215 points in one season. 92 goals in one season (but he wasn't really a goal scorer). 50 goals in 39 games. 4 Stanley Cups. I know it was a different era and the goalies wore driveway hockey equipment but seriously, they wore the same stuff in the 70's and no one put up those …
Category: people and places
Hockey on Television
I remember really vaguely watching games on TV on Sunday afternoons when I was a kid. As I've said before on this blog, this is going way back. Old Detroit teams playing someone, maybe the Blues. Stan Makita against Gary Unger. Or maybe the New York Rangers with Eddie Giacomin in the cage for the …
Begging For Shinny
I snapped this shot on my way to work a couple of days ago in downtown Kitchener. Classic January morning in Canada - an open air rink, freshly flooded looking for action.
To Play Or To Celebrate One’s Wedding Anniversary?
This is a true story. As captain of the blue team for the second half of the season, I have the privilege of organizing spares when one of the regulars cannot make it. Last night, one of our regulars was unable to make it and I had arranged earlier in the week for spare who, …
Continue reading To Play Or To Celebrate One’s Wedding Anniversary?
Things That Matter, Things That Don’t
Brian Burke got fired. Yawn. The circle of life and death that is Toronto Maple Leaf hockey continues. What does matter, and is truly a little bit sad though, is the warm weather hitting southern Ontario over next few days because there are tons of outdoor rinks just nicely established that will shortly disappear into …
The Lockout Is Over…
...and I don't really care. I don't watch a ton of hockey and am kind of indifferent to these repeating labour situations that have plagued the game in the Bettman era. I don't begrudge the owners or players as they each have their own perspective. However, the amounts of money we are talking about …
The Black Scots
One year in high school, our coach arranged a couple of exhibition games in Toronto. One of them was against the Sir John A. MacDonald Collegiate Black Scots. It was during their spirit week and they invited us into their school for a winter barbecue I think although I cannot remember if it was before …
Peterborough’s Snofest Tournament
Peterborough's annual Snofest High School Hockey Tournament, which I think lives on, was traditionally held around the first week in January. It was part of a winter-carnaval thing the city did and I remember they also had snowmobile races around the track in the fairgrounds outside the Memorial Centre, the High Cathedral of Hockey in …
Puck Bunnies – Only in Canada You Say?
Rock stars have "groupies" and rodeo studs have their "buckle bunnies" but did you know that the term "Puck Bunny" is officially recorded in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary? Who knew?
Christmas Ice
One of the great things about the Christmas season is spending time with family and friends. It's a cliche, but it's true. Squeezing in a game or two of hockey with old buddies fits nicely into this category. For those of us lucky enough to have kids who play the game as well, Christmas sometimes …
Rink Tales 