Gary Carter Passes

 

 

Gary Carter one of the most celebrated stars in Montreal Expos baseball history passed away earlier this week  as a result of brain tumors. The likable, raw raw, gamer, would have fought his cancer till the very end.  That was his nature.

For those of us who were Expos fans in the early years, Carter was our hope as one of a handful of bona fide Expos Stars (Staub, Singleton, and Dawson come to mind), who could take us to a World Series.  And it almost happened in 1981.

Carter's constant enthusiasm was contagious.  He played catcher as if the plate belonged to him.  In an era when player agents of catchers were discouraging their players who played the backstop position from blocking the plate, Carter played with no fear and little or no regard for his health.  He gave it his all.

He gave everything he had to the fans in other ways too.  There must be hundreds of thousands of Carter autographs around since he never turned anybody down. The media loved him too, since he spoke well and always found time for all interviews.Carter was also a great role model off and on the field.

In his first year the late Gene Mauch played him in right field quite a bit, and as you might expect he went crashing into the right field fence at old Jarry Park on several occasions trying to snag balls up against or over the wall.  When he returned to catch, that was a less dangerous position for Carter to play, but he still managed to have a career filled with knee operations.

Carter played in 2296 MLB games, with the Expos (at two different points in his career), hit a lifetime .262,while hitting 324 home runs,and knocking in 1,225 runs. He was also a three time Gold Glove Award winner, and an 11 time All-Star, over his 19 year Major League career.  He played for the Expos, the Mets,the Giants, and the Dodgers.

He ended his career with the Expos where he started, and was inducted into The Baseball hall of Fame in 1993 wearing a Montreal Expos cap.

Gary Carter was 57 when he succumbed to cancer.

 

 

Hockey Day in Canada on PEI

Bruce Rainnie one of the hosts of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada 

 

  Last week I had the honour of being on the Host committee for the Stanley Cup coming to the O'Leary Community Sports Center. We were part of the cross Island caravan where the Keeper of the Cup , Phil Pritchard , Curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame made appearances in small communities across PEI with the original Stanley Cup. Mr. Pritchard and his entourage arrived in O'Leary just as announced at 1:10 PM and the eight classes that make up the O"Leary Elementary School quickly had their class pictures with the Cup. The excitement in the arena was palpable at the site of the Cup and people young and old remained wide eyed during the stay. Many of the crowd wore jerseys showing their allegiance to their favourite NHL team . Fans from eight months of age to eighty waited patiently in line until it was their turn to pose with The Holy Grail of Hockey. All were proud to be in the prescence of such greatness and were justifiably proud. Following the photo session a reception was held upstairs where there was food served , stories told, memorabilia was on display and there was a judging of Stanley Cups made by the students. It was a great day and we  felt priviledged to have Mr. Pritchard and the Stanley Cup in our prescence.

     On Friday I drove down to the Eastlink Arena in Summerside to meet some of the NHL Alumni brought in for the week. CBC' s  Maritime Noon host Norma Lee MacLeod hosted  famed CBC Hockey Night in Canada host Dick Irvin and at the end of the show I went over to chat with him. What a delightful gentleman he is and he graciously signed some cards and a book for me. His favourite all time player was Gordie Drillon. Other players who signed for me included a very gracious Lanny McDonald who allowed anyone to put on his 1989 Stanley Cup Ring . While I was in his midst he was attemting to contact former linemate Errol Thompson who lives in Summerside and after phoning three different numbers he finally reached him and they made arrangements to meet on Saturday. A really personable guy who still has a great moustache. Other players included Bryan Trottier who was a tremendous signer and Wendel Clark, who signed everything albeit very sloppily that was put in front of him , and PJ Stock who was constantly joking with everyone. All in all a great day! These players all participated along with Mark Napier,Doug MacLean ,Tessa Bonhomme, and Stephane Richer in hockey skils sessions on ice surfaces across the province.

    Saturday was the big day and people came out in droves to see the live Hockey Day in PEI broadcast hosted by the unflappable Ron MacLean. The day went off without a hitch and I had the opportunity to get on set with Bruce Rainnie  and Cassie Campbell just  before they aired. Bruce is agreat guy  who I admire because of his awe shucks attitude and I would like to thank him for the opportunity to talk with him and Cassie just before showtime. In closing I would like to thank CBC for coming to PEI for Hockey Day and the PEI Host Committe for doing such a great job. Don Cherry as usual had the crowd in a stupor while making his appearance at the hockey game and during Coaches Corner but the week was much more than just him . Don was great as usual  but the weeks events were even greater.

Stanley Cup Tour Part of Hockey Day in Canada Festivities

       As Hockey Day In Canada approaches here on PEI people are becoming quite excited. The people of PEI are proud of their hockey heritage and are preparing to show it off to the rest of Canada. 2012 marks the first year that the Stanley Cup tour is happening and on Wednesday , February 7th , as part of its Western PEI swing the Cup will be on display at our local rink in O'Leary from 1:10 to 2:10 PM. The keeper of the Cup , Phil Pritchard will also be in attendance making sure that Lord Stanley looks his best. The local Elementary school will have class pictures taken with the Holy Grail followed by interested locals. We intend to have two RCMP officers dressed in Red Serge, the singing of O' Canada , and Stanley Cup clinching game audio blaring throughout the arena to help complete this special moment. Following the viewing of the Cup and the picture taking everyone will be invited upstairs to take part in a reception featuring you guessed it , a Stanley Cup  cake. If  you happen to be in the area feel free to drop in and view the names engraved on the cup which include Howe, Hull, Shore,Richard, Horton, Crosby, and  of course Gretzky.

Crosby's Hopes Creased

Sydney Crosby's sad saga continues. His on-ice hits have now become off-ice hits as more information suggests that he has damaged two vertebrae in his neck, adding to his misery.

One would have to wonder if the "good ole hockey game" in North America had followed the Swedish model of finesse first, rather than chippiness first, if fans worldwide would be enjoying watching the best hockey and hockey player every nite now, instead of waiting for his return.

If you're a fan of harness racing, the Swedes have shown us finesse over aggressive driving and in Sweden harness racing is doing much better than in North America. In hockey we've been watching the Swedes for decades, trying to show us the finesse side of hockey over the more aggressive side that we've come to know here in North America. Maybe it's time to take a page out of the Swedish playbook so that we can enjoy the really talented hockey players over the head hunters and cheap shot artists who have cheapened the North American game. We hope Crosby is back soon, but will he ever be the same?

Boston Bruins Alumni Visit Summerside PEI

   I went to a fun event last night at the Eastlink Arena in Summerside,Prince Edward Island, Canada, to see the Boston Bruins Alumni take on some local hockey legends. In order to be a local hockey legend all you had to do was put up $500 cash and you were in, so some of our locals were not necessarily hockey legends but they saw an opportunity to live out a dream and play against their heroes. All proceeds from the event went to the Summerside Boys and Girls Club and I would estimate that there were over 1,500 fans in attendance anxious to see Bruins' legends such as Ray Bourque, Terry O'Reilly,  Rick Middleton , Mike Krushelnyski , Ken " the Rat " Linseman , and John Wensink, along with baseball star Matt Stairs show their skill , sign some autographs, and interact with fans.

Before the game a silent auction was held and I purchased a John Wensink jersey complete with a dressing room pass after the first period for a very reasonable $100. During this time I was able to get all the players sign a book called " Black and Gold "which contains photos from long time Bruins photographer Brian Babineau and journalist Rob Simpson. Mr. Babineau also showed me his 2011 Bruins Stanley Cup Ring which cost over $18,000 to produce. What a great ring! I also had enough time to get a few 8x 10 photos of Middleton, Bourque, and O'Reilly signed and I also got John Wensink to sign his jersey which I had personalized for my son Tim and his fiancee Alana.  The game ended with the Bruins Alumni winning 11-6 thanks to some slick play by Bourque and Ken Linseman who still have great wheels. Following the game i went to the reception at the Brothers Two in Summerside and was given the opportunity to chat with the team and gather a few more autographs for my collection. The Bruins Alumni are a very classy group and they put on a great show for us on and off the ice.

Concussions in Hockey - An Epidemic

  Hockey is a game that is played at a frenetic pace , has bone crushing hits, and features shots travelling over 100 miles per hour. It is Canada's national game. It is a conversation starter and most people have strong allegiances for one team. It is also a game that must have some changes done to it in order to deter its number one nemesis: concussions.

 This problem has reached an almost epidemic in the NHL as on almost a nightly basis players are taken to the " quiet room" after having their bell rung either from a hit, a fight, or a shot. More often than not this player is assessed and put on the injured reserve with concussion like symptoms. Here are my beliefs on this issue as well as a few solutions. 1) First of all I believe that players are assessed much better by training staff following receiving head trauma. I believe that many players from years gone by had concussions instead of just having their bell rung and seeing stars. The players are much better educated on the seriousness of a concussion and rightfully so are not willing to put it  all on the line and continue to " play through the injury. "  2) The elbow pads and shoulder pads  worn by players today cause a lot of the problems but when equipment manufacturers also have huge NHL endorsements , the move to less dangerous suits of upper body armour is slowed.

It is time for these companies to realize that by increasingplayer safety in the upper body area they are increasing the posibility of concussions when other players come in contact with the padding. 3) Go back to wooden sticks. Yes I do realize that composite sticks allow players to shoot harder but aluminum bats are not allowed in Major League Baseball and we all know that a baseball flies farther off of an aluminum bat. By having wooden sticks maybe the goalies could wear less gear and scoring could increase. Also players may not want to block as many shots if their upper body gear's protection is downgraded. 4) It is essential that players show respect to each other. If you see a player is vulnerable for a hit then target the body, not the head. Hit  cleanly and when the player receives a clean hit you do not have to fight the guy who threw the hit. Long time NHL'er Al MacAdam was recently asked how to eliminate head shots and his simple answer was just don't do them ! He went on to state that in his day players simply did not do that.

  Those are my simple ideas on what to do in regards to making the game safer. Please do not put the red line back in . Leave the game alone in regards to speed. Let it remain " the fastest game on earth".

 

Bill MacKendrick

Jean Perron-next Canadiens Coach?

                Jean Perron                                   Al MacNeil

 

 Remember Jean Perron.  The perfectly bilingual former Stanley Cup winning coach of the Montreal Canadiens(1985-86) and two time CIAU national champion winning coach of the Moncton Blue Eagles, is now an outstanding broadcaster on French TV in Quebec focussed on the Montreal Canadiens. If the current coach of the Canadiens, the unilingual Randy Cunneyworth, falters under the pressure some are putting on the Canadiens to hire a Francophone coach, then Perron is the right guy.  If they need a bilingual coach who knows how to win, then the Ascot Corner, Qubec native Perron is the guy. 

 The more things change the more things stay the same. As the baseball philosopher Yogi Berra once said "It's deja vue all over again." Back in 1970-71, then Canadiens coach Al MacNeil, who couldn't speak French, took a lot of heat, as many clamoured for a Francophone coach. Even though MacNeil helped lead the Canadiens to a Stanley Cup that season, he didn't last long after that as coach of Les Canadiens de Montreal(the Montreal Canadiens).

 

Doug Gilmour : Grittiest Player Ever ?

Doug Gilmour was in my mind the greatest Maple Leaf of the past 30 years because of one thing- his grit.  Doug had to work very hard to get noticed while playing Major Junior hockey just to get a glimpse from an NHL scout.  Doug , due to his size was drafted in the 7th round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, 134th overall by the St. louis Blues. This after scoring 119 points in 67 games while playing with Cornwall of the OHL. The following season in Cornwall he was league MVP after scoring 177 points in only 68 games. Doug then had three soild seasons in St. Louis before being traded to Calgary where he helped lead them to a Stanley Cup before being traded to Toronto in a very lopsided trade.

His two most memorable seasons were with the Leafs where he strapped the entire Leaf team and City of Toronto on his back in a quest for the Stanley Cup . In 1992-93 he was nominated for the Hart trophy as League MVP only to lose to Mario Lemieux. During that year he set Maple Leafs' team records for most points in a season (127) and most assists in a season (95) while winning thw Frank Selke Trophy for the league's top defensive forward. In the playoffs he was like a true tiger and he scored 35 points in 21 games. I will forever remember his gaunt, bloodied face, complete with two black eyes as he answered questions while being interviewed before, during and after games. Yes number 93 was a great player  and in 2011 he received his deserved call to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Sure there may hav been more talented players but in my estimation there was never one as gritty.

Retromedia is pleased to offer a beautiful signed Doug Gilmour puck with the inscription Go Leafs Go ! This item comes with a hologram and COA from Stevie Y Authentics. Buy it now while you still can !

Johnny Bower a tower of power between the pipes

 Johnny Bower defied the ravages of time. A World War II veteran, Bower never got his break until he was in his  thirties as he toiled in the Minors for most of his early career. Finally after an abbreviated stint with the New York Rangers and after well over a decade in the AHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs claimed the veteran Bower off waivers, and he went on to help the Leafs win four Stanley Cups in the 1960s(1962,'63,'64 and 1967 when he was well into his forties). Bower didn't reveal his true age which may have been older than what was thought. At apparently over 44 years of age, and with failing eyesight and an arthritic stick hand, he managed to become the oldest goaltender to play in a Stanley Cup Playoff game in 1969.

 Known for his ability to cut off the angles and for his poke-checking style, one nite after the opposition had dinged several shots off his goalposts and crossbars, when asked by a reporter if he was just lucky that nite, Bower's alleged response was, "You have to be lucky to be good and good to be lucky."

 Bower was one of the most popular players in NHL history and tended goal for several years without a mask (ouch!). He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976 and the AHL Hall of Fame in 2006.

 

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Montreal Expos of Long Ago

The Montreal Expos in their early years were an exciting team to watch. Organist Fernand LaPierre, Youppi, and  cozy Jarry Park, all added to the mystique of the popular team of that era.  You can relive that era in Expos history, with some great photos all in one lot found here in the Memorabilia section.

            Ken Singleton

This 38 photo lot is sure to make Expos fans hearts flutter. These thin glossy paper colour photos were inserted into Dimanche Derniere Heure magazine every Sunday as a newspaper premium. These photos which range from Excellent to Near Mint feature members from the 1972 and 1973 Montreal Expos. Players include  John Boccabella,Willie Davis, Boots Day, Jim Fairey, Don Demola, Tim Foli, Ron Fairly,Jim Cox, Don Carrithers, Hal Breeden, Cal McLish, Larry Doby, Bob Bailey, Dennis Blair, Dave Bristol, Rusty Staub, Ron Woods, Bobby Wine, Tom Walker, Mike Torrez, Chuck Taylor, John Strohmayer, Bill Stoneman, Steve Renko, Ken Singleton, Balor Moore, John Montague, Barry Foote, Terry Humphrey, Tim McCarver, Ernie McAnally, Clyde Mashore, Mike Marshall, Larry Lintz, Coco Laboy, Ron Hunt, and Mike Jorgensen. Great memories of a storied franchise! Expos memorabilia is starting to go through the roof.This 38 photo lot is sure to make Expos fans hearts flutter. These thin glossy paper colour photos were inserted into Dimanche Derniere Heure magazine every Sunday as a newspaper premium. These photos which range from Excellent to Near Mint feature members from the 1972 and 1973 Montreal Expos. Players include  John Boccabella,Willie Davis, Boots Day, Jim Fairey, Don Demola, Tim Foli, Ron Fairly,Jim Cox, Don Carrithers, Hal Breeden, Cal McLish, Larry Doby, Bob Bailey, Dennis Blair, Dave bristol, Rusty Staub, Ron Woods, Bobby Wine, Tom Walker, Mike Torrez, Chuck Taylor, John Strohmayer, Bill Stoneman, Steve Renko, Ken Singleton, Balor Moore, John Montague, Barry Foote, Terry Humphrey, Tim McCarver, Ernie McAnally, Clyde Mashore, Mike Marshall, Larry Lintz, Coco Laboy, Ron Hunt, and Mike Jorgensen. Great memories of a storied franchise! Expos memorabilia is starting to go through the roof.