Gordie Howe Appears On TV Game Show "What's My Line?"

Mark and Marty Howe make an appearance towards the end of the clip.

Broad Street Bullies

I was busy the other day adding a few players from the 1970s Philadelphia Flyers. Check out the new biographies of Ed Van Impe, Moose Dupont, Barry Ashbee, Joe Watson, Jimmy Watson, Ross Lonsberry and Hound Kelly.

Classic Hockey Fight: Dave Schultz vs. Terry O'Reilly

Here's two of the most famous (infamous?) fighters from the 1970s: Dave "The Hammer" Schultz, leader of the Broad Street Bullies, is challenged by Terry O'Reilly of the Big Bad Bruins.

Two Minutes For Booking

The new hockey book season is underway, which means I'm busy reading and reviewing the new hockey books for HockeyBookReviews.com.

This week I've added Hockey Now! Sixth Edition,  Hockey Greats: Awesome Centres and The Mighty Tim Horton, all by Mike Leonetti. 

I've also looked at several children's titles, including Making The Cut by David Skuy, Hat Trick by W. C. Mack, and One Hockey Night by David Ward with Brian Deines.

Today I received the new Hockey Night in Canada book, Best of the Best: Ranking The Greatest Players of All Time by Scott  Morrison and the much anticipated Sports Illustrated: The Hockey Book. Watch for reviews of both of these books soon.

Also, here's a little heads up. The Chapters Bargain Book section has a number of hockey titles. Be sure to check it out.

Hockey Rap Videos

News broke yesterday that Alexander Ovechkin and Eminem are going to cut a song together. Let's take a look at some other hockey rap music videos.

The worst hockey music video ever - Don Cherry goes techno! Let's Go!



I have always enjoyed this Canucks rap tribute: Trapper's Delight:




Last year we had these three fan boys discovering the Blackhawks:



Jeremy Roenick does his best Tone Loc impersonation:



It isn't rap, but here's the Calgary Flames (circa 1980s) singing "Red Hot."



And of course, who can forget Guy Lafleur's Disco Hockey album:

Casey Goes To The Net

Today's GreatestHockeyLegends.com player of the day is Jon Casey:

I never quite knew what to make of goaltender Jon Casey. Perhaps that is because, not knowing all the intricacies of goaltending, I often don't know what to make of a lot of goalies. Perhaps it was Casey was quite an unorthodox goalie to begin with. He seemed to naturally be a scrambling, reflexive goalie who, through years of professional coaching, tried morphing into a classic, play-the-angles netminder.

However he tried stopping the puck, obviously it worked. For a period of about 5 years he was a bona fide number one goalie in the National Hockey League,. He was never a serious threat to win the Vezina Trophy, but he did get his team to a Stanley Cup finals.

Regardless of his accomplishments, most will remember Jon Casey for being on the wrong side of two of the most famous goals in Stanley Cup history.


Read the full Jon Casey biography here, including video of the two famous goals

The Henderson Jersey Tour

 

Henderson Jersey Tour.com 

Facebook.com/hendersonjerseytour

 
Almost any Canadian who is old enough can tell you exactly what he or she was doing on September 28, 1972, when Paul Henderson scored the 6-5 goal at 19:26 of the final period. For a moment, our world stood still, and then as the red light flickered behind Vladislav Tretiak, our hearts filled with joy, and relief.

"Here's a shot. Henderson makes a wild stab for it and falls," Foster Hewitt breathlessly described. "Here's another shot. Right in front. They Score!! Henderson has scored for Canada!"

As Foster Hewitt's ghostly words described "the goal heard around the world" millions of Canadians danced and hugged in a scene that was reminiscent of the celebrations at the end of World War II. Never has a single sporting moment meant so much to so many Canadians a sense of unparalleled nationalism.

Earlier in 2010 the jersey that Henderson wore that night sold for over $1 million. Starting in January 2011, the jersey will touring all across Canada for every Canadian to see.

Now we can all relive the spirit and excitement and national pride of the 1972 Summit Series with the Paul Henderson Jersey Homecoming Tour.

The tour includes
- Paul Henderson’s 1972 Summit Series Jersey
- Rare Canadian hockey memorabilia
- Interactive activities, games and fun for all ages

In addition, there is a contest at Henderson Jersey Tour.com and/or Facebook.com/hendersonjerseytour 

to see which city will be the first to host the Henderson jersey. Simply explain why your town should be the first to host the jersey tour and you could win an exclusive private tour for you and 4 friends with the great Paul Henderson himself.

"Vertseeg" Latest Misspelling On Stanley Cup

With the Stanley Cup's busy summer tour all over, engravers finally had a chance to add the names of the 2010 champion Chicago Blackhawks.

There was only one problem - Kris Versteeg's name was misspelled as Vertseeg.

The Cup was returned and the error was fixed, but Adam Jahns has the photo evidence of the engraving error on his Chicago Sun Times blog.

"It's kind of funny. I may never be one of the biggest names in the game but now it'll go down in history as one of the misspells on the Stanley Cup so I'll take it," Versteeg told the Toronto Star.

Kudos to Versteeg for knowing that there is quite an interesting history of errors and misspells on the Stanley Cup. Here is a listing of such mistakes.

34 Seconds To Eternity

"Henderson Has Scored For Canada!"

Almost any Canadian who is old enough can tell you exactly what he or she was doing on September 28, 1972, when Paul Henderson scored the 6-5 goal at 19:26 of the final period. For a moment, our world stood still, and then as the red light flickered behind Vladislav Tretiak, our hearts filled with joy, and relief.

"Here's a shot. Henderson makes a wild stab for it and falls," Foster Hewitt breathlessly described. "Here's another shot. Right in front. They Score!! Henderson has scored for Canada!"

As Foster Hewitt's ghostly words described "the goal heard around the world" millions of Canadians danced and hugged in a scene that was reminiscent of the celebrations at the end of World War II. Never has a single sporting moment meant so much to so many Canadians a sense of unparalleled nationalism.

Paul Henderson's goal sealed a remarkable comeback victory over a Soviet squad that had pushed Canada to the brink of defeat. Of course, none of this was supposed to happen. Team Canada was composed of the NHL's greatest stars, and were expected to easily defeat their communist counterparts. The success of the Soviets stunned Canadians, who had always unquestioningly believed in their country's hockey supremacy.

Team Canada restored the faith of fans by fighting back to win the final 3 games of the series, all on game winning goals by Paul Henderson. Henderson was a talented but unspectacular left winger who was the unlikeliest of heroes. Unlikely heroes have come to define Canadian hockey.

"I found myself with the puck in front of the net," remembers Henderson. "Tretiak made one stop and the puck came right back to me. There was room under him, so I poked the puck through."

"When I saw it go in, I just went bonkers." Millions of thrilled and extremely relieved Canadians went bonkers as well.

The Russians gave us a lesson that myself, all our players and I guess

the whole country won't forget for a long time - Harry Sinden

"Who says nothing lasts forever? This series will." - Guy Lapointe

"I'd never on the Stanley Cup so I asked Cournoyer
right after the final if this was like winning the Cup. He said,
'This is ten times better.' I believed him." - Dennis Hull

Canadian Hero: Paul Henderson

On the anniversary of game 8 of the 1972 Summit Series, there can be no other choice for the GreatestHockeyLegends.com player of the day: Paul Henderson

This great picture is of Henderson on October 1st, 1972, getting his first look at the Toronto Star coverage of the Summit Series upon his return to Canada.

By the way, the excellent website Black Dog Hates Skunks has some great posts about the 1972 Summit Series this month. Be sure to take a look.

Destiny Denied: Mark Fitzpatrick

Greatest Hockey Legend of the Day is . . . Mark Fitzpatrick:

Disaster struck just prior to the 1990-91 season. He suffered swollen feet, hands and forearm, shortness of breath and overwhelming fatigue last September after taking L-tryptophan, an amino acid. The supplement caused the player to develop eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (EMS), a white blood disease that impairs the functioning of the nerve and muscular systems.

Fitzpatrick essentially missed two full seasons battling the disease. Doctors tried battling the illness with Predisone, but that led to side effects such as mood swings that threatened his personal life. Fitzpatrick would sue the supplement company for $180 million dollars. I don't know how much he did settle for, but I'm told it was significant amount of money.

You can read the full Mark Fitzpatrick biography, including my own connection to the man they called "Fitzy."

More Than Just Donuts: The Mighty Tim Horton

Every Canadian knows Tim Hortons is as almost as iconic as hockey itself. But do all Canadians under the age of, say, 30 realize who Tim Horton actually was? I'm probably naive in thinking they all know he was a hockey player. But how many of them realize that Horton truly was one of the greatest hockey players of all time?

Over at Hockey Book Reviews.com I take a look at Mike Leonetti's new book The Mighty Tim Horton. It's my first book review of the new season. Watch for many more to come at Hockey Book Reviews.com.

Pucks On The Net: Pre-Season Edition

It is great to see nightly hockey highlights again, even if it is only pre-season action.

Which leads me to my first Pucks On The Net of the season. Why are there so many pre-season games? Why do people pay so much money to watch them? And do good pre-seasons for players and for teams translate into good regular seasons or at least regular season starts? More after the jump . . .

Newsy Lalonde Honoured

Newsy Lalonde last played hockey in 1927. Although most fans nowadays have no idea who Newsy Lalonde was, he was certainly one of the game's early greats.

Yet his hometown of Cornwall, Ontario has never honoured him. Until now, in large part in thanks to Eyes on the Prize creator Robert Lefebvre.

Check out Eyes on the Prize but also check out the Lalonde Family Web Site.

Masked Marvel: Michel Dion

Greatest Hockey Legend of the Day is . . . Michel Dion.


When you mention the name Michel Dion, I instantly think of his unique mask.

Not too many goalies used this style of mask. Mike Liut had a similar one, although not identical. The "duck bill" was wider.

This game worn mask, painted by Jim Kwilos, was sold at auction for over $6500!

Dion played for five years in the World Hockey Association with the Indianapolis Racers and the Cincinnati Stingers. He also played with the Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets in the NHL, but he is best remembered by NHL fans for his four years with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

You can read more about Michel Dion, including his connection to Gary Carter and the Montreal Expos.

Passing Fancy: Bill Cowley

Greatest Hockey Legend of the Day is . . . the man they called "Cowboy" . . . Bill Cowley

Cowley quickly developed into a superstar in Boston. He became an all star by 1938. By 1939 he led all playoff scorers in scoring as the Bruins won the Stanley Cup Championship. By 1940-41 Cowley was the best player in the league. He earned the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP while winning the scoring title and leading the Bruins to another Stanley Cup. He also set a new league record for assists in one season with 45.

Read the full Bill Cowley biography here 

Johnny Bucyk: Hail To The Chief!

Greatest Hockey Legend of the day is . . . Johnny Bucyk



Read the full Johnny Bucyk biography here.

The Rhode Island Topper: Zellio Toppazzini

Today's Greatest Hockey Legend of the Day is . . . Zellio Toppazzini!

Rhode Island is not the first state to come to mind when thinking of hockey history. But they do have a rich history, thanks to Providence's long association with the American Hockey League. The Reds joined the AHL in 1940, but actually predated the AHL all the way back to 1926. The Reds would cease to exist in 1977, but AHL hockey returned to Providence in 1992 when the Boston Bruins set up their farm team there.

The greatest name in Providence hockey history has to be "The Topper," Zellio Toppazzini.

Read the full Zellio Toppazzini biography here.

Tower of Power: Kjell Samuelsson

Today's Greatest Hockey Legend of the Day is . . . Kjell Samuelsson:

Kjell Samuelsson announced that he would retire the same day that Wayne Gretzky made his retirement a 99% certainty. Needless to say, not many noticed that Sameulsson had called it quits. Kjell played in more than 800 games with 4 different NHL teams. He scored a career total of 48 goals, 138 assists and 186 points. Now Gretzky may have scored more points in 5 different seasons than Samuelsson did in his entire career, but Kjell Samuelsson deserves to be remembered too.

Kjell was a steady, dependable defenseman. He was a gigantic player, towering above his opponents with a once- unfathomable size of 6'6" and 235lbs. For much of his career he was the biggest player in the National Hockey League. Though not a graceful skater, Kjell made up for his lack of foot speed with his long stride, but lacked agility. He also had very limited puck skills. He wasn't overly physical but he didn't need to be either. His natural strength and reach enabled him to excel as a defensive stalwart.

Read the full Kjell Samuelsson biography.

Old Puck Clue To Hockey's Birthplace?

Could this old puck prove Nova Scotia was the birthplace of hockey? CTV News has the full story, including video.

"While doing repairs on the pond last week, Andrew Dill thought he found something that might prove the pond's connection to the game's earliest days -- an old hockey puck.It's bigger and heavier than a modern puck, and in very rough condition. But it appears to be engraved with a large R.The puck is also an example of early rubber construction and now seems barely held together."

Full Story

Those Were The Days: Guy Lafleur Commercial with Bob & Doug McKenzie

Fit For A Queen

Here's hockey legend/war hero Conn Smythe teaching a young Queen Elizabeth the finer points about hockey.

Those Were The Days: Bobby Hull Commercial

Here's Bobby Hull way back in 1971, trying to sell you the car of your dreams. Okay, not so much. He's trying to sell you a Mercury Comet!

Pat Burns' Health Worsens

From the Toronto Sun:

Former NHL coach Pat Burns has taken a turn for the worse, according to news reports.

The 58-year-old Montreal native has been fighting a battle with terminal lung cancer for a number of years. That battle, it appears, could end in the next few days. 

Full Story. I'm heading out hiking this weekend and will be unable to keep you up to date on this story.

Those Were The Days: Old Hockey Ads

Check out Cal Gardner here pitching Camel cigarettes back in 1948. (Click on photo for bigger image):

You don't see hockey players promoting cigarettes anymore, that's for sure. Although Mike Bossy, Guy Lafleur and even a young Mario Lemieux were noted smokers. And many hockey players today still enjoy cigars - even Carey Price and the Canadian gold medal winning women's hockey team.

Here's another old Camel ad, this time with Roy Conacher endorsing:

Even the Rangers clean-cut coach Frank Boucher got into the act back then, promoting his favorite beverage:

Of course, hockey players endorsed a lot more than just smokes and alcohol. For the right price they pitched everything from colas to alka-seltzer to hair goop!

Great Bloodlines!

I just love this story:

When the Shattuck-St. Mary’s School girls’ high school prep hockey team opens its season this weekend, there will be a Lemieux and a Crosby on the ice—Stephanie Lemieux, the 15-year-old daughter of Penguins owner Mario Lemieux, and Taylor Crosby, the 14-year-old sister of Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby. 

Here's the full story, including commentary from Sidney. Stick tap to Paul Kukla for pointing out the story.

Howie Meeker's Greatest Hockey Legends

That's right! Joe's off freezing his ass off camping in the Whistler area. You see, Joe's only non-hockey related interest in life is chasing squirrels waterfalls.

Some time ago Joe posted his greatest 36 players of all time. I saw the list and said to myself, Stop it there, back it up!

No, I wasn't referring to my handy telestrator. I was referring my book from 1999, Stop it there, back it up!: 50 years of hockey with Howie Meeker.

In that book, I made my own list of the greatest hockey players. Golly gee, I've been in hockey for longer than Joe's been alive. He's a nice kid and all, but I've played against Rocket Richard and Gordie Howe and I savored Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky. Heck, I even taught many of the big names when they were kids at my hockey school. Names like Mickey Redmond!

So I know a thing or two about hockey, or my name isn't Howie Meeker! So here's my list of the greatest players of all time:

1. Wayne Gretzky	26. Bill Durnan
2. Bobby Orr	27. Bobby Clarke
3. Mario Lemieux	28. Frank Mahovlich
4. Gordie Howe	29. Dickie Moore
5. Guy Lafleur	30. Larry Robinson
6. Jean Beliveau	31. Eric Lindros
7. Bobby Hull	32. King Clancy
8. Doug Harvey	33. Bryan Trottier
9. Terry Sawchuk	34. Marcel Dionne
10. Mark Messier	35. Charlie Conacher
11. Jacques Plante	36. Elmer Lach
12. Mike Bossy	37. Glenn Hall
13. Stan Mikita	38. Peter Stastny
14. Eddie Shore	39. Steve Yzerman
15. Maurice Richard	40. Syl Apps
16. Ken Dryden	41. Jari Kurri
17. Ray Bourque	42. Gilbert Perreault
18. Harvey Jackson	43. Howie Morenz
19. Chris Chelios	44. Patrick Roy
20. Jaromir Jagr	45. Milt Schmidt
21. Turk Broda	46. Paul Coffey
22. Ted Lindsay	47. Denis Potvin
23. Phil Esposito	48. Michel Goulet
24. Ted Kennedy	49. Dit Clapper
25. Henri Richard	50. Nels Stewart

Note: Howie Meeker isn't really affiliated with this website. Howie appears only in good fun.

Also, I will have better internet access this time around and may post here and especially on Twitter @HockeyLegends. In addition I have prepared content to auto-run while I'm away.

Four Canadian Women's Players Retire From National Team

Becky Kellar, Carla Macleod, Colleen Sostorics, and Gina Kingsbury have all announced their retirement from Team Canada's national women's team.

The 35 year old Kellar played in all four Olympics that have featured women's hockey, joining Jennifer Botterill, Jayna Hefford and Hayley Wickenheiser as the only Canadians to do so. The 13 year veteran defender played with the national team for 13 years, scoring 13 goals and 39 assists in 173 official games. She was part of four world championships and three Olympic gold and one Olympic silver medals. Kellar will continue to play in the Canadian Women's Hockey League this season.

31 year old Sostorics won three Olympic gold medals (2002, 2006, 2010).With 14 goals and 43 assists in her international career, she is the third highest Canadian scorer amongst defenders all time, trailing only Geraldine Heaney and Therese Brisson.

MacLeod and Kingsbury are both just 28, and both won Olympic gold in 2006 and 2010. MacLeod, another defender, had 14 goals and 30 assists in 81 international contests. She was an all-star team at the 2006 Olympics and also the most valuable player of the 2009 world championships.

Kingsbury, a forward, had 30 goals and 45 assists in 116 international games and won three world titles. She has accepted an offer to become an assistant coach at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, B.C.

Catching Up With The Past

Here's a few news and notes concerning hockey legends:

• Guy Lafleur has (another) farewell tour planned this season. He will play in 7 games across Quebec with the Montreal Canadiens alumni, his final season of on-ice participation.
• Lafleur's final game will be at the Bell Centre in Montreal on December 5th. That game will the Habs oldtimers take on a team formed exclusively of Hall of Famers, including Pat LaFontaine, Luc Robitaille, Marcel Dionne, Denis Savard and Brian Leetch.
• Gordie Howe's star on Canada's Walk of Fame has been damaged, but there is some controversy over who is going to fix it.
• You can win Bernie Parent's actual locker from his playing days at the Philadelphia Spectrum.
• Theo Fleury and Walter Gretzky both had cameos in the new movie: Score: A Hockey Musical. I am not making that up!

More and more I tend to put up news stories like these on Twitter. Be sure to follow me this season @HockeyLegends

Forgotten Flying Frenchman: Stephane Richer

Today's Greatest Hockey Legend of the day is Stephane Richer:

If there was one player in the 1980s and 1990s who seemed destined to carry on the tradition of the Flying Frenchmen in Montreal, it was Stephane Richer. Montreal fans never really warmed to him, and instead of a glorious legacy he is almost forgotten.

This despite the fact that Richer played the game with flair and even a touch of elegance, just enough to hint of a Jean Beliveau or a Guy Lafleur. He was a prolific goal scorer, twice reaching 50 goals in a Habs uniform, the last French Canadien player to do so. He was a regular three star selection, twice taking home the Montreal team award for most three star selections in a season. Three times he led Montreal in playoff goals, and twice in playoff points. He was also a member of the 1986 team that won the Stanley Cup, and the 1989 team that appeared in the Stanley Cup finals.

Read the full Stephane Richer biography.

Giving Up The "C"

This is Lee Fogolin, voluntarily giving up captaincy of the Edmonton Oilers to Wayne Gretzky in 1984.

Coincidence or not, the rest as they say is history. Glorious history. The Oilers would go on to win 5 Stanley Cups in the next seven years.

Another good example of giving up the "C" for the good of the team would the dynastic New York Islanders. Clark Gillies was uncomfortable as the team captain. He gave it to Denis Potvin. The Islanders won 4 Stanley Cups in a row in the 1980s.

Those two cases were definitely voluntary stepping downs. They were the right moves to make and they were all rewarded with the results.

Very rarely do we see team success when a player is stripped of his captaincy. The hard feelings are understandable and obvious. The effect on the team's psyche and morale is unknown to anyone not inside the dressing room. But all too often it does not end well in terms of championship success.

Which leads me Monday's news. Roberto Luongo has "voluntarily relinquished" the captaincy of the Vancouver Canucks. That's what the carefully scripted press release says. Or should it say voluntarily because Mike Gillis told him so?

If it was voluntary why didn't Luongo do it earlier, on his own accord? Why did he step down after Gillis forced him into a meeting about the issue. And why did Gillis go public the day before to make his concerns known and to make it clear that it was Gillis, not Luongo, who had the final call?

I am guessing Gillis wanted a change, and Luongo, a very proud man who I doubt really wanted to give up the C, agreed to let the spin doctors make it look good.

One thing is for sure - we are all ready for this story to disappear. Especially Luongo himself.

I really think Trevor Linden, who was forced into "voluntarily" giving up the C to Mark Messier in 1997, hit the nail on the head when he said this whole captain controvery is blown greatly out of proportion. If any team is to succeed, it will need great leadership on the ice and in the dressing room regardless of who has the C or an A or no letter at all. It is not a one person job any longer, if it ever was.

One thing is for certain: if the Vancouver Canucks are going to be successful this season, they need great leadership from Henrik Sedin, from Ryan Kesler and from Roberto Luongo.

Next Captain?

Speaking of Henrik and Kesler, who should be the next captain of the Vancouver Canucks? Is there any other candidate besides these two? Should they go with no captain at all?

From a fan's perspective, the most important role a captain serves is to be the face of the franchise. We don't know the inner dynamics of the team. We see the on ice performance only. Who best portrays what we want from our team? The classy and talented superstar, winner of the Hart and Art Ross trophies? Or the gritty, hard working grinder?

Henrik would be my choice, but I certainly would not be surprised to see them go with Kesler. Gillis and co. invest a lot of time into the psychology of a team and individual players. Perhaps this will help Kesler get to the next level, a level the Canucks need him to get to if they are going win a championship. Henrik is already at that level and needs no such carrot.

The Ultimate Bruin: Cam Neely

GHL Player of the Day - Cam Neely:

As amazing of a goal scorer that he was, lighting the lamp did not define Cam Neely. He was the ultimate power forward of his time. His hands were as soft as a feather when he handled the puck, yet hard as a rock when handled an enemy. Defensemen feared going back into their corner to chase a loose puck knowing Neely was right behind them. As a forechecker he was relentless and imposing. He was an insane body checker and a dangerous fighter. Through his physical play he set the tone of games.

The physical game took it's toll on Neely's body, yet he handled diversity with the utmost of class. He showed courage and perseverance, and a deep love of the game. Cam Neely gave everything he had to the game of hockey - his blood, sweat and tears, his hip, quad and knee, and most of all his heart.

Read the full Cam Neely biography.

Phil Esposito and his 1972 Speech

Rory Boylen at The Hockey News recently caught up with Phil Esposito to talk about his famous speech at the 1972 Summit Series. Here's a snippet:

“I was embarrassed,” Esposito said. “I came as close as you can come to swearing on the air and caught myself. Which is unusual because I was in the kind of mood where I could have said anything. The truth is, I had nothing to lose. I was playing in the States. If we lost that series when I got up to Montreal or Toronto they might have booed a little bit, but I got booed anyway.

“What right do I have to say something like that?” Esposito continued. “Then I realized after, the best way to make a speech is emotionally if you want to get your point across. Unfortunately, that’s why politicians are f----ing losers.”

Good ol' Phil. He was never one to mince his words. You can read the whole Rory Boylen article at The Hockey News.

You can watch video of the speech below, as well as some previous reflection by Espo as well as interviewer Johnny Esau.

Checking In With Wayne Gretzky

It has been approximately a year since Wayne Gretzky left the public eye of the world of the National Hockey League.

Since then The Great One has kept pretty quiet. Oh sure, he's endorsed the new Wii hockey game and some green tea, but by his standards he seems to be anything but busy.

Pierre LeBrun of ESPN checked in with Wayne Gretzky this week. It seems Gretz is enjoying family time, high school sports and just being a hockey fan.

"I'm enjoying being on the sidelines right now. I really don't see myself, in the next little while, coming back. It's just one of those things where I love what I'm doing."

Neil Davidson of the Canadian Press also got Gretzky to talk.

"I wish I was 30 and Wayne Gretzky and I could go back and play in the NHL. It's the greatest game in the world and everything I have in my life is because of hockey. You know, everything happens for a reason in life and right now my cards are not for me to be in the game. I'm loving what I'm doing, I'm enjoying my life, I watch the game, I'm a huge fan.

Gretzky also talks about his children quite a bit with Davidson.

You can read LeBrun's full Gretzky feature here. Neil Davidson's feature can be found here.

Buy your copy of EA Sports NHL Slapshot for Ninetendo Wii

From Chicago's Goal Crease to the Shores of Brazil: Meet Sam LoPresti

Eveleth Minnesota's Sam LoPresti is the answer to an interesting trivia question - which NHL goaltender made the most saves in a 60 minute regular season game? Modern fans may recall Ron Tugnutt then of the Quebec Nordiques facing 73 shots against the Boston Bruins back in the early 1990s, but the answer is Sam LoPresti who had 83 pucks fired his way.

On March 4, 1941 made 80 saves on 83 shots by the Boston Bruins. That's a save percentage of .964! As you might expect when your team surrenders 83 shots in a game, the Chicago Blackhawks lost that game, but by a remarkable score of only 3-2. He stopped 27 shots in the first period, 31 in the second and 22 more in the third. By the way, Bruins goaltender Frank Brimsek, who like LoPresti was another product of Eveleth, Minnesota, only had to face 20 shots.

LoPresti had just been called up from minors, replacing Paul Goodman to become Chicago's starting goalie. Lopresti played 1 1/2 seasons with the Hawks. A career record of 30-38-6 with a 3.13 GAA in 74 games, LoPresti also appeared in 8 playoff games, going 3-5 with a 1.92 GAA.

LoPresti left the NHL to serve in World War II at the end of the 1942 season. LoPresti never returned to the NHL, and more importantly almost never returned, period. A member of the US Navy, LoPresti was aboard a US-escorted merchant ship that was torpedoed off the coast of Africa while trying to deliver supplies. LoPresti and 20 crewmates spent 42 days floating in a lifeboat at seas before being rescued by a passing freighter. LoPresti reportedly lost 55 pounds at sea, and he would not get proper medical treatment until the freighter landed in Brazil.

Lopresti never retuned to hockey regularly until the 1949 season when he returned to Eveleth to play as an amateur while also running a tavern.

Inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973, Sam's son Pete also appeared in the NHL as a goaltender. Pete played quite regularly during the late 1970s, appearing in 175 games (43 wins, 102 losses, 20 ties) with Minnesota and Edmonton.

Guess Who?

In this photo Bobby Orr defends against a fellow Hockey Hall of Famer. Do you recognize him?

Yep, that's Lanny McDonald, before his signature mustache.

Septembers To Remember

September is a time for watching pennant drives, going back to school, and squeezing out some final moments of summer. So why would you want to spend your time watching hockey? Because some of the greatest hockey games ever played have come in September. Here’s a look at the top ten games played in the month of September:

Sept 2, 1972 – USSR 7 Canada 3 – Canada’s faith in hockey supremacy is completely rocked after the upstarts from the Soviet Union shock NHL super stars and the crowd at the Montreal Forum. Vladislav Tretiak, Valeri Kharlamov and Boris Mikhailov put on a show never to be forgotten. Top-level international hockey is born.

Sept 28, 1972 – Canada 6 USSR 5 – The most significant hockey game of all time needs no introduction. Phil Esposito leads Canada back to victory on Moscow ice, while Paul Henderson is immortalized. Canadians celebrate across the nation.

Sept 9, 1976 - Czechoslovakia 1 – Canada 0 – This hockey classic is considered to be one of the greatest games ever played in the Montreal Forum and in Canada Cup history. It was a nearly technically perfect game featuring brilliant goaltending by Rogie Vachon and Vladimir Dzurilla. The atmosphere was simply electric until Milan Novy quieted the crowd by scoring the round robin game’s only goal late in the third period. 

Sept 15, 1976 – Canada 5 Czechoslovakia 4 (OT) – After the classic round robin match, Canada blew out Czechoslovakia 6-0 in game one of the 1976 finals. Game 2 returned to classic status with a dramatic end of the third period and exciting overtime. In overtime Darryl Sittler scored one of the most famous goals in Canadian hockey history to capture the inaugural Canada Cup.

Sept 13, 1981 – USSR 8 – Canada 1 – The Soviets greatest victory over Canada ranks as Canada’s most humiliating defeat. To make matters worse, it came in Canada’s Cathedral of Hockey – the Montreal Forum. Sergei Shepelev scored three times and Vladimir Krutov made Guy Lafleur look foolish on another en route to the Canada Cup championship. The Soviets were truly the most dominant force in hockey.

Sept 13, 1984 – Canada 3 – USSR 2 (OT) – Heralded as the greatest game ever played at the time, Canada dug down deep to upset the Soviets in the qualifying game for the finals. A gutsy effort saw Canada come from behind to force overtime. In overtime, Paul Coffey, of all players, came up with one of the biggest defensive plays in tournament history when he broke up a Soviet two–on–one, and, with the relentless help from tournament MVP John Tonelli, turned the play into a Mike Bossy winning goal.

Sept 13, 1987 – Canada 6 – USSR 5 (Double OT) – With Russia capturing game one of the best of three series, Canada needed a victory to force game 3. Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux were teamed together full time for the first time in the tournament, and the result was pure magic. Canada was clinging to 5-4 lead when Valeri Kamensky scored one of the most famous goals in tournament history to force overtime. In the second overtime Gretzky sets up Lemieux for the winner. It was Lemieux’s third goal of the night, and Gretzky’s fifth assist. Gretzky would call this game the greatest game he ever played.

Sept 15, 1987 – Canada 6 – USSR 5 – Game 3 of the 1987 Canada Cup will always be remembered for Wayne Gretzky’s and Mario Lemieux’s last minute heroics. The game itself was a notch below the entertainment standards of the game two days earlier, but the drama experienced by Hamilton fans was just as intense. The Soviets stunned Team Canada with a 3-0 lead by the eight-minute mark. But Canada, led by grinders like Brent Sutter, Rick Tocchet and Doug Gilmour clawed away at the Soviets’ lead with one of the gutsiest efforts in hockey history, and to set up the Gretzky-Lemieux dramatics.

Sept 7, 1996 – Canada 3 – Sweden 2 (Double OT) – Sweden put in an incredible effort against Canada in this finals qualifying game. Philadelphia fans witnessed Curtis Joseph and Tommy Salo engage in a classic double over time goaltending duel. Paul Coffey set up Theo Fleury to snap home the winning goal just seconds after Sweden had 4 tremendous opportunities to capture victory. Canada breathes a sigh of relief.

Sept 14, 1996 – USA 5 – Canada 2 – In the new political world Team USA emerged as the new hockey power and managed to dethrone Canada in game 3 of the thrilling finals of the first World Cup of Hockey. Montreal fans were disappointed to see a solid Canadian effort fall short against the Americans. MVP Mike Richter put in one of the greatest performances in tournament history, repeatedly stoning a barrage of Canadian scoring opportunities.

Hockey Around The World

Hockey history was made earlier this year:

In late April a handful of youngsters from the Greek Cypriot side of the island of Cyprus, commanded by a combative Irishman, crossed the border of Cyprus, the Green Line, to face an army of Turks armed with sticks.

No, this was not an incident of guerrilla warfare, but a historic premiere: the first ever hockey match to be played on the island between the only two existing teams; the Solar Bears from Limassol and the Famagusta Ice Crows.

I always find stories of hockey in non-traditional countries interesting. Bill Meltzer has an excellent collection of such articles called "Across The Pond" on NHL.com. Here's a few direct links.

• Mexico
• Australia
• Croatia
• Asia

And here is a complete listing of champions from every hockey playing country in the world.

IIHF.com's website also has a look at hockey in Iceland.

Of course, the National Hockey League is sending six teams over to Europe to play exhibition games and even regular season games this pre-season.

Shoebox Memories

Like pulling out random cards out of that shoebox full of old hockey cards, I have a real assortment of new profiles here on GreatestHockeyLegends.com to share with you:

Gaston Gingras, Earl Ingarfield, Greg Holst, Curt Brackenbury, Bobby Francis, Bill Lochead, Bill Derlago, Luke Richardson, Bill Juzda, Vic Lynn, John Cullen, Brett Callighen, and John MacLean.

Lemieux Gets Order Of Canada

Mario Lemieux was awarded the Order of Canada on Friday. The Order of Canada is the ultimate honour a Canadian citizen can receive. It recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.

Lemieux is one 191 athletes to receive the honour. Other hockey players/builders include Syl Apps, Marcel Aubut, Jean Beliveau, Toe Blake, Butch Bouchard, Bobby Clarke, Phil Esposito, Wayne Gretzky, Doug Harvey, Abby Hoffman, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Gordon Juckes, Red Kelly, Guy Lafleur, Roger Nielson,, Willie O'Ree, Bobby Orr, Sam Pollock, Maurice Richard, and Serge Savard.

Greatest Goal Scorer Ever?

Chris Mizzoni makes an interesting case that Alex Ovechkin should be considered the greatest goal scorer ever.

Be sure to check out Mizzoni's excellent (and hockey history filled) blog Nitzy's Hockey Den this season.

A Look At The 2010 Hockey Book Season

Another hockey season is almost upon us, and for book nerds like me that means another hockey book season is almost here. In fact, new hockey books are already hitting store shelves.

As many of you know my blogging time this time of year gets split up a bit, as I also run Hockey Book Reviews.com where I work with authors and publishers to promote their titles and give honest reviews for my readers.

There are some promising hockey books hitting stores soon. I thought now would be a good time to take a sneak peek.

Eddie Shore and that Old-Time Hockey - Michael Hiam takes a look at the life and times of the great Eddie Shore. In his heyday, "the Edmonton Express" was beloved by Boston Bruins fans and respected throughout the league for his exceptional skill on the ice as much as for his ferocity. Eddie Shore and That Old Time Hockey is an exciting and long-overdue biography of this hockey superstar.

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

The Day I (Almost) Killed Two Gretzkys: And Other Hits, Near Misses, and Off-the-Wall Stories About Sports, and Life - James Duthie is one of North America's most recognized hockey media personalities, as well as one of the most respected and personable commentators on the game, and one of the most prolific. Best known as the host of all TSN's NHL hockey broadcasts on The NHL on TSN and for his coverage of the World Junior Championships, James also has a strong following for his work in print, on TSN.ca and in the Ottawa Citizen. He has been writing columns about hockey, sport in general, and his own twisted view of the world for over a decade. This book is the first and only collection of some of his most popular and most controversial columns, as well as several brand new pieces never previously published.


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

Full listing of 2010 hockey books. Be sure to regularly check out HockeyBookReviews.com as I will be updating that site on a near daily basis.

The Love Of A Good Hockey Book

Risto Pakarinen had just a wonderful post on his website about his first and still favorite hockey book in his collection - Valeri Kharlamov's 1979 autobiography, written in Finnish.

First, he made it clear how much he truly loved this book:

It’s dog-eared, it’s underlined, it’s been photocopied and plagiarized (in my school essays), it’s been with me from breakfast to bedtime and back in a day, it’s got food stains and other smudge, I’ve read it as a pre-teen, a teen, a young adult, and as a grown man – and I’ll be reading it again and again in the future. I’ve had it with me on the bus and to the gym, I’ve studied it, memorized it, and lived it.

Then, he answered his friend's question as to whether he would sell it to him, for any price.

"Not for 20, 30, or 100 euro. A hundred euro is not enough because 500 is not enough. Sure, 500 euro might get me a trip to New York City, or buy me that Lego Star Wars Death Star I’ve been saving for, but I can’t ask a guy to pay 500 euro for an old book. That would be just ridiculous. And if he wouldn’t pay 500 euro, then he wouldn’t pay 5000 which wouldn’t be enough, anyway.


"Some things just aren’t for sale" 

Give the whole post a read. Risto is one of the best writers out there. Also check out his own book he wrote - Off The Post -  a whimsical and fun read hockey fans on both sides of the Atlantic can surely enjoy.

Also, join me on Twitter @HockeyLegends and tell me your favorite hockey book you woul never part with.

Women's Hockey League Would Be Good Investment For NHL

These ladies are all members of the Vancouver Amazons.

The Amazons were a women's hockey team from the 1910s through the 1920s, originally all young, unmarried women who attended King George High School in Vancouver's West End. This particular photo is from the 1922 Banff Winter Carnival, which featured one of the top women's hockey tournaments in the country at the time. I'm not quite sure who is who in this picture, but the team included sisters Norah and Phebe Senkler on defense, Elizabeth Hinds, Kathleen Carson and Nan Griffith at forward and Amelia Voitkevic in net. Lorraine Cannon and Mayme Leahy were substitutes.

I'm not sure who was the team's coach at that time (although Pete Muldoon, who somehow taught skating drills while wearing stilts, was the original coach in 1914), but the name of the team's owner is very interesting: Frank Patrick.

Frank Patrick, and his brother Lester, are two of the most influential people in the history of hockey. In addition to be great athletes themselves, they had the money and the vision to create the Pacific Coast Hockey Association back in 1911. At the time the top professional leagues were all based in Eastern Canada, but the Patricks established an equally good Western league and tweaked the game so significantly that we just take it for granted today. By the mid 1920s the NHL ran the PCHA basically out of business by winning the bidding war for players, but the influence and importance of the Patrick brothers remains almost unparalleled.

Historians consider the Patricks as being well ahead of their time. This was especially true in their vision for creating a women's hockey competition to compliment the PCHA. They had talked about a full women's league since the mid-1910s, probably because their sisters Myrtle, Cynda and Dora were also hockey stars in the Kootenay town of Nelson. They saw first hand how women's games could draw audiences.