edbreadsaidhockey

SaturdayNightCageMatch

2008-11-29T12:39:00.012-05:00

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edbreadsaidhockey

SaturdayNightCageMatch
Champions of the Month

the 'Riverton Rifle'...

2008-10-25T10:39:00.001-04:00

As we move through our lives we learn from trail and error.When I was a boy,I wanted to do all that my peers were doing,I had normal every person expectations at first,you know,a girlfriend,money and the freedom to handle both.Than,as I pursued my wants I discovered booze.The first time I drank it was cheap wine someone had bought.It was horrible,but the experience was fun,lots of laughs.Than came the beer,homemade at first,we would take turns lifting it from our Dads stash.Very often it was still brewing.Once,Tom,a grade nine pal had one go off in his school bag on the way past his mom.She just about had a heart attack and we had to find another source as we didn't see Tommy for weeks after.

Life moved on and soon I was working and legal.By than we had a favorite watering hole up the street and many hours were spent on weekends chasing the girls and always the buzz.We were weekend warriors and proud of it.When I look back now,my family grown and my beautiful wife sitting there watching television I marvel at how fortunate I was to come away from all that with all that I have.If not for luck and hockey it could have been worse.Some were not so lucky.As a matter of fact I could probably go down the street and find one or two of them there now,some thirty five years later,still chasing the buzz.And unfortunately,there's a cemetery across town where I can find a few of them any time.Some slipped away quietly,sadly sinking into the bottle,others not so quietly but non the less accidentally.

By now most of you sports fans have read about Rob Ramage getting a four year prison term for the vehicular manslaughter of his friend and comrade in hockey Keith Magnuson.I don't know Rob Ramage and didn't know Mr. Magnuson yet I find myself distraught with both the incident and the aftermath.My heart aches when I consider the grief and the pain all involved are undoubtedly struggling with.

Being no stranger to the impact sudden lose can have I cannot condone the act nor condemn the punishment.That being said I truly feel for the man.I can not imagine myself capable of baring his burden and pray that by the grace of God he can survive the shadow of the valley he must now walk.He is left to forgive himself. No man should suffer so.

I don't think it would be very edifying to leave this post in such a state of despair so I have another story for you.One of hope and redemption.The ongoing tale of the 'Riverton Rifle' Reggie Leach.On the surface some may not think it a very nice story as again the bottle plays a key role.Here we have a man,an extraordinary hockey player,one of the best to play the game.In 1975-76,the year I graduated from high school,he lead the league with sixty one goals and nineteen through the playoffs.Playing for the than mighty Flyer's Reggie was something to see,a shoe in for hockeys Hall of Fame.But it was not to be.For reasons that I really don't know but can only imagine given my own experience with booze and its infernal grip,Reggie's career wained.His bout with the disease cost him his job.Not just any job mind you,hockey icon is not a position easily forfeited,you have to work at it.

So,all these many years later,as I read the local paper at the very same bar afore mentioned.My bye weekly glass of drought in hand,reward for my mandatory walk.I see a familiar yet drawn out face,that of Reggie Leach,above the headline 'Leach takes high road to Island'.No not the Island we NHL fans are acquainted but Manitoulin Island a community west of my hometown of Sudbury Ontario,Canada in a region commonly known as Northern Ontario.Here,I read on,the Rifle will assume coaching duties for the Manitoulin Islanders of the Northern Ontario Junior A Hockey League.Not a prestigious title for one who by his own hand had reached the pinnacle of his chosen sport,yet a place of trust and hope,not only for the youngsters competing, but Reggie himself, an apparently revived man,free of his affliction.Well never free but claiming his right to be free,the largest step toward redemption.

Now,there is some inference in this article about a link to alcohol within the team structure and Reggie's part as a role model to help these young men work past its damaging effects,but I won't go there.What I want to say here is that even in the darkest hour there can be light.No,I'm not getting ready to pitch for some religion,I'm trying to convey my believe that mans humanity,while frail in the face of worldly temptations,is capable of much more than weakness.In fact the opposite is true.

Allow me to rephrase my approach.Reggie Leach is living proof that it is possible to beat down the beast that is booze.It is possible to forgive yourself.

the 'Godfather' makes em' count the money...

2008-08-11T21:39:00.001-04:00

How many days of rain before winter.These endless wet hours have got me dreaming,I know what your thinking,wet dreams.A quick glance at the calender tells me were so much closer than one might think.About fifty more repetitive reads left to go.Yeah,I'm as guilty as any,what with my 'topical reposts',but lord its hard to ride the high road when all anybody here seems to care about is predictions and T&A.

Well,I was rereading some old newspapers that are destined to start the wood stove at camp this winter;man,can't wait for ice fishing to commence,when I came across an article about the NHLPA and their efforts to scare the owners straight.Seems despite endless hours negotiating in good faith neither side can bring themselves to trust the other.

The union,so much so,they have hired a forensic accountant to dissect the 30 NHL teams and companies that own them.You see in the new era of revenue sharing, total company assets and disclosure of all aspects of related business are now under scrutiny.Hence the 'Godfather' of the forensic accounting industry is hired to consult.

Yeah,the 'Godfather',you know,his name is Bob,not Vito,but as far as clout goes this guy has got it in spades.Bob Lindquist is revered around the world as the best in his field.Get this for a resume.Don-Bob has investigated the likes of Bre-X minerals and was instrumental in uncovering the largest mining swindle of public money in mining history.He tackled the World Bank and their conflict of interests and fraudulent global loans,perhaps most impressive ,he spear headed an investigation into Swiss Banks that held dormant accounts of Holocaust victims.The latter investigation resulted in over a billion dollar settlement and a 'greater willingness' of major Swiss Banks to cooperate in the pursuit of monies laundered by criminals.

So.What ever will these owners do when they see this guy coming for dinner?Aside from sh!t their pants,I say clean up their act.Wouldn't you?Heres the thing.Roughly 55% of overall league revenues are earmarked for salaries.The union does not trust the league is doing as they preach,not fessing up all their hockey related revenue. For example;some companies own the team and the home arena yet make claims revenue from the latter does not fall into guidelines,nothing to do with their 'NHL investment'.The union claims that kind of 'wiggle' room has been eliminated in the new CBA and they are making the owners 'an offer they can't refuse'.Tow the line or pay the price anyway.

You know,when I read this stuff it makes me wonder if the game will ever be simple again.Will it ever be enough just to play for the love of hockey? Or,is it totally lost to the money.

One more sleep,than forty-nine more to go.Thats as high a number as I can bring myself to care about today.

no honor among thieves

2008-08-07T20:26:00.003-04:00

Strategy plays a huge role in the development of professional hockey teams, as roster and personnel do. The trade deadline looms and the eyes of the hockey world watch. They wait to witness, critic, debate and ultimately judge.Some moves will speak for themselves as they carry their team forward to a decidedly respectable finish. Others will not. All the while the game will be played, the fans will be entertained, or will they? Powers to be make calls based on bang for their buck, or do they?

In this new age of sport, money and entertainment make for strange bedfellows.

Apparently a phenomenon unfamiliar to the hockey purist has arrived at the rink holding hands with the salary cap; I’ve even heard remarks boasting how attractive it is. This strategy hinges on getting something for free, you know, a reward for performing poorly. These people suggest that manipulating the leagues current draft format by fixing it so a team finish as close to last as it can is fair play. They would support this maneuver by dumping salaries and choosing marginal players in the interim. Jargon must exist to describe this twisted philosophy but I prefer to stay within my analogy.

Only a 'hockeywhore' would consider this acceptable!

Don’t get me wrong, a realist will accept the season is done for his/her current team and strategies to improve the chances to win.

TO WIN!

Not two years or more down the road, but next game. These conniving spoilsports would have the game rob its fans of the entertainment value they deserve. The game has got to be above board and fair just as it has to be more then dollars and cents.

WHY?

Because the game belongs to the fan and we won’t have it any other way. A fan will buy into higher prices, even accept changes to the game but we won’t tolerate cheating. We expect to be entertained in exchange for our dollar, our support, our passion. Owners and managers bear the responsibility to field the best team they know how, procure the venue best able to accommodate its fans. Only then can the league as a whole be strong and honestly achieve its highest level of play.

I’m not suggesting that there is a team contemplating cheating or that any team practices it, only that we fans should rise above this train of thought because there is no honor among thieves.

what I miss...

2008-07-29T23:34:00.002-04:00

The crowd chanting 'we want Shack' and then the reckless charge down the ice after Toe Blake finally gives in and sends Eddy over the boards followed by the fans yelling the phrase of the day ‘clear the track here comes Shack’, and of course the inevitable bobbling of the puck at the end of his spectacular rush, punctuating why Blake didn’t want to play him in the first place. All the while the fans basking in pure self gratification for causing the event to occur at all.

Tuning into a Bruins game knowing that the face of their franchise would be on that blue line exercising his franchise, the result of years of dedication, and effort, rewarded nightly with the adulations of the fans, who to him, I’m sure, were more than just paying customers but friends and comrades in his dreams and goals. Ray Bourque was a hero in Boston. Guy Lefleur in Montreal and Gordie Howe in Detroit. This is what made hockey great!

Jumping from my seat yelling, cursing at the Ref, not for what he didn’t call or to protest a review, but to critic a call! A decision made at ice level, with no regard for the press box or how much money was at stake or who could take his job. The man was in charge! The call was made and we talked about it for days but in the end we respected the man and his job and we never questioned his commitment to be the best he could be. He was proud to wear his name on his striped jersey.

Families standing up from their dinner tables on Saturday night. Not because they were done eating but because they could hear the 'Hockey Night in Canada' anthem drifting in from the sitting room. It meant more than the end of the week long wait for more hockey, it was who we were, our identity.

Five on five hockey is the true measure of this mans hockey. Teams were teams, men were men and a penalty was a penalty! When a penalty was called it was because some player did something that no other player was allowed to do. Degrees of guilt were not a factor and two tier officiating was not an issue.

Respect was a word that meant something, owners respected the fans input, the coaches gave their players their due and the players respected each other. If a player decided to waver from this code, by God another would remind him of why he should not! This enforcement mechanism was developed to ensure a code was followed and players were left with no choice but to fall in or suffer the consequences. The game policed itself. It was a reflection of the society of the day. Just as, I suppose, the apparent lack of respect in the game is a reflex to today’s world.

These are some of the things this old fan pines for. Maybe you can add something or could be you want to debate one of them. I am open to either.

timeless spirit...

2008-05-28T03:00:00.001-04:00

Passion is a timeless spirit, traveling to one place and then another all the while multiplying, rebirthing itself with each fresh stride, every rising shot ringing the post .Lord Stanley of Preston experienced the passion, it called to him and the cup was born. A challenge cup. An amature prize conceived as reward to the top ranked club, as determined by the acceptance of a challenge from another amateur league champion.

The days of our youth were filled with long hours of hockey. Shinny on the pond, scraping of the outdoor rinks, scrambling on the road, chasing a tennis ball, shooting, scoring, and shouting out our team, our player, the love for the game. Understanding little of the folklore, the history of a game that had claimed our interest and lured us away from the idle days of marbles and tobogganing!What we played for wasn’t tangible, joy is not an object, pride not something you can buy, yet, bragging rights were everything! Best on the street, on the block, king of the playground.These were coveted titles!

Lord Stanley’s trophy, the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, called to our thirst to be the best. It fed our appetite to compete and we longed to respond, to drink from its bowl. The awkwardness of youth giving way to the rush that is sport, desire luring hope. Bold is the believe and our resolute not wavered in past defeat.

The party spilled into town as we arrived, wearing bragging rights like a comfortable sweater, sleeves rolled up ready to have at her,we drank from the bowl. Our names engraved on its lip we could see them as we quenched that thirst!

seeds of rivalry...

2008-05-07T11:44:00.000-04:00

f one lives long enough,all things come back full circle.This fact of life creates situations and circumstances that can be both humorous and ironic at the same time.

In the game of professional hockey I believe the following to be both.

When contemplating the recent rivalry brewing between the Pens and Flyers I got to thinking of the 70's,the Cup and the Broad Street Bullies.Philly won two Cups between 74 and 76,also beating the Red Army in a head to head battle in 1976.One of the most exciting tilts I had witnessed to that date.To say the least they had a committed group of guys there,backstopped by for my money,the premier goalie of the day,Bernie Parent.

The Penguins have a storied history as well.Winning the Holy grail of hockey in 91 and 92 showcasing possibly the best players of that era.Mario Lemieux's name will be forever synonymous with hockey and Pittsburgh.

Heres the kicker.While musing these teams it dawned on me that Ray Shero is currently the GM of the Pen's.I realize that this and the connection to Philly is not news to many that follow these teams closely but to me the following was a revelation.Ray Shero's dad was Fred Shero,hockey icon and former head coach of the Broad Street Bullies!

Fred 'the fog' Shero was the force behind the team that dominated the league in the mid seventies.Fred Shero is a member of the Philadelphia Flyer's Hall of Fame!He was a players coach who had the absolute respect and attention of perhaps the most hated and feared team in sport at that time.

Now,today,the Flyers seem to be aspiring to these same heights and the team that loves to hate them is under the direction of Freddies son Ray Shero.Now if that isn't a classic case of irony,I don't know what is!

To give you a glimpse of his particular genius I'll quote some of Mr. Shero's favorite messages he would leave on the chalk board for his boys on the team.

'If we can't beat em' in the alley we can't beat em' on the ice'.

And this humorous gem 'the difference between making a contribution and making a commitment is like eggs and ham for breakfast-the chicken makes a contribution-the pig makes a commitment.I want players that make a commitment'

And this classic that I remembered without help 'Win today and we will walk together forever'

But perhaps the most relevant to the persona and identity todays team seems to be willing to 'commit to'.

'Take the shortest route to the puck carrier and arrive in ill humor.'

Although I don't see them capable of beating to many guys up they sure are playing like they are all seven feet tall.

I don't know too much about young Mr.Rejean Shero except he was drafted by the Kings but did not play in the league. He has also done some great work in Ottawa and Nashville.If I'm not mistaken he had a hand in Daniel Alfredsson coming to the Senators.In his first season as boss with the Pen's he brought in a couple of great players to the Pittsburgh fans, Mark Recchi and Jarkko Ruutu.That same year he drafted Jordan Staal with their second round pick.2006-07 saw him trade for Gary Roberts and Georges Laraque and the following off season he made moves for Sydor,Sykora,Taffe and Sabourin as well as signing stellar defenseman Ryan Whitney to a long term contract and all star phenom Sydney Crosby to a five year extension.

His most recent moves at the trade deadline are perhaps his most controversial as he has traded away futures for what it seems could be a rental in Marion Hossa.

I can assume however that Ray has a grip on the irony of his connection to the Flyer's organization and is preparing to reap the rewards of his fathers seeds of rivalry as the same can only be good for his business and hockey in general.

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that night at the Forum...

2008-05-06T22:46:00.001-04:00

It should be apparent that the recent riot in the streets of Montreal is a symptom of a much larger problem than the Habs fan base.Social behavioral conditions often manifest themselves as trivial but like the tip of an ice burgh there is always a much larger story.In this case perceived unrest between police forces and cultural groups is more likely the reason for the cruisers burning than the game.

That being said one must understand that hockey here in Canada is as defining to who we are as political persuasions are to our American friends.The rivalry between the Habs and the Bruins is as old as the game and can be traced back to battles on and off the playing surface,it was after all a Bruins player who clubbed Maurice Richard, of iconic status even then,causing a chain of events that led to rioting in the streets and the ingraining of hockey to our history books.So this was more than a first round series or even more than a loss or win, it was a trigger for the smoking gun which is social unrest and cultural identity.

In keeping with my belief that life is a circle of learning and that the world doesn't change it just re manifests itself, allow me this bit of Canadian history.

The image most people have of him is how he looked after scoring,circling under the clock, steam rising from his collar and some thought his nostrils.He would glance upward from time to time and even the least expensive seat in the house could see the fire blazing from his eyes,his most distinguishable feature.Glen Hall,one of many master tenders that Richard made look silly,said as he broke in on him those eyes flashed like a 'pin ball machine'.

As a boy he would listen to the Canadians play on the French radio broadcasts and dream of playing for the team, idolizing Howie Morenz who unfortunately died when he was sixteen.Thought too fragile to play pro hockey Maurice broke bones the last two seasons he played amateur and the first year he dressed for Les Canadian.In his second term playing on a line with Elmer Lach and Toe Blake he scored thirty two goals.Then the next,1944-45, fifty in fifty, an accomplishment as meaningful to hockey as the Babes sixty homers in 1927 was to baseball.

Richard had a nose for the net,from the blue line in he was possessed.Seven times he scored three goals in a Stanley Cup Game,eighteen times in the playoffs he scored the winner, helping, or as some suggest the reason why, the Habs win the cup seven times during his tenure.There was an intensity to his game that transcended his play,every thing he did with incomparable flare.When the Leafs installed 'impenetrable' glass to protect the upper class, well tailored customers in the front row Maurice or the 'Rocket' as he was known in the streets of Montreal where he was from, brought it down, cartwheeling up into the barricade shattering the barrier onto the ice in a shower of slivers.This visual alone, to me capsulizes the socio-economic state of the time when there was a more distinct line between the classes.Richard was a hero in Quebec, bigger than his team,bigger than the game.

There is one event that illustrates more than any how deeply of Quebec felt for him.Boston Gardens,March 13 1955,fourth to last game of the season.Late in the third Richard was hit across the forehead by the stick of Hal Laycoe, a Bruin defenceman, drawing blood.Maurice went berserk,taking dead aim he came back at Laycoe and gave him a two hander over the head. The linesman got the stick away from Richard only to watch him pick up another and than break that one over Laycoe's back.In the scrum he also struck the linesman.Well, earlier in the season during another altercation with another English linesman Richard had slapped him across the face with his glove.Clarence Campbell, then President of the league ruled decisively. Richard,who had been leading the league in scoring before the Laycoe incident,would be suspended the rest of the season and the playoffs as well.

On St. Patrick's day,at the Forum,the Rocket-less Habs lined up against Detroit, whom they were tied for first,the crowd was on a slow burn.With Richard sitting by the bench the always upwardly mobile Campbell actually arrived to take a seat with his secretary who all knew to be his mistress.They later married.French Canadians are for the most part staunch Roman Catholics.Someone threw a stink bomb and the game was delayed.Than raw eggs on the ice, somehow they made it through the first period but when it ended someone got past the police and hit Campbell in the face,pushing and shoving broke out everywhere and the game was called.

Through much of the night people went on a rampage in downtown Montreal,throwing bricks through windows, overturning streetcars,looting and setting bonfires.The city boiled with anger until Richard himself went on the air to ask people to calm down and get behind the team.He would accept his punishment.The Richard Riot, as it is known today may not have been the event that set Quebec societies Quiet Revolution of the sixty's and seventies in motion but I think it was at the very least an important development.As the 'Parti Quebecois' moved toward independence there have been more than one reference to the bitterness of that St. Patrick,s night at the Forum.

Please understand that I am not defending this recent incident.No reasonable sports fan would.Somehow passion got off the chain and a minority promoting or reacting to their own agenda have cast a shadow on what should have been a glorious celebration in the pursuit of Hockeys Holy Grail.