers meetings always in some tropical setting? They should at least be in a NHL city.
  
• Awesome article here by Stephen Brunt. It's about Gary Bettman's and the NHL's need for more visionary leadership. I've never been one to complain about Bettman, as I've always seen him as a puppet of the owners anyways. But after 17 years I agree, it is time to question his leadership going forward.
  
• By the way, I suspect Stephen Brunt could write Pi to 50 decimal places and make it fascinating. Great writer.
• RIP Ronald Petterson. The three time Olympian passed away on the weekend. He was 74.

For more slap shots and links pertaining to hockey history, join me on Twitter @HockeyLegends.

Classic Snap Shot: Chicago vs. Minny

Chicago and Minnesota have a great sporting rivalry, although we are still waiting for the Blackhawks and Wild to heat things up. It certainly was not quite like the old days when the Hawks and North Stars used to go to war.

In today's Classic Snap Shot, Keith Brown gives Brian Bellows an earful, while big Willi Plett is not very far away:

Paul In The Hall?

I have never been one to believe that Paul Henderson belongs in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Yes, he scored arguably the most famous goal in hockey history, but otherwise he was an above average but not great player. Still, many people want to see Henderson inducted, especially now with news that he is battling cancer.

Count Don Cherry as one of those who wants it to happen.

Last week Cherry argued for his induction on his "Grapeline" radio show with Brian Williams.

"I can not, for the life of me, I can not figure why he is not in the Hall of Fame," he proclaimed, later adding his exclusion is "complete nonsense."

"Now figure it out, folks. The most important series ever, as far as I'm concerned, in sports. He gets the three game winning goals like we talked about. Why he is not in the Hall of Fame, it is beyond me."

He goes on to compare Henderson with his 1972 nemesis, Vladislav Tretiak.

"I'm not here to knock Tretiak, he was a great goaltender and if you want to put him in the Hall of Fame, no question at all put him in the Hall of Fame.

Paul gets three game winning goals against him in the greatest series of all time. Tretiak is in the net that he put it in. He's the loser, Paul's the winner. Tretiak getss in the Hall of Fame, Paul doesn't get in. Absolute nonsense. Get smart Hall of Fame. Shake your head and put Paul Henderson in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

You can hear the entire episode of Grapeline with this direct audio link, including Don's memories of where he was when Paul Henderson scored "the goal heard around the world."

I throw it out to you - does Paul Henderson belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Hockey's Oscars

In the spirit of the Academy Awards, I thought it would be an opportune time to look at hockey's Oscars. If I'm not mistaken, there have only been four players in NHL history with the name Oscar.

The most interesting story is that of Oscar "Ossie" Asmundson. The Red Deer native played 111 NHL games for 5 teams in the 1930s, most notably the New York Rangers. He later moved to Hollywood and became a lighting technician on the sets of movies and television shows.

St. Hyachinthe, Quebec's Oscar "Ossie" Aubuchon is often confused for Ossie Asmundson, even though he played a decade later. He, too, played most notably for the New York Rangers.

Oscar Hanson played just 8 games in the NHL, all with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1937-38 season. The Camrose, Albertan born Hanson enjoyed a long career with St. Paul and later Minneapolis in the American Hockey Association, retiring in 1942.

And of course there is also Oscar Moller, the Los Angeles Kings promising Swedish sophomore. He's battled some injury problems early in his career.

Who Is This Kid?

Believe it or not, this is Bobby Clarke!

Weekend Reading: Accepting Hockey

I thoroughly enjoyed Margaret Wente's fantastic Globe & Mail offering "How I Made My Peace With Hockey" this weekend.

She tells her story of a hockey neophyte who learns to accept the game in her life, even though she does not fully understand why it plays such a big role in life in Canada. Along the way she is the publicist for Harry Sinden's best selling hockey book, is hit on by Glen Sather, and is upstaged by Sidney Crosby's gold medal winning heroics.

Check it out - it's worth the read!

Canadian Gold by Andrew Podnieks

Coming March 15th, Andrew Podnieks is churning out a must have 2010 Olympics keepsake for Canadian hockey fans.

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters

Also, keep your eye out for commemorative magazines issued, including this one by Sports Illustrated:


And this one by Sports Illustrated Canada


And of course The Hockey News:

Taking Care Of Business With Bobby Hull

Investor's Business Daily is not the first place you would look for a great biography of Bobby Hull, but J. Bonasia has accomplished just that. Maybe I'm a bit biased though. After all, the story does quote me.

The piece is part of regular feature that looks at leadership and success. Other hockey players featured in the past include Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Clarke, Gordie Howe, Rocket Richard, Patrick Roy, Scotty Bowman and Habs mastermind Sam Pollock.

Hawthorn On Hockey

I wanted to point out one of my favorite hockey websites. Because it is not completely dedicated to hockey most people don't know about it. But hockey fans, especially those interested in hockey history and the lives of former players (in other words readers of GreatestHockeyLegends.com) this site is an absolute must-bookmark.

The website is simply titled Tom Hawthorn's Blog. Tom Hawthorn is a freelance writer from Victoria, perhaps best known for his twice-weekly columns in the Globe and Mail. He writes about everything from British Columbia special interest stories to hockey history.

His personal blog highlights his collection of work, regardless of topic. But it is completely worth wading through to find the hockey content, because Hawthorn is just a wonderful writer.

Hawthorn has written numerous obituaries of hockey heroes who have passed on. Be it Bad News Bilodeau or the "Great Gabbo" Eddie Dorohoy or Olympic hero Al Purvis, Hawthorn has a way of honoring lesser known hockey heroes with the most fascinating of features. I am completely envious.

Also you have to check out his feature pieces on such topics as the Penticton Vees, the 1960s Canadian national team, and Ladies Night In Canada.

Chances are you will enjoy much of what Hawthorn chooses to explore, even if it is not hockey. His recent pieces on the late Jack Babcock and British Columbia's favorite bookstore are spectacular.

Charles Shannon

Often the difference between a career in the NHL and a career in the minor leagues comes down to timing. For Charles Shannon, the timing could not have been much worse.

The big defenseman had already laboured away with 5 years in the minor leagues when he finally got his shot in the NHL in the 1939-40 season with the New York Americans. But he was called up while he was hampered with a bad groin injury, making it difficult for him to make much of an impact. After just four games he was returned to the minor leagues where he would continue to play until 1944. At that time he returned to Ontario where he was stationed for the remained or World War II. He continued to play out the 1944-45 season with Army teams. Upon his discharge he remained in the area, playing senior hockey until 1948.

The fact that Shannon wore glasses while playing, a true rarity, may have scared off many teams. Shannon is believed to have been only the second bespectacled NHL player, after Russ Blinco.

Trail of the Stanley Cup

This is the ultimate must-have piece for any hockey book collector:

This three volume set is Charles Coleman's historical compendium called Trail of the Stanley Cup. Coleman thoroughly researched hockey history to compile the history the Stanley Cup from 1893 to 1967.

These leather bound volumes are worth hundreds of dollars, or more. There were 1,000 leather bound editions. They were never offered for sale but rather issued to key NHL players and VIPs. This particular issue of "Trail," #97 out of 1,000, belonged to Norm Ullman.

You can purchase this hot collectors item at ClassicAuctions.net. It includes a scroll like label inside the front cover that reads "Presented to Norm Ullman with the compliments of the National Hockey League."

Previous ClassicAuctions.net offerings of Trail of the Stanley Cup have fetched as much as nearly $3,200!

Normie Himes

At 5'9" and 145lbs, Normie Himes was a diminutive and heady center with the New York Americans from 1926 through 1935. In 399 games Himes scored 106 goals and 113 assists for 219 points.

Himes was described as a brilliant playmaking center, and an underrated scorer. While he was not necessarily the star of the Amerks, he was the backbone. He started out as a reserve center (kind of like a 3rd or 4th line player nowadays). He really impressed in his opportunities to play. He finally displaced husky Bill Burch when Burch suffered a bad knee.

Wearing his trademark black ball cap, Himes emerged as the Americans leading scorer for the net seven seasons. His best year came in 1929-30, scoring 28 goals in the 44 game NHL schedule and had 50 points. His regular linemates were Johnny Sheppard and Rabbit McVeigh although he also played with George Patterson, Hap Emms and Joe Lamb.

The Americans never had much team success, likely why Himes did not earn the notoriety he probably should have. As one commentator suggest, Himes "should be judged the MVP of the league if the Americans weren't so far down in the standings." In 1930 he finished 6th in Hart trophy balloting.

There was no All Star game back in those days, but Himes was one of the players chosen in the very first All Star game, which, in 1934, was actually a benefit game for fallen player Ace Bailey.

He was a crafty pivot blessed with intelligent burst of speed, very durable despite his size having played 360 consecutive games. He could be dazzling at times, but for the most part was an underrated star.

Twice Himes took to the nets. On December 5th, 1927 he replaced injured goalie Joe Miller, playing 19 minutes without surrendering a goal. A year later he actually started the game when Jake Forbes was unable to go. Himes only let in 3 goals in 60 minutes, but without him up front, no one could score. Final score Toronto 3, NY Americans 0.

A legendary figure in his hometown of Galt, Ontario where he also starred in baseball, golf, curling and other sports, Himes tried his hand a coaching in the minor leagues then back home with the Guelph Biltmores and Galt Red Wings.

Remembering John Halligan

New York will celebrate the life of hockey historian John Halligan in a St. Patrick's week benefit luncheon. Here's some more information.

Borje Salming - Hockey's Most Important Player?

This is Borje Salming, the Toronto Maple Leafs Hall of Fame defenseman. He may not have been the greatest player of all time, but his legacy suggests he was arguably the most important.

While a handful of Europeans preceded him, Borje Salming was the National Hockey League’s first great European player. By doing so he quickly diminished stereotypes and blazed the trail for more Swedes and all Europeans to come the NHL. The impact was far reaching, and still being explored today.

The influence of the European skill game took hockey from the dark era of 1970s goon hockey to a more skilled game that has evolved into what we have today. The league that was once ruled by hard working, small town Canadian boys was greatly enhanced by influx of European players and their different schools of the sport. The acceptance of the European player, thanks in large part to Salming's play, has also greatly enhanced hockey’s global status, spurring on generations of new players and fans worldwide. Fans and future stars on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean worshiped the likes of Pavel Bure, Jari Kurri, Peter Forsberg, Niklas Lidstrom and Alexander Ovechkin.

One of the most prized items up for bids at ClassicAuctions.net's new collection is a game worn jersey from his rookie season, complete with an certificate of authentication. Game worn jerseys of this era are pretty rare, as teams tended to use the same jersey for many games at a time. To get a Salming game worn from his rookie season would be a real find.

Interview With Jean Beliveau

My man Homme de Sept-Iles of Montreal Mystique recently interviewed the great Jean Beliveau. Enjoy!

Gordie Howe's Surprise

I can never get enough of the story associated with this picture of Gordie Howe with his parents Ab and Katherine.

The photo was taken on March 3rd, 1959. The Red Wings were honouring "Mr. Hockey" with Gordie Howe Night between the first and second periods in a game against Boston.

Howe was presented with a bevy of gifts estimated to be worth $10,000, which was more than most players were making in 1959. The gifts included clothes, luggage, a trip to Miami, toys for the kids and a brand new station wagon.

But the biggest surprise of the night was who drove the station wagon out to center ice. Much to Gordie's surprise, it was Gordie's parents, Ab and Katherine, in the front seat.

This is significant because even though Gordie played 13 years in the NHL by this point, this was the first time his parents had ever come to Detroit. It was their first time watching their son, the greatest hockey player of them all, play hockey in the NHL with their own eyes.

The teary eyed Howe was too overcome by the surprise. He was not able to score on Gordie Howe Night.

Hockey History Galore At Classic Auctions

ClassicAuctions.net has another amazing collection of hockey memorabilia for sale for the month of March.

The personal collections of Borje Salming and Norm Ullman headline the auction, which as 894 items in total for sale.

You can also get items from Bobby Orr, Jean Beliveau, Wayne Gretzky. . . you name it, they got it. There are seemingly endless game worn jerseys available, too.

Over the course of the coming days I will be pointing out a few items of interest. In the meantime check out ClassicAuctions.net.

Bring Home The Stanley Cup

The gold medal euphoria is settling down, and the real world is coming back to us. Don't fret hockey fans. There's only about 20 games left before the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Soon we will all be hoping that our favorite NHL team can bring home the Stanley Cup. But you, too, can Bring Home The Cup!

If you watch TSN no doubt you have or soon will see the TV commercials concerning this unique new contest where one amateur or youth hockey team in Canada will be presented the Stanley Cup on their home ice by Mark Messier. Talk about big league dreams on small town ice!

Having the Stanley Cup come to town would be another great way to rally the community together, and share in the great Canadian experience. It would definitely be worth checking out.

Relief For Yzerman

When Sidney Crosby scored the golden goal to give Canada perhaps it's greatest victory relief, not enjoyment, was the key emotion for Team Canada boss Steve Yzerman.

“It was incredible relief. So I can't say this experience was enjoyable but it was rewarding, for sure, and it's one I will really treasure. I think I understood what I was getting into. I loved it, but it was very stressful," Yzerman told Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun.

Stress? Winning Olympic gold on home ice in a country where anything else would be considered failure and cue years of second guessing? Yeah, okay. That's stressful.

He could move on, immortalized now as a manager as much as he was a player. But when asked if he would do it again, his answer was an emphatic yes.

“As far as my participation, Hockey Canada tries to develop young coaches and managers so they may want to give the opportunity to someone else. But given the opportunity to be in charge, if somebody offered it to me, I wouldn't hesitate again."

He also took the opportunity to campaign for NHL involvement in Sochi 2014.

“Hopefully NHL players will be involved again. I think it's good for our game but I do understand there are a lot of issues the NHL has concerns with. Hopefully, they can work them out because when you watch a game like this, it's great for the game of hockey.”

Hockey's Winningest Man

The key component for a Canadian Olympic gold medal seems to be hockey's winningest man: Scott Niedermayer.

Niedermayer captained Team Canada to gold in 2010, and was a top player on their previous gold medal championship in 2002. Niedermayer was inexplicably left off of the 1998 team, and was injured in 2006. Canada did not step on the podium without him.

He was instrumental in Canada's 2010 success, playing his best when his team needed him the most. The veteran was a calming influence and arguably the team's best defenseman in the gold medal game.

Niedermayer does not always get properly credited as one of the all time great blue liners. He has always been recognized as a great skill player, but not necessarily reveered as a legend.

That is partially because his quiet, laid back persona off the ice. But on the ice he is a true champion. In addition to the two Olympic gold medals, Niedermayer has also won the Memorial Cup, World Junior and World Championships, a World Cup and four Stanley Cups. All he does is win.

To me, that makes him one of the greatest hockey legends.

Cuthbert Becomes A Legend, Too

In 1972 Foster Hewitt exclaimed "Henderson has scored for Canada!"

In 1987 it was Dan Kelly with his unforgettable "Lemieux ahead to Gretzky. Has Murphy with him on a two-on-one. To Lemieux - in on goal - he shoots, he scores! Mario Lemieux!"

In 2010 it was Chris Cuthbert who provided the legendary call for an immortalizing play, with the entire country watching:

"Crosby scores! The golden goal! And Canada has won a once-in-a-lifetime Olympic gold!"

Later he added, "These golden games have their crowning moment!"

Chris Cuthbert has always been one of my favorite hockey announcers. I couldn't be more happy for him to have had this moment.

Cuthbert is sort of hockey's Conan O'Brien. He's brilliant at what he does, but he's always second fiddle. Despite being the heir apparent as the lead announcer, he was inexplicably fired by Hockey Night in Canada back in 2005. He came to TSN, but he lined up behind Gord Miller, who was firmly implanted as the lead play-by-play man.

Knowing that CTV and TSN had the contract for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Cuthbert was shrewd enough to leverage his stature to ensure that come the gold medal game, he would not be the left out. He had it put into his contract that he would call that game.

What a classic game to call. What a way to seize the moment. It was a perfect call, Mr. Cuthbert. Thank you.