Scotty Bowman: Curfew Catcher

Exhibition season is winding down. All around the league there are promising rookies hoping to make the final cut, just like every year.

And just like every year, that means these newcomers will have to learn the rules of being a rookie on a pro sports team. These days that means pretty harmless stuff, usually revolving around the road trips. Things like letting the veterans go up the hotel elevators first, or fetching beverages from the beer store while the vets relax, or staying behind to help the trainers unload the bus.

Oh, and never, ever get caught breaking curfew.

I say get caught because inevitably every year I suspect many players indulge in some late night tastes of the city when travelling. The Roxy in Vancouver. Chez Paree in Montreal. Ooh la la!

Scotty Bowman was very much a stickler for curfews, even in Montreal when his team was winning four Stanley Cups in a row. He did not want any of his players out past their bedtimes, although many still did. They knew he was watching, and learned his usual tricks. He liked to hide in the lobby to surprise his night owls with a surprise welcome. The players learned to find alternative ways back into the hotel, or just waited for the old taskmaster to go to bed.

But one night Bowman got his players good. Real good.

On this particular night (reportedly in Vancouver) the players were relieved to see there was no sign of Bowman hiding in the lobby. They safely walked right through to the elevators and up to their rooms.

The only hiccup was one zealous fan who also happened to be the night porter at the hotel. He was not shy and asked the late arriving players for their autographs on a stick he just happened to have. The players were in a good mood and obliged happily.

Imagine their surprise the next morning at practice as Bowman unveiled the exact same stick and began reading the names of all the players who broke curfew the night before!

Canadiens Saved Scotty, Hotel Guests From Fire

The Montreal Canadiens play in St. Louis tonight, their first game against goaltender Jaroslav Halak. No doubt the former Habs goaltender will be all fired up for tonight's game.

Speaking of "fired up," did you know that in St. Louis way back in 1972 Montreal Canadiens players played the role of heroes by helping balcony stranded hotel guests - including their coach Scotty Bowman - during a raging hotel fire?

It's true. J.C. Tremblay, who had been a volunteer fireman in his hometown, led the way. He grabbed a ladder, and with the assistance of Guy Lapointe, Pierre Bouchard and Rejean Houle, he began assisting scared guests.

Everyone was okay, thanks to the brave Habs. Bowman was treated for smoke inhalation, as were ten other hotel guests. Serge Savard suffered an 18 stitch gash in his leg when he kicked in a window. Floyd Curry, then an assistant general manager, suffered a cut to his hand.

Jennifer Conway has the full details.

2002: Dominator Leads Wings To 3rd Cup In 6 Years

The year is 2002. For the third time in six years, the Detroit Red Wings are crowned as the Stanley Cup champions.

The Wings team still featured some of the top talent from the previous Cup reigns, most notably Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, Nicklas Lidstrom, Brendan Shanahan, Kris Draper and Brendan Shanahan. Some veteran presence was added, with sure-fire Hall of Famers Luc Robitaille, Brett Hull and Chris Chelios all joining the team.

But the key addition was goaltender Dominik Hasek.

Hasek, more so than Patrick Roy or Martin Brodeur, had been the dominant goalie of the 1990s, but he could never quite get the small market Buffalo Sabres to Stanley Cup supremacy.

So Hasek specifically joined the Red Wings, feeling they would give him the best chance to win.

And win they did. Hasek posted an amazing 6 shutouts in the playoffs and finished with a 1.86 GAA and .920 save percentage.

Steve Yzerman was simply awe-inspiring in these playoffs. Playing on an experimentally reconstructed knee, Stevie Wonder put forth one of the grittiest playoffs ever witnessed, and all essentially with one leg. Yet Yzerman still finished with 23 points, second best behind only Colorado's Peter Forsberg.

Nicklas Lidstrom was especially dominant, as his nod for the Conn Smythe trophy suggests. He was the first European player to win the playoff MVP award.

Despite parachuting in all of those pricey free agent veterans, this was a bit of a transition year for Detroit. Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Holmstrom and Jiri Fischer all experienced Red Wings success early in their careers, with super Swede Henrik Zetterberg soon to join the team, too.

This would be the last Cup and last stand for many of the Red Wings veterans, and also their Hall of Fame coach. Knowing he would not return the following season, Scotty Bowman did something he always wanted to do but, despite winning 8 previous championships. Scotty put on his skates, and joined his players in a victory lap.