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December 31, 2010
The Greatest Game
It is simply known as "The New Year's Eve Classic." Any good hockey fan knows exactly what game that refers to - the 3-3 tie between the famed Montreal Canadiens and famed Soviet Red Army on December 31st, 1975. So many people also refer to it as the greatest hockey game ever played.What made this mid-season exhibition game so important? Why has it remained such a touchstone for so many people? What effect did have on the future course of the sport?
That is the focus of Todd Denault's new book The Greatest Game: The Montreal Canadiens, the Red Army, and the Night That Saved Hockey.
Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com - E-Book
This is Denault's follow up title to his inaugural book/instant classic Jacques Plante: Man Who Changed Face of Hockey. Denault returns with his trademark exhaustive research and presents one of the most important hockey books ever written.
In order to answer the aforementioned questions, Denault first sets the stage for that game.That meant going back a full two decades to 1954 when the awesome strength of Soviet hockey was first introduced to Canada, and the idea of a game between the Soviets best and a NHL team was born.
Read the full book review courtesy HockeyBookReviews.com
Remembering Pidhirny, Simmons
Before 2010 passes, we best remember a couple more former NHL players who died in 2010.
Harry Pidhirny was one of the greatest players in AHL history, and a former Boston Bruins.
Don Simmons was a goalie in the late 1950s and 1960s. He is best known as the second goalie in history to regularly wear a face mask.
Harry Pidhirny was one of the greatest players in AHL history, and a former Boston Bruins.
Don Simmons was a goalie in the late 1950s and 1960s. He is best known as the second goalie in history to regularly wear a face mask.
December 30, 2010
Linden, Meeker Named to Order of Canada
Congratulations goes out to Trevor Linden and Howie Meeker for being named to the Order of Canada.
Memories of Wayne Gretzky's 51 Game Point Streak
On Wednesday night Sidney Crosby's amazing 25 game point scoring streak came to an end, thanks to the most unlikely of opponents - the lowly New York Islanders. The goaltender who accomplished the feat was Rick DiPietro.
Which instantly reminded me of Markus Mattsson. Mattsson is a long forgotten goaltender known for two trivia questions:
Had his record breaking streak not been on the line, Gretzky almost certainly would have stopped playing. But he soldiered on, extending the streak by three games (including a 2 goal, 4 point, 1 armed performance against Vancouver in game 50). After getting shutout in game 52, Gretzky did sit out the next six games to recover from the injury. But, as the league's biggest draw, Gretzky still participated in the annual All Star Game first!
Gretzky returned from the injury and scored points in 20 out of the 22 remaining games. He finished that season with an unthinkable 87 goals, 118 assists and 205 points in 74 games. In the amazing 51 game scoring streak he registered 61 goals and 92 assists for 153 points!
By the way, the record of 51 consecutive games with a point could be considered to be even higher. Gretzky's 51 straight games was from the start of the 1983-84 season. But he ended the previous season with a 10 game point scoring streak. Shouldn't the record be considered 61 games?
Here is a few more interesting numbers from Gretzky's amazing streak and season:
Which instantly reminded me of Markus Mattsson. Mattsson is a long forgotten goaltender known for two trivia questions:
- On November 2, 1978, Mattsson, then with the WHA's Winnipeg Jets, surrendered Wayne Gretzky's first goal with the Edmonton Oilers.
- On January 28th, 1984, Mattsson, then with the Los Angeles Kings, held Wayne Gretzky pointless for the first time that season, ending Gretzky's 51 consecutive game point streak.
Gretzky returned from the injury and scored points in 20 out of the 22 remaining games. He finished that season with an unthinkable 87 goals, 118 assists and 205 points in 74 games. In the amazing 51 game scoring streak he registered 61 goals and 92 assists for 153 points!
By the way, the record of 51 consecutive games with a point could be considered to be even higher. Gretzky's 51 straight games was from the start of the 1983-84 season. But he ended the previous season with a 10 game point scoring streak. Shouldn't the record be considered 61 games?
Here is a few more interesting numbers from Gretzky's amazing streak and season:
- Twice Gretzky scored 8 points in a single game during the streak - 3 goals, 5 assists against New Jersey and 4 goals and 4 assists against Minnesota. He also had 7 points against Winnipeg, 6 against Quebec and 5 points on seven occasions (plus twice more after the streak ended).
- Gretzky barely extended the streak to 44 games. In that 44th game he scored an empty net goal with just two seconds left in the game. It was his only point of that night.
- Gretzky scored his 50th goal of the season in game 42. He had his 100th point in game 34!
- The Oilers went 1-5 and were outscored 38-19 in the six games Gretzky missed.
- The Oilers would win their first Stanley Cup that spring. Including playoff goals, Wayne Gretzky scored 100 goals that season.
December 29, 2010
Too Much For Tootoo
Recently Nashville Predators popular forward Jordin Tootoo left the ice and checked himself into the NHL and NHL Players' Association Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program.
At this point it is not important that the public know what Tootoo is dealing with, but a Globe and Mail editorial hit the nail on the head when it suggested that Tootoo's biggest impact in life will not be a hard hit on the ice, but how he handles the aftermath of his decision to leave the ice.
The term “role model” has become a cliché in sports. But in his case, it fits. Young people in Nunavut really do view Jordin Tootoo as pushing back the boundaries of what they might achieve. He has always taken seen himself in this light. “It’s something I take pride in. Hopefully, more kids can look up to me and say, ‘If he can do it, I can do it.’” A very human role model, Mr. Tootoo is playing in a game more important than hockey, and if he can succeed, others can, too.
The editorial also shed some very interesting light on what may have convinced Tootoo to seek help:
What made him go for help now? His mother didn’t know, but said she gave him Theo Fleury’s autobiography, Playing With Fire, for Christmas. Mr. Fleury’s substance abuse nearly killed him during his NHL career, and he has gone on to become an eloquent advocate for child protection and support for the addicted. “It seems to me the last person who can see your life going down the tubes is yourself,” the 42-year-old said on Tuesday.
Good luck should be wished upon Jordin Tootoo. Whether he realizes it or not, there are a lot people who need him to win this battle more so than any other.
At this point it is not important that the public know what Tootoo is dealing with, but a Globe and Mail editorial hit the nail on the head when it suggested that Tootoo's biggest impact in life will not be a hard hit on the ice, but how he handles the aftermath of his decision to leave the ice.
The term “role model” has become a cliché in sports. But in his case, it fits. Young people in Nunavut really do view Jordin Tootoo as pushing back the boundaries of what they might achieve. He has always taken seen himself in this light. “It’s something I take pride in. Hopefully, more kids can look up to me and say, ‘If he can do it, I can do it.’” A very human role model, Mr. Tootoo is playing in a game more important than hockey, and if he can succeed, others can, too.
The editorial also shed some very interesting light on what may have convinced Tootoo to seek help:
What made him go for help now? His mother didn’t know, but said she gave him Theo Fleury’s autobiography, Playing With Fire, for Christmas. Mr. Fleury’s substance abuse nearly killed him during his NHL career, and he has gone on to become an eloquent advocate for child protection and support for the addicted. “It seems to me the last person who can see your life going down the tubes is yourself,” the 42-year-old said on Tuesday.
Good luck should be wished upon Jordin Tootoo. Whether he realizes it or not, there are a lot people who need him to win this battle more so than any other.
December 27, 2010
Bobby Hull's Wool Sweater
It's cold outside! Perfect day for a snowshoe hike. But I better take a sweater. So I will leave you today with this old advertisement from 1979. It's Bobby Hull posing for a Winnipeg clothing company called Tundra.
World Junior Success No Guarantee
Every year I await the World Junior Hockey Championships with great anticipation. I’ve been watching religiously since 1989, and over the years I have become enamored with the next generation of Canadian superstars.
I remember Rob Cimetta’s 7 goals in 7 games back in 1989. Dan Ratushny captained the 1990 team to a gold medal, thanks to the scoring exploits of Dave Chyzowski, Mike Needham and Dwayne Norris. Who can forget John Slaney’s gold medal winning goal on Saskatoon ice. From 1993 through 1997, Canada won five consecutive gold medals, thanks to the heroics of players like Brent Tully (all star in 1993), Martin Gendron, Yanick Dube, Rick Girard (scoring leaders in 1994), Marty Murray, (scoring leader, Best Forward directorate award in 1995), Jason Botterill (3 gold medals – 1995, 1996, and 1997), Christian Dube and Cameron Mann (scoring leaders 1997).
Did you notice anything odd about that list of excellence?
That’s right, you very possibly never heard of any of those guys. They were all NHL busts, and, with the benefit of hindsight, the World Junior Championships rosters are loaded with them.
Canada produces dozens, even hundreds of junior players to the professional ranks every year. You would think that when the top 20 players are named to the Canadian junior national team that those players are all destined for NHL success, barring injuries of course.
But apparently not.
Let’s take a closer look, and examine only the best of the best. Between 1980 and 2000, the following Canadian players were named as All Stars at the World Junior Championships:
1982 – Mike Moffat, Gord Kluzak, Mike Moller
1985 – Bob Dollas
1986 – Sylvain Cote, Shayne Corson
1988 – Jimmy Waite, Theoren Fleury, Greg Hawgood
1989 – Dave Chyzowski, Stephane Fiset
1991 – Eric Lindros, Mike Craig
1992 – Scott Niedermayer
1993 – Manny Legace, Brent Tully, Paul Kariya
1995 – Bryan McCabe, Marty Murray, Jason Allison, Eric Daze
1996 – Jose Theodore, Jarome Iginla, Nolan Baumgartner
1997 – Chris Phillips, Christian Dube
1999 – Roberto Luongo, Daniel Tkaczuk, Brian Campbell
This list can be sorted into three categories:
NHL players – I think there’d be little debate if I included Cote, Corson, Fleury, Lindros, Niedermayer, Legace, Kariya, McCabe, Allison, Daze, Iginla, Theodore, Phillips, Luongo and Campbell on this list of legitimate NHL players. I’ll include Kluzak, whose promising career was derailed by injuries. That’s 16 NHL calibre players.
Fringe NHL players - Hawgood and Baumgartner have nearly identical careers but neither could quite carve out a career in the NHL.
NHL busts – When was the last time you heard about Moffat, Moller, Dollas, Waite, Chyzowski, Fiset, Craig, Tully, Murray, Dube or Tkaczuk.
By my admittedly unscientific count, that’s 16 NHL players, and 11 busts. A 59% success rate by Canada’s WJC all stars. A much more in depth analysis would be necessary to determine a success rate for entire rosters over the years, but I’m going to hazard a guess the success rate would be lower than 59% at the all star level.
The World Juniors have captivated Canadians unlike any annual international event. It is a Christmas tradition, and considered by many to be the best hockey tournament outside of the Stanley Cup playoffs. A few years from now we will look back at recent rosters, and wonder why so many players never panned out in the NHL.
It is something to think about as we cheer on Sean Couturier, Erik Gudbranson, and Mark Visentin. It may our last chance to do so.
December 26, 2010
Celebrating International Hockey
Boxing Day has morphed into a day where mindless consumerism exceeds pre-Christmas sales. But to many in Canada, Boxing Day means only one thing - the start of the World Junior Hockey Championships!
The WJC has reached near Grey Cup levels here in Canada, thanks in large part to TSN's devoted coverage. The all sports channel should be nicely rewarded with viewership numbers today, as Team Canada kicks off the tournament against their eternal rivals from Russia.
This year's tournament is held in Buffalo. The Sabres have been in the NHL for 40 years now. Their international hockey history is not deep, but their is certainly one memorable international clash in the city.
Szymon Szemberg of IIHF.com remembers the night "When The Sabres Clipped The Wings."
"The most memorable international game which echoed around the hockey world was played in Buffalo at the old Memorial Auditorium – the Aud – on January 4, 1976, as part of what was called the “Super Series” when the Soviet Union’s two best club teams – CSKA and Krylia Sovietov from Moscow – battled eight of the NHL’s top teams."
Read the full story here. Also, be sure to read up on my history of the 1976 Super Series, including the game summary of the Sabres/Soviet Wings game.
Be sure to turn into TSN and The Globe and Mail for full WJC coverage. I especially enjoyed the Globe's photo trip down memory lane.
The WJC has reached near Grey Cup levels here in Canada, thanks in large part to TSN's devoted coverage. The all sports channel should be nicely rewarded with viewership numbers today, as Team Canada kicks off the tournament against their eternal rivals from Russia.
This year's tournament is held in Buffalo. The Sabres have been in the NHL for 40 years now. Their international hockey history is not deep, but their is certainly one memorable international clash in the city.
Szymon Szemberg of IIHF.com remembers the night "When The Sabres Clipped The Wings."
"The most memorable international game which echoed around the hockey world was played in Buffalo at the old Memorial Auditorium – the Aud – on January 4, 1976, as part of what was called the “Super Series” when the Soviet Union’s two best club teams – CSKA and Krylia Sovietov from Moscow – battled eight of the NHL’s top teams."
Read the full story here. Also, be sure to read up on my history of the 1976 Super Series, including the game summary of the Sabres/Soviet Wings game.
Be sure to turn into TSN and The Globe and Mail for full WJC coverage. I especially enjoyed the Globe's photo trip down memory lane.
December 23, 2010
December 22, 2010
What's Christmas Without Donald Duck?
There was a great story from last year from Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun about various Christmas traditions around the world, using the Vancouver Canucks and their players from seven different countries as the point of reference.
Here's my favorite quote, courtesy of Daniel Sedin:
Here's some Donald Duck Christmas videos for our friends in Sweden. God Jul!
Here's my favorite quote, courtesy of Daniel Sedin:
(Sedin) says at 3 p.m. on every Christmas Eve for as long as he can recall, Swedish television has shown a Donald Duck cartoon special, and every child in the country watches. Seriously.I love Donald Duck's Christmas cartoons too, but is he really on the same level as Santa come Christmas time?
Not Rudolph. Not Frosty. The Donald.
“I’ve got that on DVD right now, in Swedish,” Daniel says. “To be honest, I don’t know why it’s Donald Duck, but it’s pretty good. I’m serious. Ask Hank. Then after Donald Duck, Santa Claus comes and we open presents.”
Here's some Donald Duck Christmas videos for our friends in Sweden. God Jul!
Merry Christmas Canucks Fans
Here's some more team issued Christmas cards courtesy of Erle Schneidman of CanadiensMemorabilia.com
December 21, 2010
1930s Munro Table Top Hockey - There's An App For That
The original was an all wooden game that more closely resembles pinball than the sophisticated table top hockey games that followed through the years. But the bottom line was it was endless fun.
Chances are you do not have a 1930s Munro table lying around, but you can still experience all that endless fun in it's newest form. That classic game has been re-released - as an App. That's right, now you can play table top hockey on your iPhone, iPod or iPad!
Here is the direct link to the iTunes site.
And here is a link to a website devoted to the wonderful world of Table Top Hockey - www.tablehockeyheaven.com
And of course, here is my old article on the subject - Table Hockey Dreams.
Merry Christmas Leafs Fans
Here's an interesting collection of Toronto Maple Leafs Christmas cards over the years:
December 20, 2010
It's Christmas Time!
It's Christmas week. Schools are mostly out. Many people are taking the week off from work to be with their families. Website traffic tends to slow up pretty good this week, so I wanted to make sure I thanked all of my loyal readers once again for an amazing 2010, and wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
For those of you who do come back to visit regularly this week, I will have a number of hockey/Christmas themed features for you to enjoy. In fact, I have so many I don't know how to all give them their proper due!
Let's start with the classic: Johnny Bower's Honky The Christmas Goose:
This is Johnny Bower's Honky The Christmas Goose CD. It came out in 1965, on vinyl of course, and had some measure of success.Not everyone knows it, but Johnny Bower fancied himself as quite the singer. In his most famous recording, Johnny teamed up with his own son John and some other children, known as the Rinky Dinks, to release Honky The Christmas Goose (click on link to listen to the entire song). They also sang "Banjo the mule," but to no great success.
Tune in this week for more hockey related Christmas stories!
December 19, 2010
Pucks On The Net
Here are a couple of articles I've noted recently as must reads:
- Knutsen, Cecil Family Find Closure: It has already been nine years since a deflected Espen Knutsen slap shot resulted in the puck striking 13 year old Brittanie Cecil in the audience, leading to her death. Knutsen and Cecil family have finally just met and closure seems to have been achieved.
- Corey Fulton Working Way Back From Hockey Tragedy: We all remember Don Sanderson, the senior hockey player in Ontario who died in a hockey fight. But no one knows the story of the guy he was fighting. His name is Corey Fulton, and he has had a real tough time coming to terms with what happened.
December 18, 2010
Hockey Books For Christmas!
Here's look at the class of 2010 hockey books:
100 Things Bruins Fans Should Know by Matt Kalman
100 Things Flyers Fans Should Know by Adam Kimelman
A Passion To Win by Lou Nanne
A to Z Guide To Hockey Terms 2nd Edition
Battle of Alberta Trivia Book by Mike Leonetti
Best of the Best by Scott Morrison/Hockey Night In Canada
Blood Feuds by The Hockey News
Canada's Top 100 Greatest Athletes by Maggie Mooney
Canuck Captains by Jason Farris
Canucks At 40 by Greg Douglas, Grant Kerr
The Day I (Almost) Killed Two Gretzkys by James Duthie
The Diary of a Dynasty by Kevin Shea, Paul Patskou
Discrimination in the NHL by Bob Sirois
Don Cherry's Hockey Stories Part 2 by Don Cherry
Eddie Shore And That Old Time Hockey by C. Michael Hiam
Final Call by Kerry Fraser
The Glory Of Our Game by Richard Buell
The Golden Jet by Bobby Hull with Bob Verdi
Gold Medal Diary by Hayley Wickenheiser
The Greatest Game by Todd Denault
Hawkeytown by Chicago Tribune
He Shoots . . . He Skewers by Roger Duncan
The Hockey Book by Sports Illustrated
Hockey Greats: Awesome Centres by Mike Leonetti
Hockey Is A Funny Game by Merv Magus
Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Goalies by HHOF
Hockey Now! (Sixth Edition) by Mike Leonetti
Hockey's Top 100: Game's Greatest Goals by Weekes and Banks
Hockey Superstitions by Andrew Podnieks
I Am Not Making This Up by Al Strachan
Junior Hockey's Royal Franchise - The Regina Pats
The Making Of Slap Shot by Jonathon Jackson
Michigan Ice Hockey by Greg Nelson
The Mighty Blackhawks by Chicago Sun-Times
Next Ones: Hockey's Future Superstars by Lorna Shultz-Nicholson
Official Guide To Players of HHOF by HHOF
The Ovechkin Project by Damien Cox and Gare Joyce
Play Better Hockey by Ron Davidson
Pucklore: A Hockey Research Anthology by SIHR
Raising Stanley by Ross Bernstein
Reflections: Best of the Decade by NHL
Retired Numbers by Andrew Podnieks
They Call Me Killer by Brian Kilrea/James Duthie
Tim Horton: Stanley Cups to Coffee Cups by Don Quinlan
Total Penguins by Rick Buker
Tough Guy by Bob Probert with Kirstie McLellan Day
Twenty Greatest Hockey Goals by Eric Zweig
We Are The Champions by The Hockey News
The Year Of The Blackhawks by Andrew Podnieks
New to Paperback
Gretzky's Tears - Stephen Brunt
I'd Trade Him Again - Peter Pocklington
Jacques Plante - Todd Denault
Playing With Fire - Theoren Fleury
Fiction/Other
Becoming Canada by Ken Dryden
Dragons, Donkey and Dust by Rudy Kong
The Hanging Tree by Bryan Gruley
The Hockey News All New Top 100 (commemorative magazine)
The Penalty Killing by Michael McKinley
Kids Books
Advice For A Young Hockey Player
Brady Brady and the Missed Hatrick by Mary Shaw
Freddy's Hockey Hero by Susan Chalker Browne
Hockey 123 - My First Hockey Book by Christopher Jordan
Hockey ABC - My First Hockey Book by Christopher Jordan
Hockey Colours - My First Hockey Book by Christopher Jordan
Hockey Shapes - My First Hockey Book by Christopher Jordan
Hockey Opposites by Per Henrik Gurth
One Hockey Night by David Ward with Brian Deines
Thanks To My Hockey Coach
Young Adult
Delaying The Game by Lorna Schultz-Nicholson
Getting The Edge by Gabrielle Vanderhoof
The Hat Trick by Tom Earle
Hockey Superstars by Paul Romanuk
Hockey Talk by John Goldner
Jarome Iginla by Nicole Martillaro
Jordin Tootoo by Melanie Florence
Something To Prove: Bobby Clarke by Nicole Martillaro
The Mighty Tim Horton by Mike Leonetti
Peter Puck's Big Book of Hockey by Brian McFarlane
Rink Rivals by Jacqueline Guest
Roughing by Lorna Schultz-Nicholson
December 16, 2010
IIHF Hall of Fame Welcomes Six in 2011
From IIHF.com:
Karyn Bye, USA, will become the fifth woman to be inducted to the IIHF Hall of Fame. She will be joined by players Tord Lundström (Sweden), Bohumil Modry (Czech Republic), Ladislav Trojak (Slovakia), Doru Tureanu (Romania), and Kalevi Numminen (Finland) in the Builders’ category.
Here's the full story, including biographies.
Karyn Bye, USA, will become the fifth woman to be inducted to the IIHF Hall of Fame. She will be joined by players Tord Lundström (Sweden), Bohumil Modry (Czech Republic), Ladislav Trojak (Slovakia), Doru Tureanu (Romania), and Kalevi Numminen (Finland) in the Builders’ category.
Here's the full story, including biographies.
Hockey Under Your Christmas Tree
Some handy shopping links:
Amazon.ca:
Amazon.ca Hockey Bestsellers
. 
Amazon.com Hockey Bestsellers
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