1994 Vancouver Canucks: Nathan Lafayette And That Damn Goal Post

The following is an excerpt from my unreleased book: Remembering The 1994 Vancouver Canucks. Please see below for the full table of contents.

To this day I lament Nathan LaFayette and his goal post.

Whenever something really good is about to happen in my life or my work or in hockey but then unexpectedly falls through or at least threatens to fall through, I often mutter something like “It’s the LaFayette goal post all over again.”My co-workers don’t get it, and I generally just leave it unexplained now. My girlfriend and her kids have had it explained to them a few times. I suspect they tune me out each and every time.

Of course, you Canucks fans need no introduction to this. June 14th, 1994. Madison Square Gardens. The game is in the third period of game 7 with the New York Rangers clinging to a 3-2 lead. The Canucks are pressing hard, clearly dominating the third period. If we could only tie it up, I figure, the game is ours. We are playing too well. We are overwhelming them. Get it into overtime and we will win it then. We will win the Stanley Cup!

That moment finally comes. With about six minutes left in the game, Geoff Courtnall turns from the corner and wildly passes the puck into the slot. Enter 21 year old rookie Nathan LaFayette – perhaps the least likely Canucks player to be a Stanley Cup hero. As if he flashed in from out of nowhere LaFayette burst through the Rangers’ defense and immediately wired a hard shot on net. The television announcers were certain Mike Richter actually made an unthinkable glove save. Richter was so good that series that I believed he did, too. But no, Nathan LaFayette had actually beaten Richter. But he could not beat the goal post.

Had Nathan LaFayette’s shot been half an inch to the inside of that post, the Canucks surely would have won that game. I am completely certain of it to this day.

Instead the puck frittered away harmlessly. In a split second I went – we all went – from the brink of complete elation to being utterly disheartened. The chance had come and gone. We all knew it. I am certain the players knew it right then and there. The hockey gods – those cruel, cruel hockey gods – refused to smile on the Canucks again.

Nathan LaFayette had a lengthy pro hockey career, including a couple hundred games in the National Hockey League. But in Vancouver he will always be known as the guy who hit the goal post.

June 11th/14th, 1994 - The Highs, The Lows

Bure-ing The Flames
- The Russian Rocket
- Captain Kirk

Shooting Down The Stars
- The Elbow
- The Mighty Pat Quinn
- Cliff Ronning: The Little Man That Could

Be-Leaf It Or Not!
- Forever A Canuck: Trevor Linden
- Greg Adams! Greg Adams!

New York: All The World Is A Stage
- The Penalty Shot
- Nathan Lafayette And That Damn Goal Post
- What A Mess!
- Doug Lidster: The Lone Ranger
- It Was A Riot!

June 15th, 2011: Looking Back At 1994

Happy Halloween

This Date in Hockey History: Oct 31st

1942 - Rookie Maurice Richard played his first NHL game with the Montreal Canadiens. He wore #15, and picked up his first NHL point (an assist) 36 seconds into the game, a 3-2 win for over the Bruins, at the Forum.

1991 - Vancouver Canucks signed Russian forward Pavel Bure to his first NHL contract.

Happy Birthday to Phil Goyette, Mats Naslund, Eric Nesterenko, Risto Siltanen, Tomas Plekanec, Paul Cyr, Bob Manno, Newsy Lalonde, Bucko McDonald, Sailor Herbert, Nick Foligno and Steve Eminger.

Hockey Card of the Day: Cesare Maniago

1973 74 OPC O PEE CHEE #127 CESARE MANIAGO NM MINNESOTA NORTH STARS

1994 Vancouver Canucks: Greg Adams! Greg Adams!

The following is an excerpt from my unreleased book: Remembering The 1994 Vancouver Canucks. Please see below for the full table of contents.

I still do not know who I was happier for – Greg Adams or Jim Robson.

Adams, of course, scored the overtime series winning goal against Toronto. With that goal the Vancouver Canucks would advance to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 1982.

Jim Robson was the Canucks long time play by play man. He had seen virtually every National Hockey League game ever in Vancouver. Robson was as professional as they came – that’s why he has since been honoured by the Hockey Hall of Fame.

But he truly loved the Canucks, and particularly British Columbia boys like Greg Adams.

“Adams shoots . . . SCORES! Greg Adams! Greg Adams! Adams gets the winner! Fourteen seconds into the second overtime. The Vancouver Canucks are going to the Stanley Cup Finals!”

I still get chills when I hear those classic words. To this day I can hear the excitement, the pride and the hint of disbelief in Robson’s voice.

Adams called that goal against the Leafs “the biggest one I ever scored,” but he may have scored an equally as important of a goal the following game.

Game one of the Stanley Cup Final. The Rangers are all over the Canucks, but they can not beat Kirk McLean in net. Despite 54 shots the game is late in the first overtime period. “Last minute of play in the period” has already been announced Brian Leetch finally beats McLean with a clean shot but the puck rings off the crossbar. The Canucks break up ice with a three-on-one rush. Bure pushes the puck up to Cliff Ronning. The undersized Ronning cleverly punches the puck over to an open Adams. Adams wastes no time in blasting the puck past Mike Richter.

Madison Square Gardens instantly fell silent. We did not even need the television microphones to hear CBC’s Bob Cole exclaim “Scooooores!!!”

The hair on the back of my neck still stands up on end even as I write this twenty years later.

The lanky Adams, who often played left wing on Pavel Bure’s line, was one of the most under-appreciated players of the ’94 Canucks. He was not flashy like Bure, or even Geoff Courtnall or Cliff Ronning. He was not unconditionally loved like Trevor Linden. But, in addition to his clutch goal scoring, he was this glue guy who was integral to the Canucks success. I do not think anyone realized just how important he was until he was traded in 1995.

June 11th/14th, 1994 - The Highs, The Lows

Bure-ing The Flames
- The Russian Rocket
- Captain Kirk

Shooting Down The Stars
- The Elbow
- The Mighty Pat Quinn
- Cliff Ronning: The Little Man That Could

Be-Leaf It Or Not!
- Forever A Canuck: Trevor Linden
- Greg Adams! Greg Adams!

New York: All The World Is A Stage
- The Penalty Shot
- Nathan Lafayette And That Damn Goal Post
- What A Mess!
- Doug Lidster: The Lone Ranger
- It Was A Riot!

June 15th, 2011: Looking Back At 1994

1994 Vancouver Canucks: Shooting Down The Stars

The following is an excerpt from my unreleased book: Remembering The 1994 Vancouver Canucks. Please see below for the full table of contents.

The Canucks faced the Dallas Stars in round 2 of the playoffs. Vancouver would once again start on the road in Dallas. The first game went to Vancouver on the basis of a 6-4 victory.

Two days later Kirk McLean registered his 2nd shutout of the post season en route to a 3-0 victory. That game will be forever remembered for a vicious elbow delivered by the Canucks superstar Pavel Bure on Dallas tough guy Shane Churla. The elbow, which would draw a fine from the league, perhaps sent a message to the rest of the NHL - Don't mess with Pavel, he can and will take care of himself! The hit also marked the beginning of Don Cherry's "Bure's a weasel" campaign on Hockey Night in Canada. Lost in the mayhem of the controversy was the fact that Bure scored 2 of the 3 goals in the game and probably played his best playoff game up to that point.

The two teams would return to Vancouver for the next 3 games. Dallas would crawl back into the series with a 4-3 victory in game 3. But the Canucks responded in game 4 with a 2-1 overtime victory. With the Stars on the ropes, the Canucks headed into game 5 determined to capture the series victory and avoid having to return to Dallas for a game 6. In an workmanlike effort, the Canucks played perfect defensive playoff hockey to win 4-2, and secure a berth into round three with a 4-1 series victory over the Dallas Stars.

Vancouver would have to wait to see who their next opponent would be. A pesky San Jose team took the Toronto Maple Leafs to a full 7 games before finally bowing out. That would set up an all Canadian showdown between the rested Canucks and weary Leafs. The winner would have a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup!

June 11th/14th, 1994 - The Highs, The Lows

Bure-ing The Flames
- The Russian Rocket
- Captain Kirk

Shooting Down The Stars
- The Elbow
- The Mighty Pat Quinn
- Cliff Ronning: The Little Man That Could

Be-Leaf It Or Not!
- Forever A Canuck: Trevor Linden
- Greg Adams! Greg Adams!

New York: All The World Is A Stage
- The Penalty Shot
- Nathan Lafayette And That Damn Goal Post
- What A Mess!
- Doug Lidster: The Lone Ranger
- It Was A Riot!

June 15th, 2011: Looking Back At 1994

Hockey Card of the Day: Patrick Roy

1986-87 topps rookie 53 Patrick Roy

This Date in Hockey History: Oct 30th

1943 - Montreal's famous "Punch Line" played together for the first time -- Maurice Richard was up front with Elmer Lach and Toe Blake. It was also the first time Maurice Richard wore uniform #9. Canadiens tied 2-2 with Boston in Montreal.

1964 - Emile Francis was named General Manager of the New York Rangers, replacing "Muzz" Patrick. He remained the Rangers' GM for the next 11 years.

1969 - Rookie Bobby Clarke scored his first career NHL goal, in a 3-3 Flyers' tie against the Rangers at New York.

1983 - The Sutter brothers made NHL history when the Islanders played in Philadelphia -- Isles' Duane and Brent, and Flyers' twins Rich and Ron became first four brothers to play in the same NHL game. Islanders won the game 6-2.

1983 - Chicago's Tom Lysiak tripped linesman Ron Foyt as the Black Hawks won 6-1 over the Hartford Whalers in Chicago. Lysiak was later susended 20 games for the incident.

Happy Birthday to Cal Gardner, Pat Elynuik, Drew Stafford, Chris Stewart, Danny Lawson, and Len Frig.

1994 Vancouver Canucks: Bure-ing The Flames

The following is an excerpt from my unreleased book: Remembering The 1994 Vancouver Canucks. Please see below for the full table of contents.

Coming off of a so-so regular season, there was little expectation for the 1994 Vancouver Canucks. The previous two seasons saw the Canucks really establish themselves as league power-houses, recording 96 and 101 points during the regular season. However 1993-94 was a season of regression. The team slipped to 85 points, just one game above the magical .500 mark. They finished second in the relatively weak Pacific Division, and weren't expected to make it much farther past the second round if that. But sometimes things don't go according to plan!

Round One saw the Canucks facing off against the arch-rival Flames from Calgary. Game one was played in the Saddledome in Calgary. The Canucks won the game handily with a 5-0 shutout. Kirk McLean was simply spectacular while the Canucks got some timely bounces to bury Calgary early.

Game Two was quite a different story however. Calgary would even the series in a high scoring 7-5 Flames' victory. The game featured Flames' forward Gary Roberts running McLean twice, thus knocking Captain Kirk off of his game somewhat.

Calgary would take a commanding 3-1 series lead with victories in games three and four. The games were played very evenly, but Calgary goaltender Mike Vernon now was the hot goalie, perhaps stealing a victory from the Canucks. But the Canucks would refuse to die. Despite the monumental task ahead of them, the Canucks were determined to come back and win the series in 7 games.

Game five went in to overtime tied at 1-1. Pavel Bure had the Canucks' goal, his first of the post season. Mike Vernon continued to frustrate the Canucks with spectacular saves. But in the extra period Geoff Courtnall managed to spring lose on a semi breakaway and wire a "Gretzky-like slapshot" into the top left corner. The goal suddenly revived the Canucks' confidence in being able to beat the hot goaltender, and people started talking about a series comeback.

The Canucks had managed to elude elimination once, but would have to do it again in game 6. This time at least the game was played in Vancouver, and the boisterous fans might have given the Canucks' enough support to pull out a series-tying victory. With the game tied 2-2 after the period, the game would once again be decided in sudden death overtime. The Flames' were called for a too-many-men penalty during the extra frame. The resulting powerplay saw Trevor Linden scoop a Pavel Bure rebound behind a fallen Vernon. Suddenly, the series was all tied at 3 games each, but the Canucks definitely had the momentum on their side.

Game seven would once again be decided in over time. The Canucks' Greg Adams would score late in the third period to tie the game at 3, thus forcing the extra frame. The over time period was dominated early by the hometown Flames. Kirk McLean stymied the attackers time and time again, including one save which is now considered on of the greatest moments in playoff hockey history. At roughly the halfway mark of the fourth period, Theoren Fleury and Robert Reichal came in on a broken 2-on-1 rush with only Jyrki Lumme back to defend. Fleury perfectly faked a shot and turned it into a pass over to Reichal, forcing McLean to make a split second jump. McLean flung himself feet first and managed to get his left toe on the puck just in time to deny the Calgary shooter. Even the goal judge signalled it was a goal because he couldn't believe McLean was able to make that stop! Video replays show the puck was stopped right on the goal line.

Late in the overtime session the Flames dumped the puck out of their zone and on to the stick of Dave Babych. The veteran Canuck would move it over to new Canuck Jeff Brown, who would in turn spot Pavel Bure streaking at the Flames' blueline. The airborne pass managed to find its way through a maze of players right on to the tape of Bure's stick. The Flames' defense is caught almost off-guard as Bure splits the defense to go in on Mike Vernon all alone. Bure would quickly fake to his backhand before returning to his forehand to slide the puck past the outstretched Calgary netminder.

The miracle was complete. The Canucks came back from a 3 games to 1 game deficit to win the series, and were riding a wave of momentum into the next round.




June 11th/14th, 1994 - The Highs, The Lows

Bure-ing The Flames
- The Russian Rocket
- Captain Kirk

Shooting Down The Stars
- The Elbow
- The Mighty Pat Quinn
- Cliff Ronning: The Little Man That Could

Be-Leaf It Or Not!
- Forever A Canuck: Trevor Linden
- Greg Adams! Greg Adams!

New York: All The World Is A Stage
- The Penalty Shot
- Nathan Lafayette And That Damn Goal Post
- What A Mess!
- Doug Lidster: The Lone Ranger
- It Was A Riot!

June 15th, 2011: Looking Back At 1994

Hockey Card of the Day: Kansas City Scouts

Kansas City Scouts Logo,1974-5 OPC #169

Mark Howe, Pierre Pilote, Keith Magnuson, Bob Plager Join Bobby Orr On Bookstore Shelves

Much of the hockey book hubbub these days is about Bobby Orr's autobiography, Orr: My Story.

But Orr isn't the only former NHL defenseman who is the subject of a book in 2013. Here's a look at some others:

Gordie Howe's Son: A Hall of Fame Life In The Shadows Of Mr. Hockey by Mark Howe (with Jay Greenberg) - Growing up in the shadows of a famous father can never be easy. But when you are an aspiring hockey player and your father is the greatest player the game has ever known, it must be a dark, dark shadow.

Mark Howe, with the help of Jay Greenberg, tells us all about that shadow, his dad Gordie Howe, and his own Hall of Fame life in hockey in his autobiography.

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

Heart of the Blackhawks: The Pierre Pilote Storyby Pierre Pilote with L. Waxy Gregoire and David M. Dupuis. When the ghosts of hockey's past reminisce about the 1960 Chicago Blackhawks, they almost always focus on superstars Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita with Mr. Goalie Glenn Hall also getting a lot of attention. Not as many people know the story of Pierre Pilote, the Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman who was so instrumental in Chicago's success and 1961 Stanley Cup championship.

That can all change this year as Pilote brings readers rinkside in this compelling biography, Heart of the Blackhawks: The Pierre Pilote Story. It is an authorized biography co-written with L. Waxy Gregoire and David M. Dupuis.

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

Keith Magnuson: The Inspiring Life and Times of a Beloved Blackhawk This biography of the late great Keith Magnuson was written with the full support of Keith Magnuson’s wife and children. It is a thrilling and insightful biography pays tribute to a Chicago icon and true hockey legend.

One of the most popular Chicago Blackhawks of all time, defenseman Keith Magnuson was raised on the raw, rough traditions of hockey in western Canada. He went on to become one of the toughest - and best - players in hockey.

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

Tales from the St. Louis Blues Locker Room: A Collection of the Greatest Blues Stories Ever Toldby Bob Plager - Nobody bleeds Blue like Bob Plager, considered one of the funniest men in hockey. This rollicking book details Plager’s romance with the Bluenotes from day one in 1967 to the present day. He was an original Blues player, a rugged defenseman whose specialty was the hip check. He remains an original personality and a good-humored man whose specialty is now the quick quip. As a master storyteller, Plager packs Tales from the St. Louis Blues Locker Room with insights from every level of the hockey rink.

He chronicles the puzzling mind games of a young Scotty Bowman, the quirky coach whose legend began with the original Blues. In those old-school days, Plager learned memorable lessons from veterans like Al Arbour, Doug Harvey, Glenn Hall, Dickie Moore, and Jacques Plante, all future Hall of Famers. The early years also brought the three Plager brothers—Bob, Barclay, and Billy—together in St. Louis. Bob played long enough to help break in two Western Canadian kids, future captain Brian Sutter and future Hall of Famer Bernie Federko. Plager later coached a new generation of stars in St. Louis, players like Brett Hull, Brendan Shanahan, and Curtis Joseph.

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

Hockey Card of the Day: Lanny McDonald

1980-81 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Base #62 Lanny McDonald Colorado Rockies

Espositos Almost Reunited In Chicago

Here is something I never knew before about Phil Esposito and Tony Esposito. According to Harvey Wittenberg's 2003 book Tales from the Chicago Blackhawks:

"Phil was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984 and recalled to me that he had hoped to finish his career with the Blackhawks and play with his brother Tony. A trade was set in 1978 to send him from the Rangers to Chicago for Jim Harrison, but at the last minute, the New York owner nixed the deal."

Espo back in Chicago, imagine that. Way back in 1967 they could not get rid of him fast enough. In fact, one Wittenberg refers to another story that the Hawks rushed the big trade and paid dearly for it. To refresh your memory the trade was Espo, Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield to Boston for Pit Martin, Gilles Marotte and goalie Jack Norris. But, according to Wittenberg . . .

"Wirtz told me that Gerry Cheevers was supposed to be the goalie in the deal. Bruins GM Happ Emms made a last minute switch, and Ivan went ahead with it since he was eager to get rid of Esposito. Cheevers went on to lead Boston to two Stanley Cups and was elected to the Hall of Fame while Norris played in only 10 games in two seasons."

But why were the Hawks so anxious to rid themselves of Big Phil? After all, Espo was developing into a nice player and working well as Bobby Hull's center.

Ken Dryden chimed in with is his thoughts in his epic book, The Game:

"The Hawks were an established team, presided over by two great superstars, Hull and Stan Mikita. On and off the ice, its relationships were set, its roles carved out, and in time, little could change because Hull and Mikita were too good, and too young. Hull was the goal scorer, Mikita the playmaker, and the rest, including Esposito, fit in around them as support. On the ice, it was Esposito's job to get Hull the puck; off the ice, an emotional and spirited man, he became the other part of his personality, the funnyman, the clown. So when Hawks general manager Tommy Ivan traded him to Boston, he traded a funny, playmaking 24 goal scorer who had no room to be anything else, and perhaps never would have."

Of course, the rest is history. Esposito would blossom in Boston, becoming the game's greatest goal scorer and shatter Bobby Hull's records in the process. Boston would become hockey's top team. The Blackhawks, for all of Tony's efforts, merely existed.

Hockey Card of the Day: Stu Grimson

1991-92 UPPER DECK RC Stu Grimson #416

This Date in Hockey History: Oct 27th

1963 - Detroit's Gordie Howe scored his 544th NHL goal during a 6-4 loss to Montreal. The 544 career goals tied him for the all-time lead with Maurice Richard.

1988 - New York Islanders Bryan Trottier played in his 1,000th NHL game.

1993 - Lightning center Denis Savard got a goal to become the 20th player in NHL history to score 1,200 career points.

Happy Birthday to Mike Ricci, Sergei Samsonov, Brian MacLellan, Brad Lauer, Paul Broten, Ulcers McCool and Hugh Lehman.

Memorable Memorabilia: Canadian Tire Hockey Tips Posters

Today's Memorable Memorabilia is the 1980s hockey tips poster series from Canadian Tire:

I am certain I had the Bob Gainey poster when I was a kid, but I can not find any photo evidence it existed.

Hockey Card of the Day: Mickey Redmond

1976-77 TOPPS HOCKEY #243 MICKEY REDMOND RED WINGS

This Date in Hockey History: Oct 26th

1980 - Quebec's 24-year-old rookie Peter Stastny scored his first NHL goal.

1995 - Mario Lemieux scored three times to become the first Penguin (and 20th NHL player) to score 500 career goals. The milestone came in his 605th game.

1995 - Colorado Avalanche acquired Sandis Ozolinsh from the San Jose Sharks, in exchange for Owen Nolan.

1997 - Wayne Gretzky picked up 2 assists in the Rangers 3-3 tie with Anaheim, in New York. The 2 assists (#1,850 and 1,851 of his career) gave Gretzky more assists than any other player in history had points (passing Gordie Howe's point total of 1,850).

1997 - Tampa Bay Lightning fired head coach Terry Crisp, who had been the only coach the team's six year history.

1997 - Steve Yzerman passed Alex Delvecchio as the longest serving Captain in NHL history.

Happy Birthday to Harry Oliver, Jack Crawford, Robert Petrovicky, Patrick Rissmiller, Steve Kelly, and Miikka Kiprusoff.

Claude Cyr Was No Jacques Plante

When the Trail Smoke Eaters were selected to represent Canada at the World Hockey Championships in 1961 they accepted a young goalie from Quebec to join the team. The Smokies already had the legendary Seth Martin in net - perhaps the most famous Canadian hockey player in European minds prior Paul Henderson and Phil Esposito - but agree to add Claude Cyr as a back up for the World tourney.

Cyr was a highly regarded goalie. At the time he was considered to be Jacques Plante's understudy and potential one-day replacement for the Montreal Canadiens.

Cyr was not used to the practices Trail coach Bobby Kromm inflicted upon his players. In one 18 game tour of Europe the team was put through intense skating drills on almost every non-game day. At some point Cyr complained.

"Jacques Plante didn't have to skate in the Canadiens practices," he pointed out.

"You ain't Jacques Plante," Kromm fired back.

Here's more on the career of Claude Cyr.

Hockey Card of the Day: Dave Keon

1971-72 Opeechee #259 Dave Keon All-Star

This Date in Hockey History: Oct 25th

1984 - Guy Lafleur scored his 518th and final goal as a member of the Montreal Canadiens in a 3-2 win over Buffalo.

1991 - Buffalo Sabres obtained Pat LaFontaine, Randy Hillier and Randy Wood from the NY Islanders, in exchange for Pierre Turgeon, Benoit Hogue, Uwe Krupp, and Dave McLlwain.

1991 - New York Islanders traded Brent Sutter and Brad Lauer to Chicago in exchange for Adam Creighton and Steve Thomas.

Happy Birthday to Wendel Clark, Reggie Houle, Earl Ingarfield, Josef Beranek, Rey Comeau, Don Murdoch and Kelly Chase.

Covered: Morris Mott

This a Goal magazine from 1973 featuring the now-defunct California Golden Seals. Marv Edwards is the goalie in the frame. Morris Mott, one of hockey's most interesting stories, skates in front of him.

Morris Mott was a terrific skater and penalty killer. The diminutive Mott represented Canada in 3 World Championships (winning 2 bronze medals) and 1 Olympics (1968, winning a bronze medal) before playing a minor role with the NHL's California Golden Seals.

Before joining the Seals Morris attended two years at Queen's University where he was studying history. Perhaps his only greater love than hockey was Canadian history

Mott played 3 years in California. Because of his lack of size he wasn't given much of a chance to show any of his offensive gifts, but he proudly excelled as a defensive specialist and penalty killer. His breakaway speed was his best hockey attribute. As he played with the Seals continued working on his doctorate in history. A professional athlete excelling at scholastics while still playing his sport was a rarity back then (and today for that matter). The Sporting News editors were so impressed that they ran a full page article on him in the 1973-74 season.

Mott left the Seals in the summer of 1975 and returned to a venue he really loved - international hockey. He signed with Vastra Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League and did quite well for himself, scoring 16 goals in 36 games. Following the completion of the Swedish season, Mott finished the year by playing 2 games for the WHA Winnipeg Jets before hanging up the blades for good.

Since his hockey days Mott has evolved into a University professor (in Brandon, Manitoba) specializing in Canadian history.

Here's the full Morris Mott biography

Ron Flockhart: Flocky Hockey

Ron Flockhart played an exciting style of hockey. He single-handedly attempted to dance through the entire opposition. He'd often refuse to pass to open teammates, instead attempting - and sometimes succeeding - to put on the extra move on the defenseman - and then another! He could turn a goalie as white as a ghost, or turn his coach redder than a beet.

"I get so wound up, so involved in what I'm doing, so carried away that I'd rather make the extra move," explained Flockhart. "Sometimes it works, and then I want to make another one. That's when I should move the puck, after the first one. Its a lack of concentration. Uh....greed is probably a good word for it."

Early in his career, especially in Philadelphia, fans forgave Flockhart for his faults. "Flocky Hockey" was popular

Critics raved early on in his career.

"He's the most exciting player to join the National Hockey League since Wayne Gretzky" said Hockey Night In Canada broadcaster Howie Meeker.

"He reminds me of Gilbert Perreault" said Los Angeles standout defenseman Dave Lewis.

Not bad for a kid who initially didn't want to play hockey. At age three his mom forced him to play hockey. "I hated it" he remembers with a laugh. "My mom had to force me. Second year, she couldn't get me off the ice!

Flockhart was discovered early on in his career by two members of the Flyers glory year teams. Brothers Joe and Jimmy Watson, ace defensemen, returned to their small town home in remote northern British Columbia called Smithers where they held a hockey school every summer for the local kids. Ron was one of them, and even at an early age made an impression on the NHLers.

"The little bleep never passed the damn puck," was Joe Watson's first memory of Flockhart.

Here's the full Ron Flockhart biography

This Date in Hockey History: Oct 24th

1988 - A year and a half after playing in his final game, 31-year-old Mike Bossy announced his retirement, due to a bad back. Bossy scored 50+ goals 9 times, and ended his career with 573 goals and 553 assists in 752 games over 10 years.

2001 - Los Angeles Kings acquired Jason Allison and Mikko Eloranta from the Boston Bruins, in exchange for Jozef Stumpel and Glen Murray.

2002 - Colorado's Patrick Roy passed Terry Sawchuk as the NHL's all-time leader in games played by a goaltender when he appeared in his 972nd career game, 3-2 victory over the Coyotes at Phoenix.

2002 - Boston retired Terry O'Reilly's #24 jersey in a pre-game ceremony beore the Bruins' home opener of the 2002-03 NHL season, a 2-2 tie against the visiting ottawa Senators.
Th
Happy Birthday to Mike Rogers, Jim Peplinski, Harold Snepsts, Jamal Mayers, Jonas Gustavsson, Clarke Wilm, Joe Micheletti, Ray Leblanc, and Seaweed Pettie

Hockey Card of the Day: Brent Ashton

1983-84 O-Pee-Chee Brent Ashton #225

Coffey Break: Charlie Huddy

This is Charlie Huddy. For years he was the quietly reliable defenseman with the Edmonton Oilers dynasty teams in the 1980s, often teaming with all time great Paul Coffey. While few defensemen could match Coffey's flair or point totals, Huddy was more than just a defensive anchor for the Hall of Famer.

"I stay back more often than Paul, but when I get the puck and the play is in transition I take off with it and he becomes the man who stays back. We work very well together," he reminded us.

"Coffey wasn't trapped as often this season and playing with a steady partner like Huddy seems to have worked well for both of them," said coach Glen Sather. "Some hockey people question why I put our two best offensive defensemen together, but I reason the best defense is an attack that has the puck up in the opposition's end."

Scotty Bowman agreed.

"No one wheels it to the attack or knows when the exact moment of transition takes place better than those two guys on the Oiler blueline. Not even Larry Robinson and Serge Savard when they were at their peak in Montreal."

The chemistry between Coffey and Huddy was almost instant.

"Coffey sort of adopted me when they brought me up (from the minors) at Christmas time in 1981. He helped me over the rough spots, and in practice naturally paired with me. I think Slats got the message and left us together."

Here's more on Paul Coffey and Charlie Huddy

2013 Hockey Books

Hockey Card of the Day: Shea Weber

SHEA WEBER 12-13 UPPER DECK HOCKEY # 98 NASHVILLE PREDATORS

This Date in Hockey History: Oct 23rd

1966 - Boston rookie defenseman Bobby Orr fired a 50 foot shot past Canadiens' Gump Worsley for his first NHL goal, during a 3-2 Bruins' loss to Montreal.

1971 - Montreal's Guy Lafleur scored his first career NHL goal. It came against Kings' goalie Gary Edwards in the Canadiens' 3-1 win at Los Angeles.

1982 - Montreal rookie Guy Carbonneu scored the first goal of his NHL career, in a 9-5 Canadiens'
win over the Quebec Nordiques, at the Forum.

1982 - Boston's Normand Leveille suffered a career-ending cerebral hemorrhage during the first intermission at Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum. Bruins lost 3-2 to the Canucks.

1988 - Dave Newell (in his 22nd NHL season) set an NHL record by officiating in his 1,076th career game.

Happy Birthday to Gordie Drillon, Louis Sleigher, Matt D'Agostini, Larry Wilson, Benny Wolf, Fred Shero and Sugar Jim Henry.

Denis Savard: Human Highlight Film

"Denis Savard can do what Bobby Hull could. He can pull people out of their seats. That's something I could never do" - Stan Mikita.

That's pretty high praise coming from one of the all time greats. Then again, Denis Savard is one of the all time greats, too.

Check out this video of Denis Savard scoring as beautiful of a goal as you will ever see in the National Hockey League. Everyone in the building would be standing by the time the goal horn sounded!


"Savard has charisma," said Hawks GM Bob Pulford, also a Hall of Fame player himself. "It's infectious and it translates to the fans. And in this game we are still in the business of putting people in the stands."

Here's more on the career of one of the most electrifying players in the history of the game: Denis Savard.

Hockey Card of the Day: Phil Esposito and Bobby Clarke

Phil Esposito & Bobby Clarke Scoring Leaders 1974-75 O-Pee-Chee OPC #3

This Date in Hockey History: Oct 22nd

1953 - Montreal's Dick Irvin became the first coach in NHL history to win 600 career games, when the Canadiens beat the Black Hawks 3-2 at Chicago.

1957 - Chicago rookie Bobby Hull scored his first career NHL goal in a 2-1 win over the visiting Boston Bruins.

1980 - Rookie defenseman Paul Coffey scored his first NHL goal, in the Oilers' 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames, in Edmonton.

2002 - Patrick Roy played in his 971st game, to tie Terry Sawchuk's NHL record for career appearances by a goalie, as Colorado tied 3-3 against the visiting Edmonton Oilers.

Happy Birthday to Butch Goring, Miroslav Satan, Stephane Quintal, Billy Brydge, Scott Lachance, Terry Yake, Ron Sedlbauer, Matt Pettinger and Ron Tugnutt.

Eric Cairns

Most hockey fans have a soft spot for hard rock defensemen like Eric Cairns.

Cairns played 457 games in the NHL, most notably with the New York Islanders. His 10 career goals and 1182 career penalty minutes tell you quite a lot about this defender from Oakville, Ontario.

At 6'6" and 230lbs, Eric Cairns was imposing to say the least. But this tough guy could play. He overcame his lack of foot speed and agility to angle puck carriers to the outside and out of danger. Once he got the puck he protected the puck nicely and was capable of making smart passes out of the zone. Offensively he really only worried about getting the puck deep into the zone and then holding the blue line.

But lets make no mistake. Cairns was a willing NHL enforcer and understood what that entailed.

“You never want to do anything that’s going to put your team at a disadvantage," he said. “The most important thing is to protect your teammates. You have to resist acting on impulse to things that happen on the ice. The bottom line is winning, not doing something that causes your team to lose.”

Cairns always understood the benefits of standing up for his teammates.

“Win lose or draw, it means a lot to have your teammates come up and thank you for defending them. That really puts things into perspective.”

Cairns may have been imposing on the ice, but he wasn't such a bad guy in real life.

“I suppose when I meet some people, they take one look at me and think I’m a big monster,” he said with a chuckle. “On the ice, I’m very serious, but I’m not that way once the game is over. I was raised to be very well-mannered. My parents are very classy people and that’s the way I’d like to be viewed by others. That’s very important to me.”

Eric Cairns was a very respected National Hockey League player, by his peers and by the fans.

Roman Hamrlik Retires

Veteran defenceman Roman Hamrlik announced his retirement Monday, ending a 20-year NHL career .

Hamrlik was drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, making him the original Tampa Bay player. He went on to play 1,395 regular-season games (don't forget he lost another 140 games due to three NHL labour stoppages, too) and 113 post-season games with Tampa Bay, Edmonton, the New York Islanders, Calgary, Montreal, Washington and the New York Rangers over his career.

Hamrlik, from Zlin, Czech Republic, scored 155 goals and had 483 assists for 638 pointsover the course of his NHL career.

"As a kid growing up in communist Czechoslovakia, I never imagined that I would one day have the opportunity to play in the National Hockey League," Hamrlik said in an NHLPA statement. "It has been a great honour and a privilege to spend 20 seasons playing in the greatest hockey league in the world.

"I will always cherish the wonderful memories I have of my time spent in North America while playing the game I love, making sacrifices and pursuing my hockey dreams."

Though he never emerged as a superstar that everyone hopes for out of a first overall draft pick, "Hammer" was a very desirable player. If you know your first round pick with play 20 NHL seasons, you would be very happy with that.

Not that playing with an expansion team was easy on any young defenseman. Hamrlik posted some decent offensive totals in Tampa Bay, thanks to a heavy shot and lots of power play time. But in six seasons he was criticized for his defensive play, with his detractors pointing at his gaudy -124 rating over that time. 

A lot of young defensemen struggle in their own zone, especially with weak teams. But Hamrlik shook that reputation as his career moved on. In fact, he became an in-demand player as a veteran because of his savvy and calm play. He would often be brought into a new team to play a leader's role and help young prospects like he once was. 

Ultimately Roman Hamrlik will be remembered as a very steady, reliable 2nd pairing defenseman who could fill in in any situation. He was a hard hitter with a quiet snarl to his game. He was better defensively than some people gave him credit for, yet he was not as good offensively as some believed. He had a good shot and made smart first pass, but was never an overly creative offensive player. 

Hamrlik also represented the Czech Republic internationally and with the highlight of his career coming in 1998 when he helped his country win the gold medal at the Nagano Olympics.

"This is the greatest moment in my life," he was quoted as saying back then.