tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65250569776841510052024-03-18T13:50:12.763-05:00Third String GoalieThe Hockey Jersey of the Day Blogspyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.comBlogger2530125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-74276597439357098522022-11-24T23:29:00.004-06:002022-11-24T23:29:59.528-06:001973-74 Toronto Maple Leafs Börje Salming JerseySwedish defenseman <b>Börje Salming</b> passed away earlier today after being diagnosed with ALS in July. <div><br /></div><div>Born in 1951, Salming began his career with three seasons with Kiruna AIF in the Swedish second division beginning with the 1967-68 season. While with Kiruna, Salming played for Sweden during both the 1968 and 1969 European Junior Championships.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Salming%20Sweden%20young.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salming Sweden photo Salming Sweden young.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Salming%20Sweden%20young.jpg" /></a><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">A young Salming wearing the three crowns for Sweden</span></div>
<br />
He joined Brynäs IF in Division 1 for three seasons beginning in 1970-71 and found immediate success with championships in both 1971 and 1972. During this phase of his career he made his senior level debut for Sweden at the 1972 World Championships, earning a bronze medal. He returned to the squad in 1973 where his offensive game exploded with 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points in 10 games from the blueline as Sweden came through with silver medals.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Salming%20Brynas%201.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salming Brynas photo Salming Brynas 1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Salming%20Brynas%201.jpg" /></a><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Salming while with Brynas in Division 1</span></div>
<br />
Salming's eyes were opened when he was chosen to play for Sweden in a pair of exhibition games against Team Canada, who were on their way to play the second half of the 1972 Summit Series in Moscow. The Canadians played a much rougher style of hockey, with more body checking and stickwork, but Salming realized he could compete with the NHL's best.<br />
<br />
During this time period, the world of professional hockey in North America underwent an unprecedented expansion with the arrival of the World Hockey Association in 1972, which began with a dozen new teams all needing to fill their rosters while the NHL countered with adding the New York Islanders and Atlanta Flames to attempt to secure strategic territories before the WHA could arrive. With so many players needed to fill the roughly 280 roster spots, teams began to look beyond the borders of Canada and the United States, and the Toronto Maple Leafs turned an eye toward Sweden, with an eye on left winger <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2015/01/1979-sweden-national-team-inge.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Inge Hammarstrom</span></a>. Salming stood out to the Toronto scouts and he too, was signed as a free agent by the Maple Leafs to make his NHL debut with the 1973-74 season.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Salming%20Maple%20Leafs%201.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salming Maple Leafs photo Salming Maple Leafs 1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Salming%20Maple%20Leafs%201.jpg" /></a><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Salming was now a European trailblazer with the NHL's Maple Leafs</span></div>
<br />
His first game came on October 10, 1973, a 7-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres after which Salming was named the game's number one star. With minimal offensive numbers on his resume from Sweden, the rookie impressed with 34 assists on his way to a 39 point season as he unleashed his powerful wrist shot and accurate passes upon the NHL while enduring taunts of "Chicken Swede" and a barrage of physical abuse aimed at intimidating him all the way back to Sweden.<br />
<br />
Two seasons later in 1975-76, he elevated his game to 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points, all while playing his customary stout defense as he changed the accepted preconceived stereotype of European players being "soft" and easy to intimidate.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Salming%20Maple%20Leafs%205.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salming Maple Leafs photo Salming Maple Leafs 5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Salming%20Maple%20Leafs%205.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Prior to the start of the 1976-77 season, Salming returned to the Sweden National Team when he was a member of their roster during the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup tournament where he scored 4 goals and 7 points in 5 games.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Salming%20Sweden.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salming Sweden photo Salming Sweden.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Salming%20Sweden.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Beginning with the 1976-77 season when he set career highs with 66 assists and 78 points, Salming reeled off four consecutive 70 point seasons, including finishing second on the team in points with 71 in 1979-80.<br />
<br />
In 1980-81, Salming reached 60 assists for the third and final time of his career with 61. The Maple Leafs also qualified for the playoffs for the eight straight time in Salming's eight seasons in Toronto.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Salming%20Maple%20Leafs%202.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salming Maple Leafs photo Salming Maple Leafs 2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Salming%20Maple%20Leafs%202.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Later that fall Salming again donned the Tre Kroner jersey of Sweden for the 1981 Canada Cup.<br />
<br />
As his point totals began to decrease starting in 1980-81, his penalty minutes began to rise, starting with his first season over 100 with 154, followed by 170 in 1981-82 and topping out at 192 in 1983-84, his fourth of five seasons over 100, and the only five over 100 of his career.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Salming%20Maple%20Leafs%203.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salming Maple Leafs photo Salming Maple Leafs 3.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Salming%20Maple%20Leafs%203.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
A gruesome injury in the 1985-86 season saw him receive over 200 stitches in his face after being cut by a skate after being knocked to the ice. Despite the horrific nature of the injury, Salming was back on the ice three days later. He was limited to just 41 games that season, after his durability saw him never play less than 68 over the previous ten seasons, but returned in time to play 10 playoff games as Toronto returned to the postseason.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Salming%20stitches.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salming stitches photo Salming stitches.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Salming%20stitches.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Salming was back on the ice three days after thankfully</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">not injuring his eye when his face was sliced by a skate </span></div>
<br />
Salming would play three more seasons for Toronto, but never more than 66 games as time began to catch up to the rugged Swede. After his final of 16 seasons with the Maple Leafs, Salming would play in his first World Championships in 16 years for the 1989 edition.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Salming%20Maple%20Leafs%204.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salming Maple Leafs photo Salming Maple Leafs
4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Salming%20Maple%20Leafs%204.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Not ready to hang up his skates, Salming signed with the Detroit Red Wings for the 1989-90 season where he played the final 49 games of his NHL career.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Salming%20Red%20WIngs.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salming Red Wings photo Salming Red WIngs.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Salming%20Red%20WIngs.jpg" /></a><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Salming in his final NHL days in Detroit</span></div>
<br />
Salming returned to Sweden and joined AIK IF of the Elitserien for the 1990-91 season, scoring 13 points in the shorter 36 game schedule.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Salming%20AIK.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salming AIK photo Salming AIK.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Salming%20AIK.jpg" /></a><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Salming returned to play three final seasons in Sweden</span></div>
<br />
Salming had an emotional return to Toronto in the fall of 1991 when he received a standing ovation from his fans when Sweden competed there in the Canada Cup, Salming's third. "I'll never forget our game in Toronto. The fans gave me a standing ovation during the introductions. I was representing my country and Canadian fans gave me a standing ovation. Sometimes hockey has no country," a touched Salming recalled.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Salming%20Sweden%201991.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salming Sweden 1991 photo Salming Sweden 1991.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Salming%20Sweden%201991.jpg" /></a><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Salming made an emotional return to Toronto during the 1991 Canada Cup</span></div>
<br />
During the 1991-92 AIF season Salming played in his final international tournament when he finally played in his first Olympics in Albertville, France where he went out in fine style with 4 goals and 7 points in eight games.<br />
<br />
His playing career concluded with 6 games with AIK during the 1992-93 season, his 26th.<br />
<br />
Salming's final NHL totals were 150 goals and 637 assists for 787 points in 1,148 games played, with his 1,099 third all-time for Toronto. He holds Maple Leafs records for Most Career Points by a Defenseman (768), Most Career Goals by a Defenseman (148), Most Career Assists (620), Most Assists in a Season by a Defenseman (66) and Best Career Plus/Minus (+155).<br />
<br />
He was voted the winner of the Viking Award as the best Swede in the NHL in 1976, 1977 and 1979, was named to the Canada Cup All-Star Team in 1976, played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1976, 1977 and 1978 and played for the NHL All-Stars in the 1979 Challenge Cup against the Soviet Union.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Sundin%20Salming.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Sundin Salming photo Sundin Salming.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Sundin%20Salming.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Salming is credited with opening the door for many Swedes,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">including future Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin</span></div>
<br />
He became the first Swede inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996, was named to the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1998, had his #21 honored by the Maple Leafs and was named to the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team in 2008.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Salming%20honored.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salming honored photo Salming honored.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Salming%20honored.jpg" /></a><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Salming received many honors following his stellar career</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Salming%20Tux.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salming Tux photo Salming Tux.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Salming%20Tux.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Today's featured jersey is a <b>1973-74 Toronto Maple Leafs Börje Salming jersey</b> as worn during his trailblazing rookie season in the NHL. For the new decade, the Maple Leafs introduced a new, modernized jersey for the 1970-71 season, complete with a new logo. The club waffled back and forth between a lace up collar the first two seasons, changed to a v-neck in 1972-73 and back to the lace up collar again in 1973-74 and 1974-75 before a return to the v-neck from 1975-76 onwards.<br />
<br />
Against the wishes of owner <b>Harold Ballard</b>, names on the back became visible and permanent in 1978-79 after which the jerseys remained unchanged through 1991-92, a run of 22 seasons for this style.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Toronto%20Maple%20Leafs%201973-74%20jersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Toronto Maple Leafs 1973-74 jersey photo Toronto Maple Leafs 1973-74 jersey.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Toronto%20Maple%20Leafs%201973-74%20jersey.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.classicauctions.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333ffb;">Classic Auctions</span></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Bonus jersey:</b> Today's bonus jersey is a <b>1976 Sweden National Team Börje Salming jersey</b> as worn during the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup tournament, one of three Canada Cups and nine international tournaments Salming competed in for Sweden.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Sweden%201976%20jersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Sweden 1976 jersey photo Sweden 1976 jersey.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Sweden%201976%20jersey.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.classicauctions.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333ffb;">Classic Auctions</span></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Extra bonus jersey: </b>Today's extra bonus jersey is a <b>1979 NHL All-Star Börje Salming jersey</b> as worn during the 1979 Challenge Cup. For the 1979-80 season, the league did not hold a traditional interleague Campbell vs. Wales all-star game. Instead, a team of NHL All-Stars would take on the Soviet Union in a three game series at New York's Madison Square Garden.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Proving Salming's standing in the league, he was selected as a member of the NHL team, which was comprised of 23 Canadians and three Swedes, with the other two being forwards Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg, for a total of just 26 of the league's most elite players rather than two full squads required to stock the rosters of a traditional two team All-Star Game.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The jersey itself is an extremely simple affair with thin, dual stripes of orange and black adorned with the NHL shield on the chest and shoulders, making them more plain than the ones worn by the Soviets!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/NHL%20All-Star%201979%20jersey.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="photo NHL All-Star 1979 jersey.jpeg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/NHL%20All-Star%201979%20jersey.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.classicauctions.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333ffb;">Classic Auctions</span></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Today's video section begins with a well done profile of Salming.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_71KMpMP8qA" width="425"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This next video contains more game action and was from his introduction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rLBoob7MpSo" width="425"></iframe><br /></div>
</div>spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-8577249336982089972022-11-09T05:00:00.024-06:002022-11-13T00:45:26.426-06:00A Brief History of Cooperalls - From the Broad Street Bullies to Brass BonanzaWith all the attention the Philadelphia Flyers received yesterday for wearing long pants during warmups on Reverse Retro Night, we felt it was an appropriate time to revisit the sartorial splendor widely known as <b>Cooperalls</b>.<div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Flyers_Cooperalls_2022" src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b154/spyboy1/Flyers_Cooperalls_2022.jpg?width=490&height=307&fit=bounds" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Flyers shook up the hockey world by bringing back the Cooperalls during warmups on Reverse Retro night</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=Cooperallslogo.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Cooperalls logo" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/Cooperallslogo.png" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While many scoff at and scorn the Cooperalls, ranking them with other such sports uniform misfits as the <a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/WhiteSoxShorts.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">1976 Chicago White Sox shorts</span></a>, we here at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>Third String Goalie</b></span> embrace not only the concept of the Cooperalls, but their look as well. In our opinion, they made the players look taller and sleeker. If football and baseball players can look good in long pants, why not hockey players?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Mark%20Howe%20Flyers%20Cooperalls%201981-82.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Mark Howe Flyers Cooperalls 1981-82 photo Mark Howe Flyers Cooperalls 1981-82.png" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Mark%20Howe%20Flyers%20Cooperalls%201981-82.png" /></a><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">T</span>he Flyers <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">innovated</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> the use of the</span> long pants,<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span>seen here<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> o<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">n</span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> Mark Howe</span></span></span> </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Even the basic idea of long pants for hockey players just makes so much sense to us. Why players would ever wear short pants for a winter sport played on ice, we will never quite understand...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Cooperalls were first developed in order to increase player safety and protection, as the pads under the Cooperalls were held tightly to the body, unable to shift out of place like the current pads of the day, which would leave the player exposed to injuries, their tailbone in particular.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The original "Cooperalls" worn by the Flyers in 1981-82 were black with an orange stripe trimmed in white which ran down the length of the leg and were actually <i>not</i> Cooperalls, but a CCM version of the Cooperalls called CCM Pro Guard. Philadelphia completed their first season in the long pants with a 38-31-11 record, which was good for 87 points, placing them sixth in the Wales Conference.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Sittler%20Flyers%20Cooperalls%201981-82.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Sittler Flyers Cooperalls 1981-82 photo Sittler Flyers Cooperalls 1981-82.png" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Sittler%20Flyers%20Cooperalls%201981-82.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">The first year 1981-82 "Cooperalls" with the orange stripe down the leg</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Cooperalls were also reportedly worn by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1981-82 pre-season, but despite a reported game worn pair of actual Cooperalls, not the CCM Pro Guard version, for sale on ebay, no photographic or video evidence of game action to support this claim is readily available.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=MapleLeafsCooperalls.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Maple Leafs Cooperalls" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/MapleLeafsCooperalls.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">A supposed pair of Maple Leafs Cooperalls</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
For the 1982-83 season, the Flyers long pants returned, only this time in solid black, adorned only with a large Flyers logo way down at the ankle of each leg. Philadelphia rose to a 49-23-8 record, good for a Patrick Division title and second overall in the Wales Conference. Unfortunately for the Flyers faithful, they would be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs both seasons while wearing the CCM Pro Guard pants at the hands of the New York Rangers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=Flyers82-83Cooperalls.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Flyers 82-83 Cooperalls" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/Flyers82-83Cooperalls.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">The 1982-83 season pants were black with a team logo on the ankle</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
The Flyers were joined by the Hartford Whalers in wearing "Cooperalls" for the 1982-83 season, with the Whalers version featuring a full-length pair of blue stripes surrounded by three white stripes, which again were actually the CCM version as evidenced by the vertical CCM logo near the bottom of each leg.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Whalers%20Cooperalls%201982-83.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Hartford Whalers Cooperalls 1982-83 photo Whalers Cooperalls 1982-83.png" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Whalers%20Cooperalls%201982-83.png" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">The Whalers were the second team to wear long pants in the NHL</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Whalers did the full length pants look no favors with their on-ice performance, as they tied for last in the league with 45 points following a 19-54-7 record.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Following the 1982-83 season the NHL outlawed the long pants on the grounds of player safety, as the outer fabric of the pants was made out of slick material comparable to a nylon windbreaker which was more slippery than the traditional hockey pants/knit socks combination. Any player who fell while wearing them would find themselves skidding relatively unabated into the boards at a much higher speed than previously.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=Cooperallsfall.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Cooperalls fall" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/Cooperallsfall.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">The long pants were outlawed by the NHL on the grounds of safety</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Still, it wasn't just the Flyers and Whalers who wore the "Cooperalls", as Canada's junior leagues and high schools in Minnesota also wore them for a period of time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=ShanahanKnights.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Shanahan Knights" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/ShanahanKnights.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Brendan Shanahan of the London Knights in his Cooperalls</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=BrettHull-PentictonVeesCooperalls.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Brett Hull Penticton Vees Cooperalls" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/BrettHull-PentictonVeesCooperalls.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Brett Hull of the Penticton Vees sporting his Cooperalls</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
For those of you who think that 1983 was the last of the "Cooperalls" on NHL ice, think again, for it was on Halloween night in 2002 that <b>Jeremy</b> <b>Roenick</b> hilariously took to the ice during warmups for the Flyers upcoming game against the Phoenix Coyotes wearing a blond wig, blacked-out front teeth, striped "Cooperalls" and a #16 <b>Bobby</b> <b>Clarke</b> sweater!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=RoenickClarkeCooperalls.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Roenick Clarke Cooperalls" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/RoenickClarkeCooperalls.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">Roenick on Halloween Night in 2002 paying tribute to Bobby Clarke</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Perhaps it's now time to revisit the idea of the long pants. We're actually surprised that Reebok didn't taken this one on when they debuted the Reebok Edge jerseys in 2007-08. After all, they were bold enough to reinvent the hockey jersey, so why not change the pants while you are at it? Doing so certainly would have no doubt taken away some of the negative attention the jerseys received at the time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Additionally, in the last 35 years there certainly have been many innovations and advances in fabric technology to the point that the basic excuse for banning Cooperalls in the first place, the slick fabric, could now easily be addressed by any number of equipment manufacturers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After all, think of all the other men's sports at the Winter Olympics - alpine and cross-country skiing, bobsled and luge, curling, figure skating, speed skating, ski jumping and snowboarding - and just how many of those winter sports feature competitors wearing short pants? Right. Not one.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Even if the old guard would refuse to allow the return of the late, great Cooperalls full time, there was an opportunity staring them in the face that was seemingly just too good to pass up when the Flyers will play outdoors in the 2017 NHL Stadium Series in February of 2017.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With the Flyers having had so few changes in style of their sweaters over the last 50 years, the one thing that has changed has been their <i><b>pants</b></i>, and the time is right for a return to the Cooperalls/CCM PRo Guard long pants of yore. It is, after all, an <i>outdoor</i> game, and wouldn't a nice warm pair of long pants (perhaps lined with some modern high tech Therma Base/Polartec/Thermal Dri-FIT/Play Warm fabric) be just the thing to keep the players warm against winter's chill rather than shorts and socks? Roenick thought so...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=RoenickClarkeCooperalls2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Roenick Clarke Cooperalls" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/RoenickClarkeCooperalls2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
Today's featured <i>pants</i> are the <b>1981-82 Philadelphia Flyers Bill Barber "Cooperalls"</b>. Not actually Cooperalls, but CCM Pro Guard pants, they were worn for only a single season. These pants, with their elegant long stripe down the leg, which served to accentuate that the pants were indeed full length, were a shock to the established look when they first appeared.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The stripe on the Flyers pants disappeared for the second season, with just a Flyers logo waaaaay down by the ankle of the otherwise all-black pants. Meanwhile, four hours to the north, the Hartford Whalers also adopted the long pants for one season and went all out to call attention to the full length of their pants with no less than five alternating white and green stripes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While Philadelphia and Hartford actually both wore the CCM Pro Guard pants, the name "Cooperalls" has become the popular nomenclature for the full length hockey pants in the same way that all brands of tissues are commonly referred to as "Kleenex" while copiers are often referred to as a "Xerox machine" regardless of brand.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=PhiladelphiaFlyers81-82BarberCooperalls.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Philadelphia Flyers 81-82 Barber Cooperalls" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/PhiladelphiaFlyers81-82BarberCooperalls.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today's video segment begins with spectacular footage from the first ever NHL Cooperalls vs. Cooperalls matchup on December 11, 1982, a 7-4 win for the Whalers over the Flyers. The teams would meet two more times that season, a home and home pair of games on January 8th and 9th 1983, both won by Philadelphia for a grand total of just three all-long pants games in NHL history.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mk8Py0E_KIk" width="425"></iframe> </div>
<br />
Next, the Flyers wearing their Cooperalls from the first season of use, noted by the orange stripe down the legs.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/CD4RoJ866HE?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/CD4RoJ866HE?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420"></embed></object></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here is a gem, a brief clip of Roenick dressed as Clarke during warmups on Halloween in 2002 with a Clarke jersey, big blonde wig and retro Cooperalls, much to Clarke's amusement.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/caEgbITnb84" width="425"></iframe></div>
<br />
This next clip from the WHL features <b>Cam Neely</b> of the Portland Winterhawks going toe-to-toe with <b>Shawn Green</b> of the New Westminster Bruins while both were wearing Cooperalls in the 1983-84 season.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/Ji7yhJiVScI?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/Ji7yhJiVScI?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420"></embed></object></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In this next clip from the 1984 Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament, St. Paul Johnson takes on the Hill-Murray Pioneers during the Cooperall era. Note the clear boards of the old St. Paul Civic Center to complete the obscurity double!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/_QhfxcjuN4Y?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/_QhfxcjuN4Y?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420"></embed></object></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Even French-Canadians and Soviets liked Cooperalls!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/3AM1Fw1Py9k?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/3AM1Fw1Py9k?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420"></embed></object></div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-65349852195424592842022-04-22T05:00:00.006-05:002022-04-22T20:22:29.319-05:001977-78 Montreal Canadiens Guy Lafleur Jersey<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After beginning he career with the Quebec Aces of the Quebec Junior Hockey League in the 1966-67 season with eight games, <b>Guy Lafleur </b>played two more seasons for the Aces, scoring 30 goals and 49 points in 43 games in 1967-68, but really turned heads in 1968-69 with 50 goals and 110 points in 49 games of the 1968-69 season, averaging more than a goal and more than an assist per game.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Aces.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lafleur Aces photo Lafleur Aces.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Aces.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">A young Lafleur with the Quebec Aces</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He then progressed up the ladder to the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he blossomed with a league leading 103 goals and 170 points in 56 games in 1969-70. Then, in just 15 playoff games, Lafleur scored 43 points from 25 goals and 18 assists.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">With Lafleur looking to be a can't miss NHL prospect available in the 1971 NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens General Manager <b>Sam Pollock</b>, looking to replace the aging <b>Jean Beliveau</b>, who would play just one more NHL season, fleeced the California Golden Seals by sending them Montreal's first choice in the 1970 draft and <b>Ernie Hicke</b> for not only the Golden Seals first pick in the 1971 draft, but a player, <b>Francois Lacombe</b>,
as well.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lafleur announced his readiness for the NHL with a stellar second season with the Remparts, when he again led the league with an astonishing 130 goals on his way to a 209 points to earn the Jean Beliveau Trophy as the QMJHL scoring champion. Lefleur then duplicated his playoff performance from 1970 when he scored an identical 43 points, only now in one game less than the previous year, 14. The Remparts then advance to the Memorial Cup playoffs, where the prolific Lafleur averaged 2 points per game with 9 goals and 5 assists in 7 games as Quebec won the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Cup" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Memorial Cup</span></a>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Remparts.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lafleur Remparts photo Lafleur Remparts.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Remparts.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
Lafleur celebrates winning the 1971 Memorial Cup</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hoping the Golden Seals would come through by finishing
last, Pollock was alarmed when the Los Angeles Kings began playing quite
poorly in 1970-71. In an effort to shore up the Kings, Pollock sent veteran <b>Ralph Backstrom</b>
to Los Angeles. The addition of Backstrom ensured that the Kings would
avoid the cellar and secured the first pick of Lafleur for Montreal.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">With Lafleur safely now a part of the bleu, blanc et rouge, he produced 29 goals and 64 points as an NHL rookie in 73 games in 1971-72. His next two seasons were similar, with 28 goals and 55 points in 1972-73 and a drop in goals to 21 in 1973-74, but an increase in assists saw his point total increase to 56. During the 1973 playoffs, Lafleur contributed 3 goals and 8 points in 17 games as the Canadiens won the first Stanley Cup of his career.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/guy-lafleur-rookie-card.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lafleur Rookie card photo guy-lafleur-rookie-card.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/guy-lafleur-rookie-card.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">A Guy Lafleur rookie card</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As if someone flipped a switch, Lafleur took his game to another level for the 1974-75 season when he scored the first of his six consecutive 50 or more goal seasons when he scored 53 goals and 66 assists for 119 points to lead the Canadiens in scoring for the first time.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The 1975-76 season saw Lafleur lead not only the Canadiens, but all of the NHL with 56 goals and 69 assists for 125 points for his first <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Ross_Memorial_Trophy" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Art Ross Trophy</span></a>. During the Stanley Cup playoffs, Lafleur would score the cup winning goal for Montreal as they defeated the two-time champion Philadelphia Flyers, whose slug it until you win it style could not overcome the speed and skill of the Canadiens. Following the season, Lafleur was voted as the winner of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_B._Pearson_Award" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Pearson Award</span></a> as the Most Valuable Player by his fellow players.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Canadiens%201976.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lafleur Canadiens photo Lafleur Canadiens 1976.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Canadiens%201976.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Lafleur with the Canadiens in 1975-76</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Before the 1976-77 season began, Lafleur made his international hockey debut as a part of Team Canada that would win the inaugural Canada Cup tournament over Czechoslovakia.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/lafeur%20Canada%20Cup%201976.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lafleur 1976 Canada Cup photo lafeur Canada Cup 1976.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/lafeur%20Canada%20Cup%201976.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">Lafleur won the Canada Cup in 1976 against the Czechs</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lafleur would dominate the 1976-77 NHL season when he won his second consecutive Art Ross Trophy with a career high 136 points from 56 goals and 80 assists. He would finish the season a +89 and win not only the Pearson Award, but also his first <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hart_Memorial_Trophy" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Hart Trophy</span></a> as NHL MVP as voted on my the NHL Hockey Writers Association. His 9 goals and 17 assists would lead all players in playoff scoring as the Canadiens would win the 1977 Stanley Cup over the rival Boston Bruins. His efforts would earn Lafleur the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conn_Smythe_Trophy" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Conn Smythe Trophy</span></a> as playoff MVP. In recognition of his outstanding NHL season, he was the recipient of both the Lionel Conacher Award as Canada's Top Male Athlete and the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's Top Athlete.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Linday%20Art%20Ross.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lafleur Art Ross photo Lafleur Linday Art Ross.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Linday%20Art%20Ross.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Lafleur being presented the Art Ross Trophy by Ted Lindsay</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Still fully on top of his game, the fluid skating right winger continued to dominate the NHL in 1977-78. He set a career high by hitting the 60 goal plateau and added 72 assists for 132 points to claim his third consecutive Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer. He would also win his second consecutive Hart Trophy and third straight Pearson Award as league MVP. The Canadiens, led by Lafleur's 21 points in 15 games, would defeat the Bruins again for their third straight Stanley Cup, the fourth of Lafleur's career.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Yvon%20Lambert%20Yvan%20Cournoyer%20and%20Guy%20Lafleur%201978.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lafleur photo Yvon Lambert Yvan Cournoyer and Guy Lafleur 1978.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Yvon%20Lambert%20Yvan%20Cournoyer%20and%20Guy%20Lafleur%201978.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">Yvon Lambert, Yvan Cournoyer and Guy Lafleur</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">hoisting the Stanley Cup in 1978 </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Despite a 52 goal, 129 point season, Lafleur would finally have to relinquish his standing at the NHL's top scorer, finishing third behind <b>Bryan Trottier </b>(134) and <b>Marcel Dionne </b>(130). Al l was not lost, however, as the Canadiens would capture their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup and 5th for Lafleur, when they defeated the New York Rangers as Lafleur led the team in scoring with 23 playoff points.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">During the 1978-79 season, Lafleur was also named as a member of the NHL All-Star team that took part in the 1979 Challenge Cup, a three game series against the Soviet Union that took the place of the traditional NHL All-Star Game that season.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lafleur's sixth and final 50 goal season came in 1979-80 when he led the Canadiens for the sixth consecutive season with 125 points, which was again good for third in the league behind NHL newcomer <b>Wayne Gretzky</b> and <b>Marcel Dionne</b>, who tied with 137 points. His feat made him the first player to ever have six consecutive 50 goal, 100 point seasons in league history.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Age and injuries would begin to take their toll on Lafleur beginning with the 1980-81 season, as he was limited to 51 games, never having played less than 70 during his previous nine NHL seasons. He did score his 1,000th point on March 4, 1981, setting a then NHL record for the fastest player to 1,000 points, having done so in just 720 games.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Lafleur%201000th%20point.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lafleur 1000th point photo Lafleur 1000th point.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Lafleur%201000th%20point.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">Lafleur acknowledging the fans after scoring his 1000th point</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In 1981-82 he saw action in 66 games followed by 68 in 1982-83. During each of those shortened campaigns, Lafleur scored an identical 27 goals, with 84 points in 1981-82 being his best. In 1982-83, Montreal was a shadow of it's former self, and Lafleur's 76 points were enough to lead the team in scoring for the seventh time.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">During that time period, Lafleur competed in his only World Championships for Canada in 1981, scoring a goal in 7 games as well as taking part in his second Canada Cup later that fall as the Canadians finished as runner up to the Soviets despite Lafleur scoring 11 points in 7 games.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Gretzky%20Lafleur%201981%20Canada%20Cup.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Gretzky Lafleur 1981 Canada Cup photo Gretzky Lafleur 1981 Canada Cup.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Gretzky%20Lafleur%201981%20Canada%20Cup.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">Wayne Gretzky and Guy Lafleur chatting during the 1981 Canada Cup</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He played in all 80 of Montreal's games in 1983-84, scoring 30 goals and 70 points as the Canadiens team leader once more. Mind you, Gretzky led the league with 205 that season... After three consecutive first round postseason exits, the Canadiens did go on a nice run, making it to the third round of the playoffs, but Lafleur only contributed 3 assists in 12 of Montreal's 15 games.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">His final season with Montreal saw him play just 19 games, scoring just 2 goals and 5 points, before he decided to retire. In front of 18,000 fans, he took one last skate around the ice and received a five minute standing ovation. "After 13 years, I couldn't accept to be number two. I'm proud of what I did in the past and I'm proud I played for the Canadiens, especially on five Stanley Cup winners. I was in a slump and I wasn't scoring much a the time. I was frustrated," Lafleur recalled about his decision to retire.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lafleur became the sixth Canadien to have his number retired and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on 1988.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Hall%20of%20Fame%20Induction.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lafleur Hall of Fame photo Lafleur Hall of Fame Induction.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Hall%20of%20Fame%20Induction.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Lafleur on the occasion of his introduction into</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">However... he still believed he could play after three seasons away from the game and signed to play with the New York Rangers for the 1988-89 season. He played in 67 games for New York before being sidelined by a knee injury, becoming only the second player after <b>Gordie Howe</b> to play after being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He totaled 18 goals and 45 points, including scoring twice during his first game back in the Montreal Forum against <b>Patrick Roy</b> as the fans chanted his name every time he touched the puck just as they had during the peak of his career as a Canadien.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Rangers%20return%20to%20Montreal.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lafleur Retrns to Montreal photo Lafleur Rangers return to Montreal.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Rangers%20return%20to%20Montreal.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">Lafleur waves to his fans in Montreal after being named</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">the game's #1 Star on his return to the forum with the Rangers</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rangers head coach, and Lafleur's close friend <b>Michel Bergeron</b> was dismissed and joined the Quebec Nordiques, who also signed Lafleur for the 1989-90 season, who stood out on the ice, as he was allowed to play without a helmet, while all new players into the league were now required to wear one since the 1979-80 season. Lafleur reportedly turned down a more lucrative offer from the Los Angeles Kings, preferring to play in his native Quebec.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">During his two seasons with the Nordiques, Lafleur played in 39 games his first season, scoring 12 goals and 34 points, followed by 59 games in 1990-91, again scoring 12 goals on his way to 28 points before he retired again, this time for good.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Nordiques.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lafleur Nordiques photo Lafleur Nordiques.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Nordiques.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Lafleur finished his career with two seasons with the Nordiques</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">His final NHL totals were 560 goals and 793 assists for 1,353 points in 1,126 games with an additional 58 goals and 134 points in 128 playoff games. He won five Stanley Cups, 3 scoring titles, 2 Hart Trophies and 3 Pearson Awards as MVP, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Canada Cup. Lafleur also played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980 and 1991 as well as being on the Challenge Cup team in 1979. He is the Canadiens all-time scoring leader and holds the club single season scoring record with 136.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Hall%20of%20Fame.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lafleur Hall of Fame display photo Lafleur Hall of Fame.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Lafleur%20Hall%20of%20Fame.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">The Guy Lafleur exhibit at the Hockey Hall of Fame</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's featured jersey is a <b>1977-78 Montreal Canadiens Guy Lafleur jersey</b> as worn during his career year when he set a personal best and Canadiens team record of 136 points on his way to winning the Art Ross Trophy, the Hart Trophy and the Pearson Award as well as the Stanley Cup.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: normal;">This
style jersey dates back to 1941 and, aside from a version with a blue
stripe around the chest for three years in the late 40's, has remained
essentially unchanged ever since.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Montreal%20Canadiens%201977-78%20F%20jersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Montreal Canadiens 1977-78 jersey photo Montreal Canadiens 1977-78 F jersey.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Montreal%20Canadiens%201977-78%20F%20jersey.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Montreal%20Canadiens%201977-78%20B%20jersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Montreal Canadiens 1977-78 jersey photo Montreal Canadiens 1977-78 B jersey.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Montreal%20Canadiens%201977-78%20B%20jersey.jpg" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Bonus jersey:</b> Today's bonus jersey is a <b>1971-72 Montreal Canadiens Guy Lafleur jersey</b> as worn during Lafleur's rookie season in the NHL.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">The
Canadiens red sweaters with the blue band around the chest date back to
before the formation of the NHL in 1917 and this exact variation with
the lace up collar and numbers inside the arms stripes dates back
to 1966-67 and remained in use through 1974-75 when it was replaced by a
new v-neck collar.</span></span></span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Montreal%20Canadiens%201971-72%20jersey_1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Montreal Canadiens 1971-72 jersey photo Montreal Canadiens 1971-72 jersey_1.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Montreal%20Canadiens%201971-72%20jersey_1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.classicauctions.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333ffb;">Classic Auctions</span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Extra bonus jersey: </b>Today's extra bonus jersey is a <b>1990-91 Quebec Nordiques Guy Lafleur jersey</b> as worn during his final season in the NHL, his second in Quebec.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Quebec%20Nordiques%201990-91%20F%20jersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Quebec Nordiques 1990-91 jersey photo Quebec Nordiques 1990-91 F jersey.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Quebec%20Nordiques%201990-91%20F%20jersey.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Quebec%20Nordiques%201990-91%20B%20jersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Quebec Nordiques 1990-91 jersey photo Quebec Nordiques 1990-91 B jersey.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Quebec%20Nordiques%201990-91%20B%20jersey.jpg" /></a> </div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's video section is the always excellent Legends of Hockey series profile of Lafleur.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 56.25%; position: relative;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="100%" src="https://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x1wy9f" style="height: 100%; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 100%;" type="text/html" width="100%"> </iframe> </div></div></div>spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-77000315932496458052022-04-15T05:00:00.006-05:002022-04-15T13:43:51.430-05:001985-86 New York Islanders Mike Bossy Jersey<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Mike Bossy</b> had a prolific junior hockey career for the Laval National, with whom he played for five seasons, beginning with 4 appearances in 1972-73. Playing a full season in 1973-74, he reeled off a 70 goal, 118 point season in 68 games.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He kept his foot on the gas the following year, topping that with an impressive 84 goals and 149 points in 67 games, 2.22 points per games. In the post season, his torrid pace continued with 38 more points in 16 games. Over the next two seasons he would add 79 goals and 136 points followed by another 75 goals and 126 points to set the all-time QMJHL record with 309 career goals, a mark which still stands today and ranks 28 goals higher that the next closest pursuer.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=BossyLaval.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Bossy Laval, Bossy Laval" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/BossyLaval.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Bossy with Laval</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thought of as being too timid by NHL scouts, Bossy was not chosen until 15th overall in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft, which included being passed over by the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs not once, but twice. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Playing on a line with <b>Bryan Trottier</b> and <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2016/04/1974-75-new-york-islanders-clark.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Clark Gilles</span></a>, Bossy would set the hockey world on fire when he scored 53 goals in his rookie season of 1977-78, the first rookie to ever reach 50, while winning the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calder_Trophy" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Calder Trophy</span></a> in the process.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=GillesTrottierandBossy.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gilles, Trottier and Bossy Islanders, Gilles, Trottier and Bossy Islanders" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/GillesTrottierandBossy.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Gilles, Trottier and Bossy</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The following season he would better that by becoming only the second player after <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2016/03/1944-45-montreal-canadiens-maurice.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Maurice Richard</span></a>, and first in 36 years, to score 50 goals in 50 games. Bossy did it in dramatic style with two goals in the last five minutes of game number 50. He would finish the season with 69 goals to lead the league and 57 assists for 126 points, good for fourth overall.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=BossyRichard50goals.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Bossy Riachard 50 goals, Bossy Riachard 50 goals" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/BossyRichard50goals.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Bossy poses with Maurice Richard to</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">commemorate their 50 goals in 50 games</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1979-80 would see Bossy once more top the 50 mark with 51 goals in 75 games and the Islanders would capture their first of four consecutive Stanley Cup Championships as Bossy contributed 23 points in just 16 games.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While topping 50 goals the previous season, he did fail to reach 100 points during the regular season. Over the course of the next six seasons, he would blow past the 100 point level, never scoring less than 117, with a high of 147 in 1981-82.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=BossyStanleyCup.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Bossy Islanders, Bossy Islanders" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/BossyStanleyCup.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">During the 1980-81 season he would set a career high in goals with 68 to once again lead the NHL and pour in a remarkable 17 goals and 35 points in 18 playoff games as the Islanders would capture their second straight Stanley Cup.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Their third Stanley Cup Championship would see Bossy be recognized with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conn_Smythe_Trophy" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Conn Smythe Trophy</span></a> as playoff MVP following 17 goals and 27 points in 19 games. This came on the heels of his 147 point regular season and his second consecutive 60 goal season when he tallied 64.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=BossyIslanders1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Bossy Islanders, Bossy Islanders" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/BossyIslanders1.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Islanders dynasty was now in full force and Bossy once more reached 60 goals, this time on the nose with an even 60. His 118 point regular season continued his 100 point season streak and the playoffs would again see him get his now customary 17 goals (for the third year in a row and the only player to ever do so) and 26 points in 19 games.</span> He would also be recognized for his style of play with the first of three <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Byng_Trophy" target="_blank">Lady Byng Trophies</a> </span>following the season.</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=BoddyLadyByng.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Boddy Lady Byng, Boddy Lady Byng" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/BoddyLadyByng.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Bossy with the Lady Byng Trophy</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1983-84 was another 118 point season with 51 goals scored. The Islanders would make it once more to the finals, but the dynasty would end as they were defeated by the up and coming Edmonton Oilers 4 games to 1. The Islanders 21 playoff games would see Bossy contribute 18 points. He was the recipient of his second Lady Byng Trophy after being whistled for just 8 penalty minutes for the entire season, the second lowest total of his career following just 6 during his rookie campaign.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">His remarkable goal scoring consistency continued unabated, as 58 more would be added to his career total during a 117 point campaign in 1984-85. 10 more playoff games allowed Bossy to add another 11 points for the Islanders.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=BossyIslanders2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Bossy Islanders, Bossy Islanders" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/BossyIslanders2.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Showing no signs of slowing down, he would reach 61 goals, paired with 62 assists, giving him his highest point total in four seasons with 123, which included becoming just the 20th player in league history to score 1,000th career points, accomplished on January 24, 1986 in grand style, registering a goal and four assists in a 7-5 win over the Washington Capitals. He would also capture this third Lady Byng Trophy in the space of four seasons as well.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=BossyIslanders4.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Bossy Islanders, Bossy Islanders" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/BossyIslanders4.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now slowed by back injuries, his final season of 1986-87, Bossy appeared in 63 games and scored 38 goals and 75 points, still over a point per game, before retiring at the age of just 30.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">His final career totals of 573 goals and 553 assists for 1,126 points in 752 games would give him a final career average of 1.50 points per game over his ten NHL seasons and his 160 career playoff points in 129 games were a 1.24 points per game clip. At the time of his retirement, he held the record for most goals by a rookie and most assists and points by a right wing in a single season. He still ranks third all time in hat tricks with 39. He also reached 100 goals faster than any player in history, doing so in just 129 games. He was also the quickest at one point to 300 and 500 career goals scored.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">His goals per game average of .762 in the regular season is the highest in NHL history and his playoff goals per game average of .659 is second only to <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2016/12/2000-01-pittsburgh-penguins-jaromir.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Mario Lemieux</span></a>.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He also still holds the NHL record for the most consecutive 50 goal seasons with nine, and shares the record with <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2016/12/1983-84-edmonton-oilers-wayne-gretzky.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Wayne Gretzky</span></a> for the most 60 goal seasons with five, despite playing 10 years less than Gretzky.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Internationally, he was a member of Team Canada in the 1981 and 1984 Canada Cup tournaments, earning a gold medal in in 1984. Due to the Islanders consistent playoff history, he was never available for World Championships duty.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=BossyCanada.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Bossy Canada, Bossy Canada" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/BossyCanada.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Bossy celebrates with Islanders teammate</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">John Tonelli during the Canada Cup in 1984</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991 and his jersey #22 was retired by the Islanders in 1992.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today's featured jersey is a<b> 1985-86 New York Islanders Mike Bossy jersey</b> as worn during the season he scored his 1,000th point.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
When Bossy joined the Islanders in 1977, they had just changed from a lace-up collar to a v-neck while wearing two color names and a bolder font for the numbers. In 1978 the stripes on the blue jerseys would be unified, now with a white stripe directly above a thicker orange stripe. This would be the jersey worn for their four stanley Cup championships, lasting through 1983-84.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In 1984-85, the names would change to one color and the font for the numbers would become narrower. This style would remain unchanged through 1995 when a change in ownership would result in the debacle that was the <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2010/08/1996-97-new-york-islanders-ziggy-palffy_23.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Islanders Fishsticks jerseys</span></a> being born.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=NewYorkIslanders85-86Fjersey.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="New York Islanders 85-86 jersey, New York Islanders 85-86 jersey" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/NewYorkIslanders85-86Fjersey.jpg" /></a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=NewYorkIslanders85-86Bjersey.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="New York Islanders 85-86 jersey, New York Islanders 85-86 jersey" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/NewYorkIslanders85-86Bjersey.jpg" /></a></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Bonus Jersey:</b> Today's bonus jersey is a <b>1981 Team Canada Mike Bossy jersey</b>. The minimalist style used by Canada for the Canada Cup tournaments </span>is remarkable in it's stark simplicity, with it's single color crest and customization.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">features a bold half maple leaf on the front, which was based on </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the </span><a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/CanadaCuptrophy.png" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Canada Cup trophy</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> awarded to the tournament champions. Canada would not use this style for any other international tournament, such as the World Championships, as those jerseys were subject to supplier contracts with jersey manufacturers like as Adidas, Tackla, Reebok and Nike, who supplied all the teams participating in IIHF tournaments beginning in the mid-1980's.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=Canada1981jersey.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Canada 1981 jersey, Canada 1981 jersey" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/Canada1981jersey.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333233; font-family: "georgia"; line-height: 20px;">Photo courtesy of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; line-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.classicauctions.net/" style="background-color: white; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Classic Auctions</a> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here is a career retrospective of Mike Bossy, which includes his dramatic 50th goal in his 50th game in 1980.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/vyxAOAwPlBk" width="425"></iframe>
<br />
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Up next is a nice interview with Bossy as he looks back on his career and a variety of topics.
</div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/bMvdYFaMM6M" width="425"></iframe>
<br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A recap of the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals is next up, showing the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics patch on the Islanders jerseys. The passion and excitement of the Islander and their fans is infectious and recommended viewing. A reminder of what it's all about.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/hepfUAjzHuc" width="425"></iframe>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
We don't know about you, but all this writing has left us hungry. Ça, c'est du bon poulet!</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/wxMC0rJG-kY" width="425"></iframe>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-77840418506179226022021-09-11T05:00:00.001-05:002021-09-11T05:00:00.279-05:002000-01 FDNY Hockey Team Ray Downey Jersey<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><b>Ray Downey</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> was the Fire Department of New York's Chief of Special Operations and a passionate New York Rangers fan and founding member of the FDNY Hockey Team.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=RayDowney.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Chief Ray Downey" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/RayDowney.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">He served with the United States Marine Corps and then became a member of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) on April 7, 1962, beginning a 39-year career. In August of 2001, Chief Downey was put in charge of Special Operations Command, a team of specialists who aid regular firefighters with unique or highly critical situations, which include Hazardous Materials, Marine Units, Rescue Companies (experienced units with specialized tools and equipment) and Squads, often regarded as mini Rescue Companies who also have specialized tools and equipment. Downey was also promoted to Deputy Chief at the time.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">His career was built on numerous successful rescues which made him the most decorated man in the history of the FDNY. He received five medals for valor and 16 unit citations as well as the 1995 Administration Medal.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Additionally, Chief Downey was a task force leader for the New York City Urban Search and Rescue Team as well as the National Disasters Team, who responded to both the Oklahoma City and Atlanta Olympics bombings. He was also a team leader in response to Hurricanes Hugo, Andres, Fran, Marilyn and Opal, Chief of Rescue Operations at the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, all of which contributed to his being called "a charismatic national legend in rescue circles" and he was credited with creating the modern search-and-rescue system adopted by FEMA and fire departments worldwide while pioneering a national network of eight search and rescue teams under FEMA.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">He also made frequent trips to Washington D.C. while serving on a congressional panel on domestic terrorism and it's prevention.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">All of this led to Downey commanding rescue operations at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 following the terrorist attacks earlier that morning when hijacked jetliners were crashed into each of the twin towers.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">His unit was called in immediately after the first impact at #2 World Trade Center and he was leading the rescue operations which helped save thousands of lives when the second of the towers collapsed, costing him his life.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">He left behind his wife </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Rosalie</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> and five children, two of whom, </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Joe</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> and </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Chuck</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">, are now firemen.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">It would take eight months after 9/11 for his remains to be identified through DNA testing before Chief Downey was then laid to rest on May 20, 2002.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">When once asked asked why he searched so long for remains of those presumed dead, he cited the families of those left behind. </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">"The only way you can relieve some of their sorrow," he said, "is to successfully recover the bodies of the people they loved."</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Of the 343 firefighters lost on 9/11, Special Operations Command lost a total of 95 men with 1,600 years of experience that day.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Ray Downey's life and career are commemorated with </span><a href="http://www.pennwell.com/index/about-us/courage-and-valor-foundation/raydowney-award.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">The Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">, which is presented each year to an extraordinarily courageous American firefighter.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Following the terrorist attacks in September, 2001 the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres faced off in the Rangers first home game of the season on October 7th. Both the Rangers and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Sabres</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> wore special jerseys with "New York" diagonally across the front. Following the game won by the Rangers 5-4 in overtime, both sets of jerseys were auctioned off to raise money for the Twin Towers Fund.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/NewYorkRangers2001-029-11smjersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="photo NewYorkRangers2001-029-11smjersey.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/NewYorkRangers2001-029-11smjersey.jpg" /></a><span style="color: white;">a</span><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/BuffaloSabres01-029-11smjersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="photo BuffaloSabres01-029-11smjersey.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/BuffaloSabres01-029-11smjersey.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Prior to the game the NYPD and FDNY hockey teams lined up on the ice and the Rangers skated between them during their introductions. FDNY team member </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Larry McGee</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> had brought his firefighters helmet with Ray Downey's picture tucked into the brim of the helmet. He noticed that of all the players, only Rangers captain </span><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2009/11/1992-93-new-york-rangers-mark-messier.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Mark Messier</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> had not worn his hockey helmet during the pre-game ceremonies.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">As the Rangers were lined up at the blueline, McGee sensed the moment was right and skated over to Messier with the helmet and told him it would be an honor if he would wear it. Messier responded, "Sure, whatever you need" and donned the helmet with the photo of the still missing Downey in it as the Madison Square Garden crowd roared its approval.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=01.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Messier Firehelmet 10/7/01" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/01.jpg" /></span></a></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Mark Messier wearing Larry McGee's helmet prior to the Rangers first home game following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Note the special "New York" crested jersey worn only for that game.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">"For me, personally, it was very emotional for a lot of reasons," said Messier, "Obviously, with all the people being honored - the firefighters, the police, the rescue workers, the volunteers, the entire city - and all our fans. All on a day when we started fighting back as a country."</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">At the end of that same season, Messier presented his #11 jersey to the family of Ray Downey during the Rangers annual Blueshirts off our Backs night on April 10, 2002.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=MessierBlueshirtsoffourBacks2002.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Messier Blueshirts off our Backs 2002" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/MessierBlueshirtsoffourBacks2002.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">The FDNY Hockey Team was first formed back in 1968 and played its first game against the New York Police Department in 1974 and the FDNY Hockey Team now competes in charity events and tournaments from Alaska to Sweden as well as hosting the FDNY "King of the Ice" Firehouse Tournament, where for over 15 years nearly 100 different firehouses compete for the championship in the largest tournament of its kind.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">The main event on the FDNY Hockey Team calendar is always their annual faceoff against the New York Police Department (NYPD) game as the FDNY Bravest take on the NYPD Finest in "The Battle of the Badges". To date, 47 games have been played with the FDNY holding a 26-18-3 lead in the series.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Today's featured jersey is a </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">2000-01 Fire Department of New York Hockey Team Ray Downey jersey</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">. This jersey takes the classic simplicity of a jersey very similar to the New Jersey Devils and combines it with the timeless look of the drop shadowed New York Rangers cresting and numbers to create as perfect a hockey jersey as you will ever see.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Of note, none of the players wore their individual names on the back of their jerseys, and instead they all had their team nickname "Bravest" on the back in place of their names, similar to Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series when they all had "Canada" <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2011/09/1972-team-canada-paul-henderson-jersey.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">on the back</span></a>.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="FDNY 2000-01 jersey photo FDNY2000-01F.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="photo FDNY2000-01B.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01B.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01P1sm.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="FDNY 2000-01 P1 small photo FDNY2000-01P1sm.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01P1sm.jpg" /></a><span style="color: white;">a</span><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01P2small.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="photo FDNY2000-01P2small.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01P2small.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Chief Downey's jersey #9 was retired by the FDNY Hockey Team during a pre-game tribute at the March 2, 2002 FDNY vs. NYPD hockey game.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=Downeyjerseyretirement.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Downey jersey retirement" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/Downeyjerseyretirement.jpg" /></span></a></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Rosalie Downey receives </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Chief Downey's retired</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 100%;">jersey before the FDNY vs. NYPD game in 2002</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">While this style jersey has been retired, you can get the special 20th Anniversary <a href="https://fdnyhockey.org/store/9-11-store/20th-9-11-jersey-20-back?fbclid=IwAR2eD0KEAZxqT8yf-t8BrYfNrvpXi_j9GKnaZEr0ZyH7_h__Fg0UXdNsYxA" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">FDNY Hockey Team jersey</span></a> through the above link.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Please take a moment to visit the Deputy Chief Raymond Downey Scholarship Charity Fund, at </span><a href="http://www.chiefraymonddowney.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">ChiefRaymondDowney.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">, which holds the annual </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><i>Forever Running Memorial 5K Run/Walk</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> each Father's Day to benefit the organizations he supported, and consider making a donation to the fund. Information on how to contribute can be found by clicking the banner below.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://www.chiefraymonddowney.com/donate" target="_blank"><img alt="Downey banner,Downey banner" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/Downeybanner.png" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">The Rescue Company, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">written by Chief Ray Downey, a how-to manual on rescue operations for firefighters in both paperback and hardcover, as well as his instructional video on collapse rescues are available below.</span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=third0a-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=091221225X&asins=091221225X&linkId=3RLTYNJTEQLMVHFI&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></p>
<p>
</iframe><br /></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><i style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">The Last Men Out</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">, written by Ray Downey's nephew <b>Tom</b> <b>Downey</b>, is about Rescue 2, the firehouse Ray Downey commanded for fourteen years. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Rescue 2 doesn't leave a fire until everybody's safe - they're the last men out.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0px" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=third0a-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0805078444&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="display: none !important; height: 240px; opacity: 0 !important; visibility: hidden !important; width: 120px;" width="0px"></iframe></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0px" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=third0a-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0805078444&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="display: none !important; height: 240px; opacity: 0 !important; visibility: hidden !important; width: 120px;" width="0px"></iframe></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<div style="font-size: 100%;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=third0a-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0805078444&asins=0805078444&linkId=DZZOLTUFAOJ7UVHZ&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></p>
<p>
</iframe><br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=WTClights.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="WTC lights" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/WTClights.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-51343536626477658002021-03-06T05:00:00.005-06:002021-03-06T05:00:06.688-06:001982-83 New York Rangers Mark Pavelich JerseyHailing from the Iron Range in northern Minnesota, <b>Mark</b> <b>Pavelich</b>, born on this date in 1958, attended the University of Minnesota Duluth beginning in 1977-78. His progress was pronounced, as he scored 12 goals and 19 points his first season, 14 goals and 44 points his second (third on the club) and leapt up to 31 goals and 79 points to lead the team in 1978-79.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=PavelichUMD.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Pavelich UMD, Pavelich UMD" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/PavelichUMD.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Pavelich while with Minnesota Duluth</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
His creative "rink rat" style of play caught the eye of head coach <b>Herb</b> <b>Brooks</b> who who named Pavelich to the 1980 United States Olympic Team, where he teamed with UMD Bulldogs teammate <b>John</b> <b>Harrington</b> and fellow northern Minnesota native <b>Buzz</b> <b>Schneider</b> in a line that became known as the "Coneheads". </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"It was kind of unique, obviously, growing up playing hockey in Eveleth," Pavelich recalled. "I was fortunate enough to have the rink just a couple of blocks say, It was just nonstop hockey. I was always down at the rink."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
During the 53 games leading up to the Olympics, Pavelich scored 45 points and during the seven games of the Olympic tournament, he averaged a point per game, with one goal and six assists, including his assist on the opening United States goal scored by Schneider and the critical first assist, earned by sending the puck into the slot despite facing and moving the opposite direction <i>while falling backwards</i>, where it was gathered by <b>Mike</b> <b>Eruzione</b>, who then scored the game winning goal in the "Miracle on Ice" upset over the Soviet Union, later named <a href="http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-1.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">the top story in the IIHF's first 100 years</span></a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=Pavelcih1980card.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Pavelich USA, Pavelich USA" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/Pavelcih1980card.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Undrafted by any NHL club, certainly in part due to his 5' 8" size, Pavelich took his game to HC Lugano in Switzerland, where he racked up 73 points in 60 games before once again putting on the red, white and blue of the United States at the 1981 World Championships.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Meanwhile, back in the United States the pairing of his Olympic coach Brooks and his assistant <b>Craig</b> <b>Patrick</b>, was reunited when Patrick hired Brooks to be the head coach of the New York Rangers. They brought Pavelich back to the United States and reunited him with not only Brooks, but also former US teammate <b>Dave</b> <b>Silk</b> and later <b>Rob</b> <b>McClanahan</b>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=PavelichRangers.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Pavelich Rangers, Pavelich Rangers" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/PavelichRangers.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pavelich took to the NHL right off the bat, finishing third in team scoring with 33 goals and tying for second in points with <b>Ron</b> <b>Dugay</b> at 76. The following season Pavelich rose to second in team scoring with a nearly identical 75 points while raising his goal total to a team leading 37, which included a record setting game against the Hartford Whalers in 1983.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=Pavelichcard.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Pavelich Rangers, Pavelich Rangers" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/Pavelichcard.png" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In that game, Pavelich opened the scoring with a power play goal just 1:17 into the contest. <b>Vaclav</b> <b>Nedomansky</b> banked another power play goal for the Rangers less than a minute later at 2:15. After the teams traded goals two minutes apart later in the period, the Rangers began to pull away with goals by Swede <b>Kent-Erik Andersson</b> at 18:36 and Pavelich's second goal, again on the power play with just ten seconds remaining in the period to give New York a commanding 5-1 lead after the first period.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Barry</b> <b>Beck</b> stunned the Whalers just nine seconds into the second period before Pavelich completed his second career hat trick at the 9:06 mark. <b>Mike</b> <b>Rogers</b> made it 8-1 Rangers two minutes later. Pavelich's former 1980 teammate <b>Mark</b> <b>Johnson</b> stemmed the tide with a goal for the Whalers at 12:52 before <b>Ed</b> <b>Johnstone's</b> goal for the Rangers and <b>Michel</b> <b>Galarneau's</b> for Hartford made it 9-3 for home team after two.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But there was still more yet to come, and in surprising, record setting fashion, for at 8:40 of the third period Pavelich scored his fourth goal of the night, from <b>Tom</b> <b>Laidlaw</b> and McClanahan, followed by his fifth goal of the game from Laidlaw<i> just 11 seconds later</i>, making Pavelich the first American-born player in the 66 year history of the NHL to score five goals in a game. His feat also equaled the Rangers team record set by <b>Don</b> <b>Murdoch</b> in 1976-77.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"As a pro, this is my most memorable game," he said afterwards.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=Pavelichscores5.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Pavelich Rangers, Pavelich Rangers" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/Pavelichscores5.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Pavelich shows his five goal pucks to the media</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">following his record setting performance</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In 9 playoff games that season, "Pav" set a career best with 4 goals and 9 points in 9 games.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While his goal total dropped from 37 to 29 the following season, he set a career high with 82 points thanks to his 53 assists in 1983-84.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=PavelichGoalmagazine.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Pavelich Rangers, Pavelich Rangers" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/PavelichGoalmagazine.png" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1984-85 was a season of change, as Brooks was fired as the Rangers coach after 45 games and Pavelich himself was limited to just 48 games himself, although he still maintained a nearly a point per game average with 45.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With Brooks gone, Pavelich's days in New York were numbered, as he was uncomfortable and unaccustomed to playing the traditional NHL "dump and chase" style of new Rangers coach <b>Ted</b> <b>Sator</b> and retired at the end of the season after playing 59 games, scoring 20 goals and 40 points.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He was happy to return home to the simple life of hunting and fishing, only to be called on by Brooks once more, who had now taken over as the head coach of the Minnesota North Stars. It was a short-lived reunion however, as Pavelich would only play a dozen games for the North Stars in 1986-87, although they were productive ones, with 4 goals and 10 points. The record shows that later that season he suited up for the Dundee Rockets in the British Hockey League for a single game, being credited with a pair of assists.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While now done with the NHL, he was not quite finished with hockey just yet, finding a home with HC Bolzano in Italy beginning with the 1987-88 season, where he teamed with former North Stars teammate, Swede <b>Kent</b> <b>Nilsson</b>. There, Pavelich scored nearly a goal per game, with 31 goals in 36 games on his way to 73 points, more than two points per game. That was not all, as Bolzano went on to win the league championship that season, which included Pavelich's 9 goals and 20 points in just 8 playoff games.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He returned to Bolzano for another season in 1988-89, adding 23 goals and 57 points in 44 games before he retired once again.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But not for good.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With the league expanding in 1991, Pavelich was lured out of Minnesota one final time by the expansion San Jose Sharks, where he recorded an assist on the Sharks first ever goal on October 4, 1991. His return was very brief however, as he would only play two games before retiring, this time for good.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
His final NHL totals were 355 games played, 137 goals and 192 assists for 329 points , with another 7 goals and 24 points in 23 playoff games.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pavelich remains to this day a unique individual, who shuns the spot light of fame accorded to the 1980 Olympic Team, <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jan/30/sports/sp-pavelich30" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">rarely leaving the comfort of home</span></a> in the woods of Minnesota for reunions, interviews or personal appearances, unlike the always available Eruzione, who is often kidded that he has made a career out of one goal and has never met a microphone he didn't like. "The past is the past," Pavelich has been quoted as saying.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It would take 22 years before Pavelich <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/star02/2002-02-01-reunion.htm" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">joined his 19 teammates for a reunion</span></a>, this coming at the the 2002 NHL All-Star Weekend. "It was just that time," Pavelich said when asked why he had chosen that weekend to rejoin his teammates.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
His wife <b>Kara</b> said of his reputation, "I know Mark is often said to be reclusive, but that's overdone. He has a very large circle of friends." when Mark was inducted into the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center Athletic Hall of Fame (the former home of the UMD Bulldogs) in 2006.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today's featured jersey is a <b>1982-83 New York Rangers Mark Pavelich jersey</b> from the season during which he became the first American-born player in NHL history to score five goals in one game.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Rangers had worn a variation of their traditional blue sweaters with "Rangers" diagonally since their inception in 1926 almost without exception until a change to a new modern style in 1976-77, which lasted only one more season until they went back to their traditional look in 1978-79, only with one major difference, as "New York" had now replaced "Rangers" across the front of their classic blue jerseys for the first time ever.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This style would last for Pavelich's entire stay in New York, lasting through the 1986-87 season until a return to "Rangers", which remains through today.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=NewYorkRangers82-83jersey.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="New York Rangers 82-83 jersey, New York Rangers 82-83 jersey" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/NewYorkRangers82-83jersey.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">photo courtesy of </span><span style="color: #333ffb; font-family: "georgia";"><a href="http://www.classicauctions.net/">Classic Auctions</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<b>Bonus jersey:</b> Today's bonus jersey is a <b>1986-87 Minnesota North Stars Mark Pavelich jersey</b> as
worn during his brief stay with his home state North Stars, where he was
reunited with coach Brooks for the third time in his career.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=MinnesotaNorthStars86-87jersey.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Minnesota North Stars 86-87 jersey, Minnesota North Stars 86-87 jersey" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/MinnesotaNorthStars86-87jersey.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">photo courtesy of </span><span style="color: #333ffb; font-family: "georgia";"><a href="http://www.classicauctions.net/">Classic Auctions</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<b><b>Extra bonus jersey:</b></b> Today's extra bonus jersey is a <b>1980 United States Mark Pavelich jersey</b>. This style, with "USA" <i>diagonally</i> across the front was worn during the 1980 Olympic Team's pre-Olympic schedule of games played against an assortment of minor league, college and other national teams in preparation for their participation in the Olympics. During the Games, they wore a new set of jerseys with the "USA" cresting now arched across the front.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This jersey was auctioned off by Lelands.com in December of 2004 and sold for $4,969.87.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt=" photo 1325798b-6646-4038-ace4-ca7a577709c1.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/1325798b-6646-4038-ace4-ca7a577709c1.jpg" /></div>
<div>
<br />
<b><b><b>Extra extra bonus jersey:</b></b></b> Today's extra extra bonus jersey is a <b>1980 United States Olympic Team Mark Pavelich jersey</b>. After 32 years with only <b>Mark</b> <b>Wells'</b> blue and white Miracle on Ice jerseys becoming available to collectors of game worn jerseys, 2012 saw <b>Ken</b> <b>Morrow</b>
auction off his Miracle jersey for $104,328 and 2013 had Eruzione
parting with both is blue ($286,800) and white jersey, which sold for
$657,250, considerably less than it's $1,000,000 pre-sale estimate.<br />
<br />
Pavelich's white jersey, worn when he assisted on Eruzione's game winning goal against the Soviet Union, was also put up for auction at the same time as Eruzione's jerseys. The final
highest bid for the Pavelich jersey was $116,203, and with
the 19.5% buyer's premium added on, the final selling price rose
to $138,863. That exceeds the final price of <b>Ken</b> <b>Morrow's</b> Miracle on Ice jersey, which sold for $104,328, by $34,534.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.beta.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/USA1980Pavelichjersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo USA1980Pavelichjersey.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/USA1980Pavelichjersey.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">p<span style="font-family: "georgia";">hoto courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.classicauctions.net/" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #333ffb;">Classic Auctions</span></a></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Today's video is Pavelich setting up Eruzione's game winning goal in the Miracle on Ice.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/NuwFqbRjTmg?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/NuwFqbRjTmg?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-66739796572980370542020-10-31T05:00:00.025-05:002020-10-31T18:18:38.387-05:00Doug Favell's Halloween Pumpkin Mask - The First Painted Mask in NHL History<a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2015/01/1956-57-montreal-canadiens-jacques.html" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Jacques Plante</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ushered in a new era of goaltending back on November 1, 1959 when, after being struck in the face with a shot by the New York Rangers hard shooting </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Andy Bathgate</b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, he was assisted off the ice, leaving behind a trail of blood.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"He had been struck in the face and it opened up a cut from the corner of his mouth all the way up through his nostril," related <b>Red Fisher</b> of the Montreal Gazette.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With no backup goaltenders on the roster in those days, there was a 21 minute delay while Plante was stitched up. When he finally returned to the bench, he told head coach <b>Toe Blake</b>, "I'm ready to go back in but I have to wear my mask." He was allowed to wear the mask, which he had been wearing in practice, and Montreal went on to win the game 3-1.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202015/Jacques%20Plante%20first%20mask.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Jacques Plante mask photo Jacques Plante first mask.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202015/Jacques%20Plante%20first%20mask.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">A bloodied Jacques Plante wearing his mask after being badly cut in 1959</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Before the next game Blake did not want Plante to wear the mask, to which Plante replied, "If I don't wear the mask, I'm not playing." Having been a four time All-Star, four time Vezina Trophy winner and five time Stanley Cup champion at that point in his career - the mask stayed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Others quickly followed Plante's lead and goalies who did not wear a mask soon became the exception to the rule, with the last in the NHL being <b>Andy Brown</b> in 1974.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202015/Andy%20Brown.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Andy Brown photo Andy Brown.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202015/Andy%20Brown.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Andy Brown of the Penguins with his unprotected face down among the sticks</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2014/12/1979-80-boston-bruins-gerry-cheevers.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Gerry Cheevers</span></a> was the first to wear a <i>decorated</i> mask on November 8, 1967 in a game vs. the Rangers when he wore a mask with the first of his trademark stitches drawn on it with a marker, it is <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2012/04/1977-78-colorado-rockies-doug-favell.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Doug Favell</span></a> who is credited with having the first <i>painted</i> mask in the NHL, which debuted on this date, Halloween, in 1971.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Favell tells the story of how the first painted mask came to be, taken from the Marek vs. Wyshynski podcast from October 31, 2014:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">"It just came from bantering in the morning because it was Halloween. We were all kidding around in the room and somebody said "If you're going to the party tonight, you have to dress up" and somebody was kidding me, and someone said. "Favey, why don't you show up tonight as a goaltender?" I said, "Maybe I'll do that," so the kidding started.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">As I was getting ready to leave, I said to <b>Frank Lewis</b>, who was our trainer. "Frank, with tonight being Halloween, why don't we put orange on the mask? Can you paint orange on the mask? We'll paint it orange like The Great Pumpkin," because back then Charlie Brown and The Great Pumpkin were a big thing. "Why don't we paint it like a pumpkin tonight for Halloween?"</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">"Yea, I can do that," Lewis replied. So he took it home that afternoon and painted it orange and I came back that night and wore it. And the funny thing is, we're all so superstitious that if we hadn't won that night, we beat L. A. 4-1, I'd have probably just painted it white again. If we'd have lost, I'd have said "That's it. It's not good," but we won and got going, got on a little streak, and I said, "This is a pretty good thing." It was that simple.</span> </blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202015/Favell%20Pumpkin%20mask%202.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="photo Favell Pumpkin mask 2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202015/Favell%20Pumpkin%20mask%202.jpg" /></a> </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Some players said it was a distraction because it was fairly bright. An ophthalmologist said, "Your eye will attract." I thought it was an advantage because your eye would naturally go to the brightest thing, so in that flash, they would look at my mask instead of looking at the net, so I thought it was an a distraction and I felt I needed whatever I could get to distract the shooters, so I went with it and next year we painted the starburst on it, which was a design and was even more of a distraction to the shooters.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While doing our research for this story we did uncover some contradictions and </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">discrepancies </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">in various versions of Favell's stories recounting the origins of his first painted mask. At times Favell has stated his mask debuted in 1970, and other times 1971. Favell's pumpkin mask would not have debuted against the Kings, as he recalled above, as Philadelphia played host the Montreal Canadiens in a game won 5-3 by Philadelphia on Halloween night in 1971</span>. The Flyers did defeat the Kings 3-1 just before Halloween on October 29, <i>1970</i>, so perhaps this is where some of the confusion comes from…<br />
<br />
Additionally, the "little streak" story does not hold up well, as the Flyers lost their next three games and went 2-7-3 over November 1971. The club actually did not have a winning month until five months later in March. If the mask had debuted in 1970, the story is much the same, with Philadelphia going 4-6-1 in November of that year.<br />
<br />
Favell's story on the end of the solid orange pumpkin mask, thanks to a late Buffalo Sabres goal on the final game of the season, took place on April 2, 1972 when <b>Gerry Meehan</b> won the game for the Sabres with just four seconds remaining, has been consistently told by Favell, and dates the orange mask to the 1971-72 season. reaffirming its debut as being on Halloween in 1971.<br />
<br />
Favell debuted with the Flyers during the first year of league expansion of 1967-68. During his early days with Philadelphia, he wore a <a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/FavellFlyers.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Terry Sawchuk style mask</span></a> before changing to his <b>Ernie Higgins </b>produced mask for the 1971-72 season, the style which he would have famously painted orange on Halloween in 1971 after having the new, white mask for less than two months, which leaves photos of Favell in his plain white mask as a rarity.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202015/Favell%20white%20mask.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Favell white mask photo Favell white mask.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202015/Favell%20white%20mask.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Favell's mask in its original plain white color</span></div>
<br />
Following its humorous orange paint job on October 31, 1971, the Favell's mask would remain solid orange for the remainder of the season through the fateful last second goal against Buffalo to close out the 1971-72 season.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202015/DougFavell.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="photo DougFavell.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202015/DougFavell.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Taking the concept of painting his mask as a distraction to shooters farther for the next season, Favell would wear his new "starburst" design beginning in 1971-72 through the 1972-73 season, his last with the Flyers.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202015/Favell%20starburst%20mask.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="photo Favell starburst mask.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202015/Favell%20starburst%20mask.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Favell in his striking new design, which ushered in the era of bold graphics</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A trade in the summer of 1973 sent Favell to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but before leaving for Toronto, Philadelphia trainer Lewis painted Favell's mask with a blue maple leaf on the forehead and surprised him with it when he came to collect his equipment from the Flyers according to Favell.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202012/FavellMapleLeafs.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Favell Maple Leafs photo FavellMapleLeafs.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/FavellMapleLeafs.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Favell's mask with its fourth and final paint scheme, or so we thought...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Favell continued to wear the same mask, now sporting its fourth different paint scheme, counting its original plain white, until 1974 when he got a new, more protective mask by renowned mask maker <b>Greg Harrison</b> which featured a larger, more centered maple leaf design which covered his eyes, nose and mouth.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202015/Favell%20Harrison%20mask.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="photo Favell Harrison mask.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202015/Favell%20Harrison%20mask.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Favell's new Harrison mask, with its larger maple leaf paint scheme</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Favell's original Higgins mask, the one first painted solid orange and now sporting a blue maple leaf, was then lent to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto due to its place in hockey history as the first painted mask. This is where the story takes a turn for the bizarre</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In 2011, game worn hockey equipment dealer <b>Frank Servello</b> noticed the mask the hall had on display was not Favell's original mask, but a replica painted in the same manner. Favell was easily able to confirm the Maple Leaf mask on display was not his original due to details about the mask on display which did not match the one he had used, repaired and modified. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It turns out, at some point, and no one knows when, Favell's original mask, painted with the maple leaf, was stolen from the hall, repainted <i>twice</i>, and then later anonymously returned to The Hall, looking very different from when it left.<br /></span>
<br />
Favell's original, but now repainted Higgins mask was then put on display by the hall with its red droplet shape on the forehead, red nose and red under the chin, which is generally referred to as the "clown mask", as a vintage mask, but in no way identified as being Favell's, as no one at the hall apparently knew.<br />
<br />
It was then that a member of the <a href="http://bvintagegoaliemaskdiscussionpage.runboard.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Vintage Goalie Mask Discussion Page</span></a> recognized the similarities between the clown mask and Favell's missing original in August of 2011 and posted his impression of the clown mask likely being Favell's missing mask.<br />
<br />
Notified by Servello that his original mask, now repainted, was likely in the possession of The Hall of Fame, Favell met with the hall to first identify his original mask based on his modifications and repairs, and reclaim its possession 37 years after first loaning it to the hall for display.<br />
<br />
The mask then underwent a restoration process, which revealed first flames over the right eye of the mask as well as a predominantly black paint scheme, which unfortunately adhered to the blue paint of the maple leaf design, rendering that design unsalvageable.<br />
<br />
But once the black paint was removed, and the maple leaf design with it, the third version of the mask, the starburst pattern from 1972-73 was revealed, proving it was indeed Favell's original Higgins mask and the first painted mask in NHL history, complete with some of its previous orange paint from Halloween night in 1971 exposed to further document its place in NHL history.<br />
<br />
Here are photos from <a href="http://www.gameusedmasks.com/maskshtml/favell_project.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">GameUsedMasks.com</span></a> showing the restoration of Favell's mask, the first painted mask in NHL history, taking it from its twice vandalized state down to its sunburst paint scheme of 1972-74.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202015/favell_restoration_steps.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="favell_restoration_steps photo favell_restoration_steps.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202015/favell_restoration_steps.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And here is the final restoration down to the sunburst mask (with some of the earlier brighter orange paint revealed on the forehead, showing the mask's history), the first mask with a painted design. This is where they chose to stop the painstaking process of removing the layers of paint which were added to the mask while it was out of the possession of the Hall of Fame.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202015/favell_restoration_final.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="favell_restoration_final photo favell_restoration_final.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202015/favell_restoration_final.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here is an interview with Favell from 2011 discussing his original, now repainted mask now that it was back in his possession after being on loan to the Hall of Fame.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g7I8Ou9um5c" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/g7I8Ou9um5c/hqdefault.jpg);" width="420"></iframe></div><div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Here is another feature on Favell and his mask from Hockey Night in Canada.</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/18DxSEYO4Nc?rel=0" width="425"></iframe></div></div>
</div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-48720730326050193392020-03-07T05:00:00.000-06:002020-03-08T00:34:17.389-06:001967-68 Montreal Canadiens Henri Richard Jersey<b>Henri Richard</b>, who passed away yesterday at age 84, knew at a young age what he wanted to do in life, but it's easy to be influenced by your older brother when he plays for the Montreal Canadiens.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I was positive that I, too, was going to play for the team, although I never imagined playing with <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2014/10/1959-60-montreal-canadiens-maurice_31.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Maurice</span></a>. Our age difference was 15 years. I hardly knew him; he married when I was a boy, and then he was so busy with hockey. He was more like and uncle than a brother. It's funny, but Maurice never talked to me about hockey, even when we were teammates. We did our talking on the ice," Richard recalls.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/HenriMauricecolor.jpg" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Richard arrived on the scene with the Montreal Canadiens at the ideal time, as the club was loaded with talent and had won the Stanley Cup as recently as 1953. Richard kicked off his career with five consecutive Stanley Cup Championships from 1956 to 1960. He was an immediate producer, scoring 40 points as a rookie in 1955-56 and just two seasons later set his career high with 80 points from 28 goals and 52 assists in 1957-58.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"We had quite the team and won the Stanley Cup in my first five years. We almost got bored winning. It was better to win after a loss, much more enjoyable."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After taking a backseat to the Toronto Maple Leafs run of cups in the early 1960's, the Canadiens were back on top again in with back-to-back championships in 1965 and 1966, and again in 1968 and 1969.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Richard was a model of consistency and durability during his 20 year career. From 1957 to 1970 he scored between 50 and 80 points in 13 out of the 14 years, playing no less than 53 games every season. His highest goal total was 30 in 1960 and his career-best 52 assists in 1958 and another 50 assists in 1963 lead the NHL both times.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Richard would win the Stanley Cup again in 1971, one he considers the sweetest. "I had had a few arguments with coach <b>Al McNeil</b> but went on to score the tying and winning goals in the <a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/1971Game7stub.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">seventh game</span></a>," said Richard. This after being benched in Game 6 of the finals by McNeil.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He would win the cup one final time in 1973, giving him a total of 11, more than any other player in NHL history. "I won 11 Cups in total, a record that may never be broken. The structure of the league, with the draft and free agency, prevents the creation of dynasties like the one we had in Montreal," Richard speculated.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/HenriCup.jpg" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Richard was named captain of the Canadiens in 1971 after the retirement of </div>
<a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2013/11/1955-56-montreal-canadiens-jean.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Jean Beliveau</span></a>. "The oldest player usually got the "C," and at the time, it seemed a normal transition to be voted captain. I never said much to the players, but I had always tried to lead by example. Now that my playing days are over, I see the tradition, the honor, more clearly."
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Richard laments, "In all my years with the Canadiens, I never played a shift on the power play. With the great teams we had, I couldn't get on that line." He continues, "I might have had that chance on another team, and though I was tempted by a large contract offer from Houston of the WHA, I'm thankful to have finished as a Montreal Canadien."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Richard retired in 1975 after 1256 games, 358 goals and 688 assists for 1046 points. He participated in the playoffs an astounding 20 times in 22 seasons, totalling 180 games, 49 goals and 80 assists for 129 career playoff points along with his 11 Stanley Cups. That's championships in half of the seasons he played in! Richard was also named the winner of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Masterton_Memorial_Trophy" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Masterton Trophy</span></a> in 1974.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I saw the younger guys coming on and retired when I knew I wouldn't play regularly anymore. After my retirement, the team went on to win four more cups in a row. I had declined a contract offer from Montreal for those years. I opened a tavern, and the guys would come for a beer and tease me with, "We really missed you out there, Henri." But I've no regrets."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Canadiens retired Richard's #16 on this date in 1975 and he was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979. His record of 11 Stanley Cups as a player still stands to this day.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today's featured jersey is a <b>1967-68 Montreal Canadiens Henri Richard jersey</b> as worn when Richard won his eighth Stanley Cup, tying his brother Maurice for the league record.</div>
<br />
<div>
The Canadiens were founded in 1909 but did not wear their now iconic red sweaters with the blue chest stripe until the 1912-13 season when it was introduced as an alternate jersey due to their red, white and blue striped "barberpole" jerseys drawing complaints that they were too similar to the Ottawa Senators similarly striped red, white and black jerseys.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
White trim was added to the blue central stripe the following season, essentially creating the same basic jersey that remains in use today.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/MontrealCanadiens1967-68jersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Montreal Canadiens 1967-68 jersey photo MontrealCanadiens1967-68jersey.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/MontrealCanadiens1967-68jersey.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333233; font-family: "georgia"; line-height: 20px;">Photo courtesy of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; line-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.classicauctions.net/" style="background-color: white; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Classic Auctions</a></span></span></span></span></div>
<b><br /></b><b>Bonus jersey: </b>Today's bonus jersey is a <b>1974-75 Montreal Canadiens Henri Richard jersey</b> worn in his final game and features the captain's "C" on the left chest.<br />
<br />
The Canadiens came into existence in 1909, but did not add a white jersey until the 1935-36 season and it would take until 1941 for it to evolve into the style still worn today.
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/CanadiensHRichard74-75.jpg" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333233; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: x-small;">Photo courtesy of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.classicauctions.net/" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Classic Auctions</span></a></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today's first video selection is the "Legends of Hockey" profile of Henri Richard with commentary by both Henri and Maurice Richard, along with Beliveau, a real treat to see.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o1Hydkkga3E&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o1Hydkkga3E&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; white-space: normal;">Next up are highlights of the 1971 Stanley Cup Finals Game 7, where Richard scores both the tying and winning goals as the Canadiens come from behind to win the championship.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_hSLxD5mIKg&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_hSLxD5mIKg&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></div>
</div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-86140911143205115382020-02-24T05:00:00.000-06:002020-02-24T05:00:09.106-06:001980 United States Olympic Team Dave Christian Jersey<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">While everyone recalls the "<a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2013/02/1980-united-states-olympic-team-mike.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Miracle on Ice</span></a>" from February 22, 1980, many do not recall that the United States' victory over the Soviet Union was <i>not</i> the gold medal winning game.</span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">In fact, the tournament format in 1980 did not even have a gold medal final, as the teams were not placed in a single elimination bracket, as is the case with the Olympics and World Championships of today. Back in 1980, the format had the top two teams from both the Blue and Red Divisions of First Round group play then placed into a new four team Final Round group.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Once placed in the Final Round group, each advancing team was scheduled to play the two surviving teams from the opposite group, with their earlier game against the team advancing from their First Round group carrying over into the Final Round standings.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">What this meant for the United States in 1980 was their tournament opening tie against Sweden carried over to the Final Round, as did the Soviet Union's 4-2 win over Finland. This meant the standings heading into the final four matches stood at;</span></span></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Soviet Union 2 pts</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Sweden 1 pt.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">United States 1 pt.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Finland 0 pts.</span></span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">The United States first game was their historic matchup with the Soviets, which they famously won 4-3 and later was named the Top Story of the Century by the International Ice Hockey Federation, only it guaranteed the United States </span></span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">absolutely nothing</span></span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Fortunately for the United States, nordic rivals Finland and Sweden tied in their game the evening of the 22nd, (yes, the United States game versus the Soviet Union was not even in prime time on US television despite the game being played in the United States!) and the standings heading into the final two games on this date in 1980 were now:</span></span></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">United States 3 pts.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Sweden 2 pts.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Soviet Union 2 pts</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Finland 1 pt.</span></span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Heading into the final two games on Sunday, the worst case scenario for the United States was if Finland were to defeat them by two goals while Sweden and the Soviet Union tied, the gold would go to the <i>Soviet Union</i> and the United States would drop out of the medals altogether since all four teams would have the same 3 points with the USA having the worst goal differential!</span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Still, the victory over the Soviet Union left the United States with their fate in their own hands, as a victory over Finland would elevate them to an unreachable 5 points and earn them the coveted gold medal. Oddly, the USA was scheduled to play at 11AM in Lake Placid.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=1980GoldMedalGameticketUSAvsFinland.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Olympics USA vs Finland" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/1980GoldMedalGameticketUSAvsFinland.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Unfortunately for the United States, </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Jukka Porvari</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> got Finland out on top with the first goal of the game at 9:20 of the first period with a one-timer slapshot over USA netminder <b>Jim Craig's</b> glove. The period would end with the USA leading 14-7 in shots on goal, but trailing on the scoreboard 1-0, the sixth time in seven games they had fallen behind.</span></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/1980USAvsFinland2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Jim Craig USA vs Finland 1980 photo 1980USAvsFinland2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/1980USAvsFinland2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jim Craig in goal for the Americans</span></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">The United States evened the score at 4:39 of the second period on </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Steve Christoff's</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> unassisted goal on a backhander that went through Finnish goaltender </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Jorma Valtonen's</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> pads only to have Finland regain the lead less than two minutes later when </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Mikko Leinonen</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> put a second shot past Craig at 6:30 on the power play. Once again, the United States held the edge in shots on goal at 8-6, but had just twenty minutes to get out of the hole they found themselves in to a team that had never won a medal, nor beaten the United States in Olympic hockey.</span></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/1980USAvsFinland1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="USA vs Finland 1980 photo 1980USAvsFinland1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/1980USAvsFinland1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The United Stat</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">es still had to face Finland before claiming the gold medal</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">With Finland leading 2-1 after two periods, a furious US head coach <b>Herb</b> <b>Brooks</b> warned the team during the final intermission that "If you lose this game, you will take it to your f***ing grave." He then walked almost all the way out of the room before turning around and repating "To your f***king grave."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">"He didn't have to say much more than that. We knew he was right," USA forward </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Mark Johnson</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> recalled.</span></span><br />
<div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Properly motivated, j</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">ust over two minutes into the third period USA defenseman </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Dave Christian</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> skated from his own zone into the Finnish end, drew the defense toward him and passed to left wing </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Phil Verchota</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> who fired a wrist shot just inside the right post to tie the game at 2-2 at 2:25.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Less than four minutes later the United States struck again when Johnson, behind the Finland goal, passed the puck to <b>Rob McClanahan</b>, who saw Valtonen start to go down put the puck in between his gaping legs for a 3-2 lead for the USA at 6:05, </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia";">sending the arena into bedlam, as loud as it had been against the Soviets two days earlier, as the United States led for the first time all game.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/1980USAvsFinland4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="McLannahan USA vs Finland 1980 photo 1980USAvsFinland4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/1980USAvsFinland4.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mclanahan gave the United States their first lead of the game</span></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Before the United States could relax, </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Neal Broten</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> took a hooking penalty at 6:48 followed by Christian's tripping penalty at 8:54. The USA successfully killed off both penalties only to have Verchota whistled for roughing at 15:45 with the game still in doubt.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">With both Broten and Christoff keeping Finland in their own zone during the power play, the puck was shot out toward the blueline, where it was intercepted by Johnson, who skated in, beat a defender, and made a backhand attempt, which Valtonen saved. The rebound however, went right back to Johnson who quickly smacked the puck over Valtonen's right skate for a shorthanded goal to give the United States a 4-2 lead with 3:35 left to play.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/1980USAvsFinland3.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Johnson and Christian USA vs Finland 1980 photo 1980USAvsFinland3.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/1980USAvsFinland3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Johnson celebrates his goal with Christoff</span></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">The Americans were now on a roll with their ultimate goal in sight and kept up the pressure, nearly scoring twice more on one shot that hit the pipe and another off the crossbar. Finally time ran out and the United States had secured their gold medal in a game many do not even remember, especially given the attention history has focused on the game against the Soviet Union and the "two days later the miracle was made complete" treatment it received in the movie "Miracle" - all of five seconds of game footage.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">The final buzzer set off </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">a new round of celebrations, as the United States </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">successfully completed not just a seven game tournament, but a journey that began months earlier, as Brooks transformed them from rival college kids into Olympic champions.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog/USA1980GoldCelebration.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Miracle on Ice photo USA1980GoldCelebration.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/USA1980GoldCelebration.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The United States celebrates winning the gold medal following their victory over Finland</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Still, somewhat unbelievably, there was another game left to play on the schedule between the Soviet Union and Sweden at 2:30PM. Following the Soviet's demolition of Sweden 9-2, the final placings were now set and the medal ceremony could take place on the ice with Sweden still wearing their jerseys from their game. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=1980MedalCeremony-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Medal Ceremony" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/1980MedalCeremony-1.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=1980goldmedalsm.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Gold Medal" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/1980goldmedalsm.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Following the presentation of the medals and the playing of the Star Spangled Banner, team captain <b>Mike</b> <b>Eruzione</b> famously called the rest of the team up onto the top level of the victory podium, which miraculously was just large enough, barely, to hold each and every member of the team.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=1980MedalPodium.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Medal Podium" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/1980MedalPodium.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Today's featured jersey is a </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">1980 United States Olympic Team Dave Christian jersey</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> as worn in the gold medal clinching game against Finland on the final day of the 1980 Olympic tournament, the sixth time the United States had come from behind during their seven games.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">The blue jerseys are the lesser known jerseys from the tournament, as it was the white ones they were wearing when they defeated the Soviet Union and the style which has been much more heavily marketed since then.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/USA198023RF.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="United States 1980 Road jersey photo USA198023RF.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/USA198023RF.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/USA198023RB.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="United States 1980 Road jersey photo USA198023RB.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/USA198023RB.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Our video section begins with McClanahan's game winning goal at 6:05 of the third period.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MCWAgNfcFtg?controls=0" width="425"></iframe></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">This next clip is the final minute of the game along with the subsequent eruption of joy as the United States completed their gold medal performance. Well, except for coach Brooks, who can be seen leaving the bench with nary a smile at the final horn.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bQuEMD9Wx3c?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></div>
</div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-70678400099106436832020-02-23T05:00:00.001-06:002024-01-31T22:45:25.220-06:00"Miracle" Movie Jersey CollectionReleased in 2004, "<b>Miracle</b>" chronicles the story of <b>Herb Brooks</b> and the 1980 United States Olympic Hockey Team from Brooks' hiring to his formation of his squad followed by his rigorous training methods and efforts to instill in his players an unfamiliar style of play in an effort to combat the dominant team from the Soviet Union, a team made up of battle hardened veterans who had already proven capable of defeating the best the National Hockey League had to offer just one year earlier and who through any route to a gold medal would inevitably have to pass through.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Miracle%20poster.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Miracle poster.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Miracle%20poster.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Brooks, played by veteran actor <b>Kurt Russell</b>, has to overcome resistance to his methods by his bosses and the division amongst his team, who carry their East vs. West rivalries from their college teams into their training camp. Brooks, a master psychologist, presents himself as disciplinarian and taskmaster in order to unite his players against a common foe - himself as indicated by the lines "I'll be your coach. I won't be your friend."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Brooks%20Russell.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Brooks Russell.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Brooks%20Russell.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Herb Brooks (left) and Kurt Russell (right)</span></div>
<br />
Still upset with one of his new teammates over a past incident during the college hockey playoffs, <b>Jack O'Callahan</b> from Boston University instigates a fight during practice with <b>Rob McClanahan</b> from the University of Minnesota. Following the fight, Brooks tells the players his team is all about "flow and creativity, not old rivalries", and has each player introduce themselves. They all respond with their name and what school they played for.<br />
<br />
Later, in one of the movie's defining scenes, the distracted team sleepwalks through a 3-3 tie against Norway, which incenses Brooks, who famously punishes his team with an exhausting workout following the game, as he skates his players to exhaustion, even after the arena staff has turned out the lights in the rink, commanding his team to over and over skate "Again!" to the point of vomiting.<br />
<br />
Finally, when team captain <b>Mike Eruzione</b> states his name and that the team he plays for is not Boston University, but The United States of America, Brooks has driven home his point of the required hard work and team unity he demands from his team, and the practice mercifully ends.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1uBZ76jH4xk" width="425"></iframe><br /></div>
<br />
The team suffers an embarrassing and eye opening 10-3 loss to the Soviets in an exhibition game just prior to the Olympics, followed by an opening game tie against Sweden, where the Americans are saved by a final minute goal by <b>Bill Baker</b> following a trademark Brooks motivational tactic to fire his players up.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wY5LGFhiTBU" width="425"></iframe><br /></div>
<br />
The team then goes on a roll, defeating the favored Czechoslovakians 7-3 and then posting wins over Norway, Romania and West Germany to earn a spot in the medal round and their date with destiny against the Soviets.<br />
<br />
During their showdown, the Americans fall behind no less than three times, but keep fighting back to tie the game. Finally, Eruzione scores to give the US a 4-3 lead, but with ten agonizing minutes left to play. The US holds on thanks to the goaltending of <b>Jim Craig</b>, setting off an emotional celebration.<br />
<br />
Despite the win against the heavily favored Soviets, the United States still has not even assured themselves the gold medal, as they must defeat Finland in their final game. As they have many times in the tournament, the Americans must come from behind to win, and Brooks warns the team that they will take a failure "to their graves" if they lose. Properly motivated once again by their coach, the team comes out flying to win the game 4-2 and secure the gold medal, setting off another round of celebrations.<br />
<br />
With so many hockey scenes needing to be shot, the filmmakers needed an enormous amount of wardrobe for the movie and contacted <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.aisathleticuniforms.com/" target="_blank">AIS</a></span> to produce all the jerseys used in the making of the film. All told, they made 11 different team uniform sets, plus additional items such as practice jerseys for the tryout scenes and team jackets.<br />
<br />
The most interesting thing to note about the jerseys used in the filming of the movie was the choice of colors for the jerseys used in the pre-Miracle on Ice scenes, as all the colors for the jerseys are three shades darker than than they were originally, such as the use of navy blue rather than royal blue or brick red instead of a vibrant primary red. This is particularly noticeable when looking at anything that was originally white, as it was all now rendered in a grey/silver tone.<br />
<br />
It took us a decade of patience and searching, but we were finally able to complete an entire set of each team used in the filming of the movie, and we now present them in the order they appear in the film.<br />
<br />
The first appearance of any to the team jerseys is in the first half of the film during the exhibition game held in Norway, which earns the team the full brunt of Brooks' wrath in the "Again!" scene has the team is forced to do repeated "Herbies" (an exhausting skate from the end goal line to the near blue line, back to the end line, to the center red line, back to the end line, to the far blue line, back to the end line, then to the far end line and finally back to the end line) and immediately illustrates the use of the altered colors for the jerseys that appear in the early part of the film as evidenced by the "white" Norway home jerseys.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 Norway National Team Jersey</b><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Norway%201980%20H%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Norway Home photo Norway 1980 H F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Norway%201980%20H%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Norway%201980%20H%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Norway Home photo Norway 1980 H B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Norway%201980%20H%20B.jpg" /></a><b><br /></b></div>
<br />
Next from that scene is the first appearance of the jerseys worn by the United States in the pre-Olympic scenes, which has "USA" diagonally across the front rather than arched, as it would later appear in the Olympic Games. Again, this jersey is made from a muted Navy Blue, Brick Red and Grey color palette.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 United States National Team Jersey</b><br />
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%20Pre-Olympic%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 USA photo USA 1980 Pre-Olympic F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%20Pre-Olympic%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%20Pre-Olympic%205%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 USA photo USA 1980 Pre-Olympic 5 B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%20Pre-Olympic%205%20B.jpg" /></a><b><br /></b></div>
<br />
After the navy blue jerseys appear again in a game versus the IHL All-Stars, the next jerseys to appear in the movie are the brightly colored jerseys of the United States and the Soviet Union during their exhibition game at Madison Square Garden just three days prior to the Olympics. The Soviet blood red jerseys and the Americans snow white jerseys give the game the desired visual excitement the filmmakers were looking for.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 Soviet Union National Team Jersey</b><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%2025%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Soviet Union photo Soviet Union 1980 25 F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%2025%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%2025%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Soviet Union photo Soviet Union 1980 25 B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%2025%20B.jpg" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 United States National Team Jersey</b><br />
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2027%20H%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 USA photo USA 1980 27 H F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2027%20H%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2027%20H%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 USA photo USA 1980 27 H B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2027%20H%20B.jpg" /></a><b><br /></b></div>
<br />
With that thrashing of the United States over with, the scenes featuring the actual Olympics then dominate the second half of the movie with the first American game being against Sweden, where Baker saves the day with his last minute goal with goaltender Craig pulled to spare the United States an opening game defeat. Being a non-Soviet opponent, the filmmakers are back to using the muted colors for the Swedish jerseys, although the yellow still appears relatively vibrant on screen. This is also the first use of the royal blue Olympic jerseys for the United States, giving the game the desired visual excitement.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 Sweden National Team</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Sweden%201980%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Sweden photo Sweden 1980 F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Sweden%201980%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Sweden%201980%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Sweden photo Sweden 1980 B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Sweden%201980%20B.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 United States National Team</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%205%20R%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 USA photo USA 1980 5 R F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%205%20R%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%205%20R%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 USA photo USA 1980 5 R B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%205%20R%20B.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The next opponent for the United States was favored Czechoslovakia, who appeared in their brick red jerseys during the movie for all of ten seconds.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 Czechoslovakia National Team</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Czechoslovakia%201980%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Czechoslovakia photo Czechoslovakia 1980 F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Czechoslovakia%201980%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Czechoslovakia%201980%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Czechoslovakia photo Czechoslovakia 1980 B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Czechoslovakia%201980%20B.jpg" /></a> </div>
<br />
The scene following the USA versus Czechoslovakia game sees Brooks walking on the streets of Lake Placid with<b> Walter Bush</b>. Team jackets are seen from East Germany (DDR) and Italy before they encounter the Soviets, led by head coach <b>Viktor Tikhonov</b>, who is followed by several team members wearing CCCP jackets to keep them warm against the snow flurries.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 Soviet Union National Team Winter Jacket</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%20winter%20jacket%20XL%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Soviet Union jacket photo Soviet Union 1980 winter jacket XL F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%20winter%20jacket%20XL%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%20winter%20jacket%20XL%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Soviet Union jacket photo Soviet Union 1980 winter jacket XL B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%20winter%20jacket%20XL%20B.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Norway appears as the next US opponent, only this time wearing their red road jerseys against the Americans. The Norwegians are dispatched in a mere 13 seconds of screen time.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 Norway National Team</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Norway%201980%20R%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Norway Road photo Norway 1980 R F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Norway%201980%20R%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Norway%201980%20R%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Norway Road photo Norway 1980 R B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Norway%201980%20R%20B.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The next game is against Romania, who are wearing yellow jerseys similar to Sweden. The shade of yellow used by the Romanian jerseys is slightly darker than Sweden's and again has the muted navy blue and brick red secondary colors. Of all of our "lesser" country jerseys, the #15 of <b>Alexandru Halauca</b> appears on screen the longest while he breaks down the ice as part of the Romanian attack.<br />
<br />
Unusually, we also acquired another Romania jersey, this one with a lace-up collar, rather than the v-neck of the Halauca jersey, a style which does not appear on screen during the movie. It has been suggested to us that this may have been a goaltender jersey, but in reality, <b>Sandor Gal</b> (spelled with just one "L") was a defenseman. This jersey arrived without laces.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 Romania National Team</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Romania%201980%20V%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Romania #1 photo Romania 1980 V F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Romania%201980%20V%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Romania%201980%20V%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Romania #1 photo Romania 1980 V B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Romania%201980%20V%20B.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Romania%201980%20L%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Romania #2 photo Romania 1980 L F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Romania%201980%20L%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Romania%201980%20L%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Romania #2 photo Romania 1980 L B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Romania%201980%20L%20B.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
West Germany received a generous 35 seconds of screen time and was the last and most difficult jersey for us to obtain to complete our collection. Having passed on an easy opportunity to get one when they first appeared on ebay when the jerseys first began to be made available to the public prior to setting our sights on having a complete set, it would take another ten years for one to resurface after their initial availability.<br />
<br />
While the jerseys for the United States and Soviet Union were made in multiple sets in case of physical damage due to their amount of use in the filming, jerseys from the remaining nations were only made in a single set and can be much harder to obtain due to their limited numbers.<br />
<br />
Unlike the other jerseys, the West Germany jerseys use an elastic material for the waist stripes, which results in it's clinched appearance at the bottom. Again, note the use of the brick red and grey for the West German jersey.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 West Germany National Team</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Germany%201980%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 West Germany photo Germany 1980 F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Germany%201980%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Germany%201980%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 West Germany photo Germany 1980 B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Germany%201980%20B.jpg" /></a> </div>
<br />
We finally arrive at the Miracle on Ice game between the United States and the Soviet Union for which the entire movie has been building up to. Both teams are outfitted with their brightly colored jerseys, which virtually leap off the screen compared to the muted colors of the other nations' jerseys, especially under the bright lighting of those scenes. The game takes 30 minutes of screen time to complete.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 Soviet Union National Team</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%2012%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Soviet Union photo Soviet Union 1980 12 F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%2012%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%2012%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Soviet Union photo Soviet Union 1980 12 B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%2012%20B.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 United States National Team Jersey</b><br />
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2027%20H%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 USA photo USA 1980 27 H F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2027%20H%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2027%20H%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 USA photo USA 1980 27 H B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2027%20H%20B.jpg" /></a><b><br /></b></div>
<br />
There is still one more game left to play however, that being the United States versus Finland, which the US must win to cement the gold medal. Finland, wearing "white" is back to being depicted in the muted color palette. The game action is all of three seconds, as the producers chose not to dramatize the come from behind American victory to clinch the gold, with the majority of the scene being the post-game US celebration in their blue jerseys.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 Finland National Team</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Finland%201980%20H%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Finland photo Finland 1980 H F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Finland%201980%20H%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Finland%201980%20H%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Finland photo Finland 1980 H B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Finland%201980%20H%20B.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 United States National Team</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2023%20R%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 USA photo USA 1980 23 R F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2023%20R%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2023%20R%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 USA photo USA 1980 23 R B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2023%20R%20B.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Following the Finland game, the movie concludes with the medal ceremony, during which the Soviets are seen wearing track suits, while the Swedes are still wearing their yellow game jerseys.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 Soviet National Team Track Jacket</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%20track%20jacket%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Soviet Union track jacket photo Soviet Union 1980 track jacket F.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%20track%20jacket%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%20track%20jacket%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 Soviet Union track jacket photo Soviet Union 1980 track jacket B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Soviet%20Union%201980%20track%20jacket%20B.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
We also have one particularly special jersey from the filming of the movie "Miracle" in our collection, that worn in the pre-Olympic scenes by actor <b>Eddie Cahill</b>, who played starring goaltender Craig. After obtaining the jersey we had the opportunity to have the jersey signed by Craig in person with the inscription "Jim Craig #30 - 1980 Gold Medal".<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1980 United States National Team</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2030%20FB.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 USA photo USA 1980 30 FB.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2030%20FB.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2030%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 USA photo USA 1980 30 B.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/USA%201980%2030%20B.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Jim%20Craig%20Miracle%20Jersey%20Autograph.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Jim Craig Miracle Jersey Autograph.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/Miracle%20Movie%20Jerseys/Jim%20Craig%20Miracle%20Jersey%20Autograph.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The movie ranks as one of the best hockey movies ever made and gave new life to many great lines, particularly those of head coach Brooks, whose players actually kept a diary of his most memorable "Brooksisms". His speech to his team prior to the Miracle on Ice game is one of the most memorable scenes of the film and is often quoted today.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="319" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tdmyoMe4iHM" width="425"></iframe><br /></div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-40627397243502775352020-02-22T05:00:00.000-06:002020-02-22T20:04:31.597-06:001980 United States National Team Mike Eruzione Jersey<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On this date in 1980, the <b>United States Olympic Hockey Team</b>, led by legendary coach <b>Herb</b> <b>Brooks</b> and captained by <b>Mike</b> <b>Eruzione</b>, shocked the world with their stunning 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union.</span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande"; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/MiracleonIceCelebration.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Eruzione was born in Winthrop, Massachusetts in 1954 and graduated from Winthrop Senior High School in 1972, where he was captain of the hockey team his senior year. Following high school, Eruzione attended Berwick Academy for a year before joining the hockey program at Boston University.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While at BU, Eruzione was a model of consistency and would average 23 goals a season, never scoring less than 21, making the Frozen Four each of his four seasons there. His senior season was his best, with 23 goals and 41 assists for 64 points which allowed him to become BU's all time leading scorer with 208 points.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Importantly, he would also gain valuable international experience by playing for Team USA at both the 1975 and 1976 World Championships.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Little known are the details of Eruzione's hockey career in between Boston University and the 1980 Olympics, as Eruzione would follow his college career with two full seasons with the Toledo Goaldiggers of the International Hockey League.</span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Eruzione would score 30 goals and 56 assists for 86 points, finishing second in team scoring. He would also contribute 21 points in 17 playoff games as Toledo would capture the prestigious Turner Cup by defeating the Port Huron Flags in seven games in the finals. Eruzione was named the IHL Rookie of the Year following the season.</span></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202015/EruzioneToldeo.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo EruzioneToldeo.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202015/EruzioneToldeo.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eruzione won the Turner Cup as a Toledo Goaldigger</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">His second season in Toledo saw Eruzione score another 27 goals and 72 points. He also has six games with the Philadelphia Firebirds on his record with no points scored.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Eruzione became part of the 1980 United States Olympic Team the next season and was named the team captain. In preparation for the Olympics, the team made up of college amateurs with an average age of 22, would play a four month schedule of games against college, minor, pro and national teams, the kind of familiarity and unity modern Olympic teams comprised of professionals thrown together on short notice can only dream about.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Brooks, the final player cut from the gold medal winning 1960 USA Olympic Hockey Team, put into place a plan to emphasize speed, conditioning and discipline when taking on the much older and vastly more experienced Soviet team, who, while technically considered amateurs by the letter of the law, were anything but.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Brooks also needed a way to unite his club that had the potential for division due to the large numbers of players from either Minnesota or Massachusetts splitting the squad into divisive factions. He chose to do that by</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> challenging his team physically, </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">as he raised their conditioning level, and mentally, as he drove them with his harsh words to unite them against a common enemy - Brooks himself.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XD6Vnynjcrc?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Just prior to the Olympics, Brooks purposefully scheduled a game against the Soviets, which the Americans famously lost 10-3. Now that they had faced the Soviets once, they could get the awe out of their system should they meet again in Lake Placid.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The games in Lake Placid for the United States began with a come from behind 2-2 tie against Sweden. While not a win, the dramatic goal against favored Sweden with goalie </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2013/05/1980-team-usa-jim-craig-jersey.html" target="_blank">Jim Craig</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> pulled for an extra attacker with just 27 seconds remaining felt just like a win.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HUrIcAxUEa0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HUrIcAxUEa0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A tough looking matchup on paper against Czechoslovakia, a team with future NHLers </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jiri Bubla, Miroslav Dvorak, Miroslav Frycer, Milan Novy, Jaroslav Pouzar</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anton, Marian</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2009/10/1996-97-quebec-nordiques-peter-stastny_4744.html" target="_blank">Peter Stastny</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, ended with a confidence building 7-3 win for the Americans whose first goal was scored by Eruzione.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/e6maY9L8yK0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/e6maY9L8yK0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The schedule now turned in the United States favor, with easy wins over </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Norway</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, again with Eruzione scoring the first American goal, and </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUB_n0jtLuI"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Romania</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> before a 4-2 win over </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU64Hc7TLgE"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">West Germany</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to finish group play tied with Sweden at 4-0-1 and a place in the four team medal round and a date with destiny on this date in 1980 with the Soviet Union.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande"; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/1980MiracleonIceticket-1.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Following the first five game group stage of the tournament, Eruzione was sixth on team scoring (and 25th in the group) with two goals and two assists, behind</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Rob McClanahan, Buzz Schneider</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mark Johnson</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> with seven points and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2013/03/1980-united-states-olympic-team-mark.html" target="_blank">Mark Pavelich</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2011/05/1985-86-washington-capitals-dave.html" target="_blank">Dave Christian</a></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> with five.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With their previous tie against Sweden carrying over into the Medal Round standings, as well as the Soviet's 4-2 win over Finland, the Americans began Medal Round play already down a point to the Soviets in the standings.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The game, which was played in the afternoon but not broadcast on ABC until later that evening, leaving die hard fans the only option of listening to the game live on the radio, began with the Soviet's </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2015/02/red-army-movie-green-unit-week-1987.html" target="_blank">Valdimir Krutov</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, a future Vancouver Canuck, scoring at 9:12 of the first period. Schneider tied the game at 1-1 on a goal from Pavelich only to have the Soviets move back ahead with a goal at 17:34 from future Calgary Flame </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2015/02/red-army-movie-green-unit-week-1981.html" target="_blank">Sergei Makarov</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With the seconds ticking down in the first period, Christian dumped the puck in from beyond the center red line with five seconds remaining in the period. Soviet Goaltender </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2014/04/1970-soviet-union-national-team.html" target="_blank">Vladislav Tretiak</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> put his pads together and allowed the puck to rebound far in front of him, right to a hustling Johnson, who flew in between a pair of defenders, scooped up the puck, put a deke on the flat-footed Tretiak to go around him to Johnson's left and shoot the puck into the wide open Soviet net with one second remaining in the period.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It took an eternity while listening to the game live on the radio for the goal to be allowed, as there was some question at the time if the goal had come before time expired. The Soviets pressured the officials to call the period over prior to the goal by retreating to their locker room as if time had ended before the puck crossed the goal line. </span></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/Johnsonscores2-2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Johnson scores 2-2 photo Johnsonscores2-2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/Johnsonscores2-2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Johnson evens the score with one second left in the first period</span></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In his anger over the late goal and </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">to the surprise of everyone involved, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Soviet coach </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2014/11/viktor-tikhonov.html" target="_blank">Viktor Tikhonov</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> pulled Tretiak and replaced him with backup </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2014/06/1981-soviet-union-national-team.html" target="_blank">Vladimir Myshkin</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> when the Soviets returned to the ice to take the faceoff to formally complete the first period.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Despite the high of ending the first period tied at 2-2, the Soviets once again took the lead, their third of the game, with a goal by </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Alexandre Maltsev</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> just 2:18 into the second period on a power play. With way more than half the game left to be played and three Soviet goals on the scoreboard already, no one could imagine that would be the Soviets final goal of the game.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Craig kept the Soviets off the board for the remainder of the period, despite the outshooting the Americans 12-2, so the third period opened with the Soviets up 3-2 and holding a massive 30-10 advantage in shots on goal.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Johnson evened the score on the power play just before the halfway point of the third with his second goal of the game at 8:39 when a </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dave Silk</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> shot towards the net was blocked by a defender. Johnson, however, pulled the loose puck away from the defender's stick and fired the puck past Myshkin to tie the game at 3-3 and send the fans into a state of delirium.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Just 1:21 later, Eruzione's legacy as a hockey player would be sealed. Schneider would dump the puck into the Soviet zone where it would be deflected by Myshkin to his right. The puck would then be weakly moved toward a teammate by a Soviet defender under pressure from an American forechecker. Before it could reach the other Soviet, the puck was intercepted by Pavelich who somehow got the puck back into the center of the zone just above the faceoff circles, despite facing and moving the opposite direction </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">while falling down</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, where it was corralled by Eruzione (which is Italian for "eruption"), who squared himself to the net and, using </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vasily Pervukhin</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> as a screen, </span></span><a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/MiracleonIceEruzionegoal.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">fired the puck</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> past Myshkin from 25 feet out, sending the arena</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">into </span><a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/MiracleonIceEruzionegoalcelebration.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pure bedlam</span></span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and himself into the history books with </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the most famous goal ever scored in hockey history</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lle3jmEHLYc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lle3jmEHLYc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The remainder of the game was an agonizing ten minutes that seemed to last 60, as Craig made save after save against the Soviet attack. The Americans kept to Brooks game plan, with short shifts using all four lines, putting their conditioning to the use</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">against the veteran Soviets</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> as Brooks envisioned months earlier.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Jim Craig USA photo JimCraig.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/JimCraig.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jim Craig holding off the Big Red Machine</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Finally, the crowd changed their chants from "USA! USA!" to "TEN! NINE! EIGHT! SEVEN! SIX! FIVE! FOUR! THREE!" at which point broadcaster Al Michaels delivered his famous line: "<i>Do you believe in miracles?</i> YES!" as the game ended and the players</span></span><a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/MiracleonIceCelebration.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> burst into cheers and hugs</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, while Brooks vanished up the corridor and out of view.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qSkc6c35A4Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qSkc6c35A4Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In cold, hard numbers, the win gave the USA three points in the standings to 2m for both the Soviet Union and Sweden with Finland at 1 point, following the 3-3 tie between Sweden and Finland played on the same day, setting up the United States final game against Finland two days later. Assuming the Soviets would beat Sweden, which they did 9-2, a US win over Finland was still required for the Americans to win gold outright.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande"; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/1980GoldMedalticket.png" /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Finland led the final game of the tournament 2-1 after two periods, but after a furious Brooks warned the team during the final intermission that "If you lose this game, you will take it to your f***ing grave!" He then walked almost all the way out of the room before turning around and repeating "To your<i> f***king grave.</i>"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Properly motivated, the team came out and scored goals by </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Phil Verchota</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, McClanahan and Johnson to win the game 4-2 to capture the gold medal and set off </span></span><a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/USA1980GoldCelebration.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a new round of celebrations</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> having successfully completed not just a seven game tournament, but a journey that began months earlier, as Brooks transformed them from college kids into Olympic champions.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MCWAgNfcFtg&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MCWAgNfcFtg&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was the last game Eruzione would ever play.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Even though he was offered a contract by the New York Rangers, Eruzione declined to continue his career, stating that he'd reached the pinnacle of achievement already.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Despite the game against Finland being his last, Eruizone had one more memorable moment up his sleeve. During the medal ceremony, where only the captain of each team was to mount the podium, Eruzione famously called for his teammates to join him on the top step of the platform which was only just barely large enough to accommodate them all.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/MiracleonIcepodium.jpg" /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The game against the Soviets would become to be known as "The Miracle on Ice" and would be named by the IIHF as the </span></span><a href="http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship/top-story-of-the-century.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Top International Hockey Story of the Century</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today's featured jersey is a </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1980 United States National Team Mike Eruzione jersey</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, the actual jersey worn during "The Miracle on Ice" when Mike Eruzione scored "The Goal Heard 'Round the World" in a 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="eruzione jerseys photo Eruzionejerseys.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/Eruzionejerseys.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eruzione with his 1980 jerseys and the stick used to score his famous goal</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">The white jersey Eruzione wore during the Miracle on Ice game sold in 2013 for $657,250 when put up for auction along with his blue jersey from the final game against Finland, his stick, gloves, pants and warmup suit from the gold medal ceremony.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202015/UnitedStates1980homeFjersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="United States 1980 home jersey photo UnitedStates1980homeFjersey.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202015/UnitedStates1980homeFjersey.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202015/UnitedStates1980homeBjersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="United States 1980 home jersey photo UnitedStates1980homeBjersey.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202015/UnitedStates1980homeBjersey.jpg" /></a><br />
Photos from <a href="http://www.ha.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">HeritageAuctions.com</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today, Eruzione makes appearances as a motivational speaker and is said to have never met a hand he wouldn't shake or a microphone he didn't like.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/isLdsiBXlRs&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/isLdsiBXlRs&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Bonus jersey:</b> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today's bonus jersey is a</span><b> 1980 United States National Team Jim Craig jersey</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. This jersey is a true icon of hockey, notable for its contrasting blue nameplate with white lettering.</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While many manufacturers have produced replicas of the jerseys worn in Lake Placid by the United States "Miracle on Ice" squad, the original jersey manufacturers were Norcon of Forest Lake, Minnesota.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=1980UnitedStatesCraig.jpg" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; white-space: pre;" target="_blank"><img alt="1980 United States jersey" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/1980UnitedStatesCraig.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">photo courtesy of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333ffb; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.classicauctions.net/" style="color: #cc6600;">Classic Auctions</a></span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The team would reunite 22 years later to light the torch to open the next Olympic Games in Salt Lake City in 2002. It's a bit long, so please skip ahead to 4:30 for the conclusion.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iT28SNK1YEk?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-78522016525756888542019-11-09T05:00:00.000-06:002019-11-09T08:22:52.778-06:00The Fall of the Berlin Wall<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">A momentous occasion occurred in Germany thirty years ago on this date in 1989, as <b>the Berlin Wall fell</b>.</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">After the conclusion of World War II, Berlin was divided into four sectors. The United States, the United Kingdom and France controlled what became West Berlin, while the Soviet Sector formed East Berlin.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/AmericanSector.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo AmericanSector.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/AmericanSector.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">The Soviets also controlled the area of Germany that surrounded Berlin as well, leaving the three Allied Sectors of Berlin deep inside Soviet controlled Germany, <i>100 miles from the nearest Allied controlled part of Germany. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/GermanMap1947.png" /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; white-space: pre;"></span>Growing differences between the former allies against Nazi Germany led to the Soviets imposing the Berlin Blockade, cutting off road and train access to West Berlin on June 24, 1948. The Allies responded with the Berlin Airlift, bringing in 13,000 tons of food per day with over 200,000 flights lasting nearly a year until May 12, 1949.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">On October 7, 1949 the Soviet controlled part of Germany became a separate country, the German Democratic Republic, or "East Germany", which was heavily influenced and controlled by Soviet authorities. Meanwhile, West Germany operated as a capitalist country with a democratic government and saw it's economy and standard of living growing and improving over time, which attracted many East Germans, who wished to relocate to the more prosperous and free West Germany, away from Soviet control.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">The period from 1950-1952 saw 544,000 East Germans move to West Germany and in 1953 another 331,000 migrated to West Germany, fearing an even greater increase in Soviet control. Up until 1952, passing from West Berlin into East Berlin was relatively easy until a system of passes were introduced to restrict movement. At the same time, a declaration was made that the border between the countries of East and West Germany should be considered a dangerous border and a barbed-wire fence was erected between the two countries.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Meanwhile, the border between West and East Berlin still remained open, leaving West Berlin, deep in the heart of East Germany, attracting thousands of East Germans to West Berlin as a gateway to West Germany. By 1956, the East German authorities restricted virtually all travel to West Germany.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">The next step in isolating East Germany was a new passport law that reduced the number of people leaving East Germany through the West German border, which increased the percentage of people leaving through West Berlin to over 90% by 1959 since there was no physical barrier in Berlin, such as the barbed wire fence that separated the two countries along their border 100 miles to the west. There was even subway service between East and West Berlin at the time.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">This left West Berlin as <b>a tiny island of freedom</b> and <b>a gateway to the West</b> <i>located right in the center of East Germany.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">By 1961, approximately 20% of the entire East German population, 3.5 million people, had left East Germany. With the majority of the people leaving being young and well educated, the population of working age people decreased from over 70% to 61% and represented a loss of manpower estimated to be worth from $7 to $9 billion. Finally on August 12, 1961 orders were given to close the border between East Berlin and West Berlin and erect a barrier to prevent any further movement of East German citizens into West Berlin and out of East Germany.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/BerlinWall1961.png" /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Roads were torn up and barbed wire and fences were erected around the perimeter of West Berlin, stretching for 87 miles. In 1962 a second fence was erected approximately 100 yards further into East Germany, creating what was effectively a moat that offered no protection from armed East German guards, called <a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/DeathStrip.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">The Death Strip</span></a>.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">In 1965 the wire fencing was replaced by a concrete wall which eventually grew to be 12 feet tall and nearly 4 feet thick.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">During the wall's existence, there were around 5,000 successful escape attempts to West Berlin and the number of people killed trying has been placed between 136 to above 200. Various methods of escape were used, including tunnels, hot air balloons, sliding along overhead wires and ultralight aircraft as well as escaping through the sewer system. On occasion, wounded escapees <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Fechter" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">were left to die</span></a> in the Death Strip, as any potential rescuers feared being shot at by the East German border guards.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">On June 12, 1987, <b>Ronald</b> <b>Reagan</b> challenged <b>Mikhail</b> <b>Gorbachev</b> of the Soviet Union to "Tear down this wall" as a sign of increasing freedoms in the Communist Eastern Europe.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GCO9BYCGNeY" width="425"></iframe></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">On August 23, 1989, Hungary removed it's border defenses with Austria, allowing more than 13,000 East Germans in Hungary to escape into Austria. The remaining East Germans prevented from leaving flooded the West German embassy in Budapest and refused to return to East Germany. This set up a similar event in Czechoslovakia and mass demonstrations within East Germany. In October, longtime East German leader <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Honecker" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Erich Honecker</span></a> resigned and on November 4 a million people gathered in the Alexanderplatz public square.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">With Honecker's replacement <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egon_Krenz" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Egon Krenz's</span></a> new government tolerating the wave of East Germans leaving through Czechoslovakia, a plan was put into place on November 9, 1989 to allow people to simply leave directly through the checkpoints between East Germany and West Germany, including West Berlin.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Spokesperson <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCnter_Schabowski" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Gunter Schabowski</span></a> was given the assignment of announcing the new policy, however he had not been present at the meeting or fully updated on the details. Shortly before a press conference, he was handed a note that said East Berliners would only be allowed to cross the border with proper permission, but no further information on how to present the news. The new rules were to take effect the next day in order to be able to inform the border guards on the new policy, but no one had told Schabowski, who when asked on live TV when the new rules would take effect, assumed from the wording of the note that it would be the same day, replied "As far as I know effective immediately, without delay." After further questions, he confirmed that this included the border crossings into West Berlin.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Soon afterwards West German television announced that starting immediately, East German borders were open to everyone. Since East Germans had been waiting to hear this news for 28 years, thousands of East Germans went to the border crossings, demanding that the guards open the gates. Unaware of the new rules, the outnumbered and overwhelmed guards tried to call their superiors, but none of them dare give any orders to use lethal force and, without the authority to fire, the guards had no way to hold back the growing crowds and opened the gates. The wall had, in theory, come down.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="319" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MM2qq5J5A1s?rel=0" width="425"></iframe></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Initially, the wall stayed intact, but new border crossings were added as previously severed roads were rejoined and various rules remained in effect, which included the need for visa applications in advance for West Berliners to visit the East. The guarding of the wall became more and more relaxed and more and more damage to the wall was tolerated. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Many celebrations were held in the days following, including <b>David</b> <b>Hasselhoff</b> rocking the wall on New Year's Eve 1989 wearing one amazing jacket. Note at the 3:22 mark someone almost drills him with a bottle rocket as he is leaning over!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%; white-space: pre;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0zXiClnK8oE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0zXiClnK8oE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><b>Roger</b> <b>Waters</b> performed the Pink Floyd album "The Wall" on July 21, 1990 near the Brandenberg Gate.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ljhQNQxLpBA" width="425"></iframe></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Finally in June of 1990, the dismantling of the wall officially began and Germany was officially reunified as one country on October 3, 1990.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%; white-space: pre;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bqySsC7ihSI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bqySsC7ihSI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">As for how the separation of Germany after World War II into East Germany and West Germany affected their national hockey team, the East German National Team first competed in 1951 and participated in the World Championships from 1956 on to 1990. They had some success, reaching the highest level, the "A" Pool on a number of occasions, but often being relegated back to the "B" Pool within a year or two. Their highest finish at the World Championships was 5th place, which they managed in 1957, 1965, 1966 and 1970. They were the winners of the "B" Pool on six occasions, each time earning promotion back to the "A" Pool.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">The East Germans also competed in the Olympics, first as The Unified Team of Germany, comprising athletes from both East and West Germany as a single team, in 1956, 1960 and 1964, finishing last in 1956 and 1960 and next to last in 1964. They competed as separate teams in 1968, with the East Germans finishing 8th out of 8 with a 0-7-0 record. From 1972 onward they did not compete in the Olympic hockey tournament.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">The West Germans won a silver medal in 1953 in their first appearance at the World Championships but generally hovered between 5th and 7th place for the majority of it's existence with the occasional relegation to the "B" pool for a couple of years.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">The Olympics were very much the same story, finishing at or near the bottom in 1952, as the Unified Team of Germany in 1956, 1960 and 1964, and as West Germany in 1968, 1972 and 1980. Some improvement was shown in the 1980's, with mid-pack finishes in 1984 and 1988, but 1976 was the highlight of the separate West German program, with a surprising 3rd place finish which earned them the bronze medal behind the dominant Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">West Germany began by defeating Switzerland 5-1 in a qualification match to move onto the main group, whose round robin schedule would determine the medal winners. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">They opened Group play by defeating Poland 7-4. Losses to Finland (5-3), the Soviet Union (7-3) and Czechoslovakia (7-4) hurt their chances, but a 4-1 win over the United States left West Germany, Finland and the USA all tied with 4 points from two wins in the standings with West Germany winning the tie-breaker and being classified third to take home the bronze.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">With the reunification of Germany in 1990, the German National Team once more represented the country as a whole. Their record in the World Championship generally sees them finishing between 7th and 11th, with the occasional relegation to the second level, followed by a quick return to the top division. Since reunification, their best showing was a fine 4th place in 2010 after making it all the way to the Bronze Medal Game and finishing higher than both Finland, Canada and the United States, no doubt inspired by playing in front of the home fans as hosts of the tournament.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Their Olympic record is very much the same, with finishes of each step from 6th to 11th on their record from 1992 to 2010. Shockingly, they did not qualify for the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia after being upset in overtime by Italy and then being taken to overtime by Austria while hosting their Qualification Tournament, both of which cost them vital points in the standings.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">They rebounded in spectacular fashion in 2018, finding an opportunity when the NHL chose to not allow its players to compete in Pyeongchang, South Korea, while the top European Leagues took a break from their schedules to allow their players the opportunity to participate. Ranked 13th in the IIHF World Rankings, Germany was again required to win a qualification tournament to even play in South Korea, and were not afforded the benefit of playing at home this time. They defeated Japan 5-0, exacted a measure of revenge on Austria with a 6-0 shutout and then outlasted hosts Latvia by a score of 3-2 when <b>Tom Kuhnhackl</b> scored with five minutes remaining in the decisive game to secure their spot in the Olympics.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">In the Preliminary Round, Germany did not impress, finishing third behind Sweden and Finland, with only a shootout win over Norway to show for their efforts, which left them ranked 9th out of the 12 teams. They came alive in the Qualification Playoffs, defeating Switzerland 2-1 in overtime, with <b>Yannic Seidenberg</b> the hero, scoring 26 seconds into the extra period. This advanced Germany to the Quarterfinals, where they held a 2-0 lead over Sweden after the first period. Despite also scoring again in the third period, Sweden came from behind with three goals to send the game to another overtime tied at 3-3 before <b>Patrick Reimer</b> shocked the Swedes with a goal at 1:30 of the extra period.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Not content to know they would be playing for a medal, Germany got goals from <b>Brooks Macek</b> in the first period and <b>Matthias Plachta</b> and <b>Frank Mauer</b> before the game was even half over to streak out to a 3-0 lead over Canada. After giving up a goal to the Canadians, Germany responded with a goal by <b>Patrick Hager</b> at 12:31 of the second. The Germans then weathered the storm as Canada scored twice in the third period to close to within 4-3, but goaltender <b>Danny aus den Birken</b> held on for a tense final ten minutes, which included a 5 on 4 man advantage plus a full two minute 5 on 3 power play for Canada as the Canadians outshot Germany 15-1 in the third period, to send the Germans to a shocking place in the Gold Medal Final against the Olympic Athletes from Russia.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia;">The Russians scored a heartbreaker with one second left in the first period, but the Germans countered with a goal of their own in the second. After Russia scored first in the third period, Germany then took a 3-2 lead with a pair of goals 3:13 apart with a little over three minutes to play, giving them hope of their own Miracle on Ice. It was not to be however, as the Russians scored the tying goal with 56 seconds remaining shorthanded, but with their goaltender having been pulled. The Olympic Athletes from Russia then won the gold after 9:40 of overtime while on a power play as the Germans took home a stunning silver medal after a tense journey through the tournament left them with a record of 1 win, 3 overtime wins, and overtime loss and two losses, both of which came in their first two games.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202017/Germany%20Silver%202018-2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Germany Silver 2018-2.jpg" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202017/Germany%20Silver%202018-2.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The happiest group of silver medalists seen in a long time</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Today's first featured jersey is a<b> 1989 West German National Team Udo Keissling jersey</b> from the World Championships held in Stockholm, Sweden. West Germany would finish the Round Robin portion with a 0-5-2 record, but avoid relegation by finishing with a 1-2-0 record and save themselves from the drop with a 2-0 defeat of Poland.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">One of the best players in German hockey history, <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2012/05/1987-west-german-national-team-udo.html" style="color: #551a8b;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span style="color: blue;">Udo Kiessling</span></span></a> set a new record in 1992 with his 5th consecutive Olympic tournament appearance. Kiessling's record shows he played a single game in the NHL, in 1982 on a tryout after his German club team was an early exit from the playoffs, but returned home to play in the World Championships, never to return to the NHL again. But just because a player is not in the NHL, doesn't mean he doesn't exist, as Kiessling would go onto have a 24 year career, ending in 1996 at the age of 40.</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">He made his first appearance in the Olympics at Innsbruck in 1976, winning a Bronze Medal. In addition to his five Olympics, Kiessling also participated in 15 World Championships and the 1984 Canada Cup, as well as winning six national titles in Germany, where he was named the top player three times.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">This beautiful jersey features the vibrant colors of the dye-sublimation process and the arresting graphics of the era with the colors of the tri-color German flag streaking across the chest, as well as the distinctive Tackla diamond logos on the shoulders and drop shadow block font for the numbers. Easily one of our favorite jerseys.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/Germany1989WCF.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="West Germany 1989 jersey photo Germany1989WCF.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/Germany1989WCF.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/Germany1989WCB.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="West Germany 1989 jersey photo Germany1989WCB.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/Germany1989WCB.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Today's second featured jersey is a <b>1989 East Germany Torsten Hanusch jersey</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b> </b>as<b> </b>worn during the 1989 World Championships B Pool. </span>This jersey was worn in the 1989 World Championships B Pool, Hanusch's only appearance for the East German National Team.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While the East Germans competed in the World Championships on a regular basis from 1956 to 1990, they discontinued their Olympic hockey program after 1968, choosing to take the approach of <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2013/10/1988-east-germany-andreas-ludwig-jersey.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">funding single athletes</span></a> who could win multiple medals, such as a track and field athlete, swimmers and speed skaters, rather than funding an entire team who could only hope to win a single medal, such as water polo or in ice hockey, which frankly was a long shot when up against the likes of the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Sweden and Canada.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This jersey has an extremely minimalist style, with only simple striping on the arms and waist and is devoid of any traditional main cresting, with only the Tackla branding on the upper right chest and the DDR initials and East German coat of arms on the left chest in the style of a soccer jersey, leaving the rest of the body devoid of any traditional main logo.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Also unusual is the East Germans choice of a primarily blue jersey, as the colors of the East German flag were black, gold and red. Additionally, many of the communist ruled nations favored primarily red sweaters, the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia in particular.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times, serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times, serif; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/EastGermany19898F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="East Germany 1989 jersey photo EastGermany19898F.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/EastGermany19898F.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times, serif; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/EastGermany19898B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="East Germany 1989 jersey photo EastGermany19898B.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/EastGermany19898B.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times, serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Today's video selections have some footage of the West German National Team competing in the 1980 Olympics against Sweden and then the United States team, which would go on to pull off the Miracle on Ice against the Soviet Union.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times, serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times, serif; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jo_ivqQFsgo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jo_ivqQFsgo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times, serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times, serif; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oU64Hc7TLgE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oU64Hc7TLgE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-18822135819453785692019-04-21T05:00:00.000-05:002019-04-21T05:00:01.681-05:00The Easter Epic - 1986-87 New York Islanders Pat LaFontaine Jersey<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On April 18, 1987, the <b>Washington</b> <b>Capitals</b> hosted the <b>New York</b> <b>Islanders</b> in Game 7 of their opening round playoff series. </span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The game would not end until the early hours </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">of the following day</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The series had opened in Washington with a split, with the Capitals taking Game 1 by a score of 4-3 and the Islanders evening the series by taking Game 2 by a 3-1 margin. Back on Long Island the Capitals took two, with a Game 3 shutout 2-0 and a 4-1 win in Game 4 to take a commanding 3-1 edge in games. The Islanders stayed alive with a 4-2 win back in Washington and forced a deciding Game 7 with a 5-4 win at home.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With viewers across North America tuned in on ESPN and the CBC, the puck dropped at 7:40 PM and the Capitals dominated early but it took nearly the entire period for </span><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2011/10/1991-92-new-york-rangers-mike-gartner.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mike Gartner</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to eventually put Washington ahead 1-0 with 48 seconds left in the first.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Pat Flatley</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> evened the score at 11:35 of the middle period before </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Grant Martin</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> restored Washington's one goal lead at 18:45 by beating the Islanders goaltender </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>Kelly Hrudey</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. The period ended at 2-1 for Washington, which held a 25-10 margin in shots.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There was no scoring in the third period until </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>Bryan Trottier</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> put a backhander between Captials goalie </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>Bob Mason's</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> legs at 14:37 to tie the game at 2-2. For the remainder of regulation both teams sought an advantage without success, and regulation came to a close without a winner.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In the first twenty minute overtime, the teams both recorded 11 shots on goal and the Capitals </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>Greg Smith</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> nearly won it with a slap shot that beat Hrudey but clanged off the right post with seconds remaining. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Washington did their best to end it in the second overtime by outshooting the Islanders 17-9, but could not solve Hrudey. Perhaps the best chance to end the game in the second OT was when Islander </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>Randy Wood's</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> shot that hit the pipe.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The game then advanced to a third overtime, the first in 16 years, and fatigue really began to take hold as Easter Sunday began. The Islanders got the better of the Capitals during the period, holding an 11-10 edge in shots on goal. Mason denied the Islanders better scoring chances and the second sixty minutes closed scoreless.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For the first time since 1951, a game would enter the fourth overtime and people really started to get punchy, ESPN's </span><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2010/12/1975-76-atlanta-flames-bill-clement.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bill Clement</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in particular, having taken off his shirt and converted his tie into a headband before doing some voice impressions prior to the start of the fourth overtime.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The game started to climb the list of the longest games in NHL history, entering the top five of all time after a 1:10 of play in the fourth overtime period. The Islanders moved ahead in shots four to one when </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>Ken Leiter</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of the Islanders pinched in the keep the puck in the Washington end. He circled behind the goal and passed to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>Gord Dineen</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, whose shot was blocked in front of Mason. The puck deflected back to </span><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2012/01/1982-83-verdun-juniors-pat-lafontaine.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pat LaFontaine</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, who fired a slapshot passed a screened Mason to finally end the game after 128:47 of play, winning not only the game, but eliminating the Capitals as the Islanders won the series 4 games to 3, despite the fact that the Capitals had not trailed in the series or the game until LaFontaine's goal.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">LaFontaine's goal came at 1:58 AM, 6 hours and 18 minutes after the opening faceoff. Hrudey was credited with 73 saves, an NHL playoff record, while Mason's total was 54 in the game that would become known as the "Easter Epic".</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/LaFontainMasonEasterEpic.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="LaFontain Mason Easter Epic photo LaFontainMasonEasterEpic.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/LaFontainMasonEasterEpic.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">LaFontaine meets Mason in the handshake line following the Easter Epic</span></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today's featured jersey is a</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> 1986-87 New York Islanders Pat LaFontaine jersey</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Throughout his career, LaFontaine's name was spelled with a variety of all capital letters of equal size and other times when the "A" was in a smaller size as shown here.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Later LaFontaine Islanders jerseys would have the more traditional all caps of the same size, so it is essential for you to do your research for the exact specification of lettering style used for the particular year of any LaFontaine Islanders jersey you may want to add to your collection.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The smaller "A" can be found on early Islanders, 1996 USA and black Sabres jerseys.</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande"; white-space: pre;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=NYIslanders1986-87.png" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/NYIslanders1986-87.png" /></span></a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "lucida grande";"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=NYIslanders1986-87B.png" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/NYIslanders1986-87B.png" /></span></a></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<b>Bonus jersey: </b>Today's bonus jersey is a <b>1986-87 Washington Capitals Bob Mason jersey</b> . The Capitals wore this style starting with their inaugural season of 1974-75 and continued to use it through the 1995-95 season before a radical overhaul of their branding saw them drop their red, white and blue color set in favor of a lighter shade of blue and black with bronze accents.<br />
<br />
The team reverted to their classic red, white and blue colors for the 2007-08 season and reintroduced today's bonus jersey style for the 2011 Winter Classic, which proved so popular they made this their alternate jersey starting with the 2011-12 season through the 2014-15 campaign before switching to the red road version of this jersey.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202017/Washington%20Capitals%201985-86%20F%20jersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Washington Capitals 1985-86 F jersey.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202017/Washington%20Capitals%201985-86%20F%20jersey.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202017/Washington%20Capitals%201985-86%20B%20jersey.jpg.html" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Washington Capitals 1985-86 B jersey.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202017/Washington%20Capitals%201985-86%20B%20jersey.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today's video section features highlights of the Easter Epic, which faced off on this date in 1987. First, from the CBC, featuring a more subdued Don Cherry than the much more voluminous one he has evolved into.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0zuQo8rCRiM?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Next, <b>Bill</b> <b>Clement</b> loses his mind on national TV prior to the fourth overtime.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HOEtBU--2RI?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Finally, LaFontaine reflects on his memories of the game and the playoffs in general.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OKP3MXihk-E?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></div>
</div>
Post settings
Labels
Easter Epic, Lafontaine Pat, New York Islanders, Washington Capitals
Published on
4/18/13, 5:00 AM
Central Daylight Time
Permalink
Location
Search Description
Optionsspyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-7686166296550751152019-03-04T05:00:00.000-06:002019-03-05T17:18:28.176-06:001944-45 Detroit Red Wings Ted Lindsay JerseyAfter growing up the son of a goaltender who once played for the storied, turn of the century <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renfrew_Creamery_Kings" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Renfrew Millionaires</span></a>, <b>Ted Lindsay</b> played junior hockey for the St. Michael's Majors before joining the Oshawa Generals in time to win the 1944 Memorial Cup.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=OshawaGeneralsMemorialCup.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Oshawa Generals Memorial Cup" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/OshawaGeneralsMemorialCup.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Ted Lindsay and the 1944 Memorial Cup champion Oshawa Generals</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Lindsay joined the Detroit Red Wings for 1944-45 and had a couple of average seasons to begin his career, 23 points and then just 17 in 1945-46, but then the following year Lindsay was put on a line with veteran <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Abel" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Sid Abel</span></a> and a rookie named <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2009/11/1970-71-detroit-red-wings-gordie-howe.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Gordie Howe</span></a> and his career shifted into high gear.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=LindsayHoweAbelProductionLine.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lindsay Howe Abel Production Line" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/LindsayHoweAbelProductionLine.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Lindsay, How and Abel, the Production Line</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The line was dubbed "The Production Line" based on their offensive output, which saw Lindsay's point totals jump from 17 to 42 and then continue to rise to 52 to lead the Red Wings in scoring and the entire league in goals with 33.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=Lindsay1948All-Star.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lindsay 1948 All-Star" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/Lindsay1948All-Star.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Lindsay being named a first team All-Star in 1948</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
His point total rose to 54 in 1948-49 before a quantum leap to 78 points in 1949-50 to win the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Ross_Trophy" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Art Ross Trophy</span></a> for leading the entire NHL in scoring as Howe and Abel came in second and third, giving the line a 1-2-3 standing in the scoring race. "Terrible Ted" also was third in the league with 141 penalty minutes, just three back of the league leader.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=LindsayRedWingsA.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lindsay Red Wings A" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/LindsayRedWingsA.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Note the unusual treatment of the assistant captain's "A" contained in the diamond shape</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In the playoffs, the Red Wings outlasted the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games and then duplicated the feat against the New York Rangers to win the first Stanley Cup of Lindsay's career. In both series Detroit won Game 7 in overtime.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=LindsayStanleyCup.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lindsay Stanley Cup" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/LindsayStanleyCup.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Lindsay celebrates with the Stanley Cup</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The Red Wings would again capture the Stanley Cup two seasons later in 1951-52 after Lindsay had the second 30 goal season of his career. In 1952-53, he would again top 30 goals with 32 and 70 points for the second time with 71. After the departure of Abel, Lindsay was named captain of the Red Wings, a position he would hold until 1956. It was during this time period that Lindsay began the tradition of the captain of the winning team lifting the Stanley Cup and skating it around the ice in celebration, a scene now repeated every year.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=Lindsay1954StanleyCup.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lindsay 1954 Stanley Cup" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/Lindsay1954StanleyCup.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Captain Lindsay with the 1954 Stanley Cup</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The 19954-55 Red Wings would finished first overall in the league for the seventh consecutive season and go on to take the fourth Stanley Cup of Lindsay's career. While he was limited to just 49 games of the regular season in 1954-55, snapping his 20 goals/40 points streak at 8 seasons, he was healthy in time for the playoffs where his stellar 19 points in 11 games contributed greatly to Detroit winning the second of back-to-back championships.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The time he missed also interrupted his consecutive streak of 100 penalty minutes or more streak, the only one of ten seasons he was under the century mark. So rough was Lindsay's style of play that penalties had to be created for elbowing and kneeing! He also acquired more than 400 stitches during his career before losing track.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
in 1956-57, Lindsay had the greatest offensive season of his career with 85 points, this coming from 30 goals and a league leading 55 assists, which earned him a Sports Illustrated cover.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=LindsayandHoweSIcover1957.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lindsay and Howe SI cover 1957" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/LindsayandHoweSIcover1957.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Lindsay and Howe on the Cover of SI in the spring of 1957</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
He was also busy that season off the ice, organizing the NHL Players' Association. Already not on good terms with Detroit general manager Jack Adams, Lindsay's union organizing efforts saw him stripped of his captaincy and later earned him a trip out of town, as he was banished to the lowly Chicago Black Hawks, who had missed the playoffs 12 times in the previous 14 seasons, in a six team league no less! Lindsay was the NHL's third leading all-time goal scorer at the time of the trade.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
While the Black Hawks would miss the playoffs in 1957-58, Lindsay would have by far his best of three seasons in Chicago in 1958-59 with 22 goals and 58 points as well as a career high of 184 penalty minutes as the Black Hawks returned to the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. He would retire after one more season with Chicago with 999 games played.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=LindsayBlackHawks.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lindsay Black Hawks" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/LindsayBlackHawks.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Lindsay while with the Black Hawks</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After four seasons away from the ice, Adams replacement and old line mate Abel coaxed Lindsay out of retirement for the 1964-65 season. He returned to the ice on in 1964 for his 1,000th NHL game, becoming only the fourth player in league history at the time to have reached 1,000 games after linemate Howe, <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2014/11/1953-nhl-all-star-bill-gadsby-jersey.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Bill Gadsby</span></a> and <b>Red Kelly</b>. Lindsay added a final 14 goals and 28 points to his career totals as the Red Wings finished with the best regular season record in the league for the first time since his departure.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
His final career totals are 379 goals and 472 assists for 851 points in 1,068 games played along with 1,808 penalty minutes. He also competed in 133 playoff games (in an era when the maximum number of games was just 14) scoring 47 goals and 49 assists for 96 points. At the time of his retirement, Lindsay was the highest scoring left winger in league history.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
He played in 11 NHL All-Star Games and won four Stanley Cups and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966, but declined to attend the ceremony since it was for men only, and he wanted his wife and family to attend, a rule which was changed for the following year.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In 1991, the Detroit Red Wings held a pregame ceremony where they retired</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><b> </b>Lindsay's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> #7 sweater as well as the #10 of <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2010/11/1968-69-detroit-red-wings-alex.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Alex Delvecchio</span></a>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=Red_Wings_retired_Banners.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Red_Wings_retired_numbers" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/Red_Wings_retired_Banners.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lindsay's #7 hangs in the rafters of Joe Louis Arena with the other Red Wings honored greats</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
In 2010 the NHL Players Association renamed the award the players vote on for their annual MVP from the Lester Pearson Award to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Lindsay_Award" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Ted Lindsay Award</span></a> in honor of his pioneering work in forming the player's association.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Today's featured jersey is a <b>1944-45 Detroit Red Wings Ted Lindsay jersey</b>. While the Red Wings jerseys have remained essential unchanged since the dawn of time, this particular one stands out for the patches worn on the sleeves during Lindsay's rookie season in the NHL.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The patch on Lindsay's left sleeve is a "V" for victory, with three dots on the left of the patch and a dash on the right (Morse code for "v") was first worn during the 1941-42 season. It remained for four seasons through 1944-45.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
On Lindsay's right sleeve is a patch promoting the purchase of war bonds. First worn in 1942-43, this patch was used for three seasons through 1944-45.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=DetroitWarBondspatch.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Detroit War Bonds patch" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/DetroitWarBondspatch.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After wearing a patch during 1951 to promote the <a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/Detroit250thAnniversary.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">250th anniversary of the City of Detroit</span></a>, the Red Wings would not wear another patch until 1975 for the franchise's <a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/RedWings50thanniversary.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">50th Anniversary</span></a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=DetroitRedWings44-45jersey.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Detroit Red Wings 44-45 jersey" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/DetroitRedWings44-45jersey.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Bonus Jersey:</b> Today's bonus jersey is a <b>1958-59 Chicago Black Hawks Ted Lindsay jersey</b>. While very similar to today's Blackhawks jerseys, note the location of the crossed tomahawks inside the sleeve stripes rather than the now traditional placement on the shoulders.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This beautiful old sweater shows just why the Black Hawks jerseys frequently finish at the top of lists of best jerseys and was worn by Lindsay during the 1959 playoffs.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=ChicagoBlackHawks58-59Fjersey.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Chicago Black Hawks 58-59 jersey" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/ChicagoBlackHawks58-59Fjersey.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=ChicagoBlackHawks58-59Bjersey.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Chicago Black Hawks 58-59 jersey" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/ChicagoBlackHawks58-59Bjersey.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Today's video section begins with Ted Lindsay's biography from the Legends of Hockey series.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/bSK-da_ahp4?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/bSK-da_ahp4?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In this next clip, a look back at Ted Lindsay's career first broadcast in 1978 when Lindsay was the general manager of the Red Wings.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/ZOShbAE7pw4?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/ZOShbAE7pw4?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-21450902071769771242018-09-11T05:00:00.000-05:002018-09-11T22:03:13.187-05:001978-79 Edmonton Oilers Garnet "Ace" Bailey Jersey<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Garnet "Ace" Bailey </b>first played for the Edmonton Oil Kings in junior hockey from 1964 to 1967, including a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Cup"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Memorial Cup</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> championship in 1966.</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 1966 NHL Amateur draft with the 13th overall pick and started his professional career with the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League followed by further seasoning with the Bruins minor league Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League in the 1968-69 season where he had a nice season with 56 points in 60 games. Bailey excelled in the playoffs with 14 points in 9 games as Hersey won the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calder_Cup"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Calder Cup</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> as AHL champions. He also found the time to make his NHL debut with the Bruins, seeing action in eight games during which he scored his first NHL goal on his way to six points. He even got his first taste of NHL playoff action in one postseason game for Boston.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The 1969-70 season saw him crack the Bruins lineup, appearing in 58 regular season games. While Bailey did not suit up for any of the Bruins playoff games, that season (perhaps due to injury) his name was included among those engraved on the Stanley Cup following the Bruins championship, capped off by </span><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2010/05/may-10th-proved-to-be-very-remarkable.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bobby Orr's</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> famous cup winning overtime goal in Game 4.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">His next season was split between the Boston and Oklahoma City before finally establishing himself as a full-time NHL regular in 1971-72 when he skated in 73 games for the Bruins as well as 13 playoff games, including scoring the game winning goal in Game 1 of the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals versus the New York Rangers, as Bailey got his name on the Stanley Cup for the second time.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bailey's next three seasons in the NHL were ones of change, as the Bruins traded him to the Red Wings after 57 games of the 1972-73 season. Half way through the next season, Detroit sent Bailey to the St. Louis Blues. Once more Bailey was on the trading block, when St. Louis dealt him to the Washington Capitals after 49 games of the 1974-75 season despite Bailey having already set a career high with 41 points in 49 games for the Blues. Combined with the 17 points he scored in 22 game for the Capitals, his 58 points would remain the best offensive output of his 10 years in the NHL.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Washington proved to be a good fit of Bailey, and he would see action in 67 games in 1975-76 and 78 the following year, his second highest scoring season with 46 points.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=BaileyCapitals.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Bailey Capitals" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/BaileyCapitals.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bailey, who was known for his sense of humor once</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">r</span></span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">eceived a four-inch-manual from Capitals head coach </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Tom McVie</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">, telling him how to get into condition. Bailey used the manual to prop up a beer keg in his bar. On the first day of training camp, according to the</span></span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">San Francisco Chronicle</span></span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, Bailey beat several other players in a footrace, and McVie said approvingly, "Ace, I can see you used your book this summer." Bailey replied, "Coach, I used it every day."</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Another story relates how McVie once scheduled a practice for the squad at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. As the sleepy players arrived in their hotel lobby, Bailey, impersonating McVie, had already called and cancelled the bus scheduled to take them to the rink, which eventually led to the cancellation of the practice and some much needed additional sleep for the team.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After one more season in Washington, his fourth, Bailey's career would come full circle, as he would return to the scene of his junior hockey roots in Edmonton, this time with the Oilers of the WHA for 38 games where he would become a roommate and mentor a young </span><a href="http://gretzkyfacts.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wayne Gretzky</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, becoming one of the few players to play with both Orr and Gretzky.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">His playing days concluded with seven games with the CHL's Houston Apollos in 1979-80, before retiring to become their head coach, and a single game with the Wichita Wind of the CHL (while he was their head coach) in 1980-81.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">His final NHL totals were 568 games played, 107 goals and 171 assists for 278 points.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Beginning in 1981, he worked as a scout for the Oilers from 1981 to 1994 and win five Stanley Cup rings during the Oilers dynasty from 1984 to 1990, which included his name engraved on the cup three of those times.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=BaileyGretzkyCup.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Bailey Gretzky Stanley Cup" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/BaileyGretzkyCup.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sadly, while working as the director of pro scouting for the Los Angeles Kings, Bailey was a passenger on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_175" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">United Airlines Flight 175</span></a> which was crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, killing all on board. The </span><a href="http://www.acebailey.org/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ace Bailey Children's Foundation</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> was established in his memory. To make a donation, simply follow </span><a href="http://www.acebailey.org/acebailey_donate.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">this link</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today's featured jersey is a </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1978-79 Edmonton Oilers "Ace" Bailey jersey</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> as worn during Bailey's only WHA season. The Oilers adopted this style jersey during their third WHA season of 1974-75 and used this version of the logo with the blue lettering on an orange background through their final WHA season of 1978-79. When the Oilers joined the NHL the following season, the logos on both the home and road jerseys were changed to blue letters on a white background, a higher contrast and much more pleasing combination.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=1978-79EdmontonOilersF.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="1978-79 Edmonton Oilers jersey" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/1978-79EdmontonOilersF.jpg" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=1978-79EdmontonOilersB.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="1978-79 Edmonton Oilers jersey" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/1978-79EdmontonOilersB.jpg" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bonus Jersey:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Today's bonus jersey is a </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Koho 2001-02 Los Angeles Kings Glen Murray jersey</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, which features the "AM" patch in memory of Ace Bailey and Mark Bavis, a fellow scout with the Kings who was also killed on board Flight 175 with Bailey. The jersey also is adorned with the 2002 NHL All-Star Game which was hosted by the Kings that season.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Kings introduced this purple jersey as an alternate style to their white home and black road jerseys in 1999 and wore it for three seasons. At the time, the all the home jerseys in the NHL were branded as CCM, while the dark and alternate jerseys carried the Koho brand and the practice jerseys were tagged Jofa, as all three brands were part of the same company.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Later, in time for the 2002-03 season, the Kings flipped logos on their jerseys, making the crown logo seen here, the new primary logo for both their white and black jerseys, where it remains in use today, while the purple alternate jersey began to use the coat of arms logo (seen here on the shoulders as a secondary logo) through 2006-07 prior to the purple jersey being discontinued with the change to the new Reebok Edge jerseys, which dictated the temporary elimination of alternate jerseys.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=2001-02LosAngelesKingsalt.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="2001-02 Los Angeles Kings alt" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/2001-02LosAngelesKingsalt.jpg" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our first video today is a look at the Ace Bailey Got Skills program, created in Bailey's memory.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yb-hY6lauUc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yb-hY6lauUc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our second video is from the Ace Bailey Children's Foundation.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a2oENsQLzWU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a2oENsQLzWU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Again, if you'd like to make a donation, simply click on the image below.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.acebailey.org/donations.aspx" target="_blank"></a></span><a href="http://www.acebailey.org/acebailey_donate.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Ace Bailey Children's Foundation logo" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/AceBaileyChildrensFoundationlogo.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-63312199044070209412018-08-07T16:00:00.001-05:002018-08-07T16:05:21.718-05:001960-61 Chicago Black Hawks Stan Mikita Jersey<b>Stan Mikita's</b> story is unlike probably any other player in the long history of the NHL. Born <b>Stanislaus</b> <b>Gouth</b> in Sokolce, Czechoslovakia on May 20, 1940, Mikita's family, fearing the political changes in the late 1940's as the Soviet Union's influence over Eastern Europe grew, sent the eight-year-old Stan, who was unfamiliar with hockey, to live with relatives in Canada just as the Iron Curtain closed and he took the family name Mikita of his aunt.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/IronCurtainmap.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt="The Iron Curtain photo IronCurtainmap.png" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/IronCurtainmap.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A map showing Czechoslovakia behind the Iron Curtain</span></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Hockey was the biggest help in making the adjustment to a new life," Mikita recalled. "I was sitting on the front porch, and eventually I got enough nerve to go down onto the sidewalk to watch. One day they were short a guy, so they motioned for me to come and join them."</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"I had no idea how to play hockey, so the first time a guy went around me, I chopped his legs out from under him. I didn't understand a word of English, but one of the older fellows told me, in sign language, "No, we don't play hockey like that." He showed me how to hold the stick and stickhandle. That was my introduction to hockey </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> where I learned the English language. Needless to say, my vocabulary was limited and included quite a few cusswords."</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He made his NHL debut with the Black Hawks in 1958-59 season, becoming the first ever Czechoslovakian-born player in NHL history and scoring his first point and the first of many penalty minutes. He would become a regular the following season, appearing in 67 games, scoring his first NHL goal and racking up 119 penalty minutes, as he employed a rough and feisty style in part due to his smaller size.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"I hadn't completely eliminated the language factor, and kids made fun of me. That made me determined to be better than those kids as a hockey player, but I was also in a lot of scraps. When I got to the NHL in 1959, I was still fighting. My first left-winger was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Ted Lindsay</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, who, at 5 foot 8 inches and 152 pounds, was about my size. I asked Teddy, "You've played 16 years in the league. How did you ever survive?" He answered, "Hit 'em first." I followed that advice and made sure everyone knew that I was tough enough for the NHL," said Mikita.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/MikitaRookiecard.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Stan Mikita rookie card photo MikitaRookiecard.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/MikitaRookiecard.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Stan Mikita rookie card from 1960</span></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mikita would improve his game in 1960-61, more than doubling his goal total to 19 and nearly doubling his assist total to 34 for a 27 point increase in points to 53 in 66 games along with another 100 penalty minutes. Following the regular season, he led all goal scorers with six and helped the Black Hawks win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1938.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/1960-61ChicagoBlackhawksteam.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1960-61 Chicago Blackhawks team photo 1960-61ChicagoBlackhawksteam.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/1960-61ChicagoBlackhawksteam.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 1960-61 Stanley Cup champion Chicago Black Hawks</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Another leap in production in 1961-62 saw him in the 20's for goals scored with 25 and 52 assists for 77 points, tied for third overall in the league with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Gordie Howe</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>,</b> seven behind Chicago teammate </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Bobby Hull</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. While the Black Hawks would not repeat as champions, Mikita had 21 points in 12 playoff games as the Black Hawks again made it to the finals.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After another 76 point season, Mikita would capture his first </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Ross_Trophy"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Art Ross Trophy</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in 1963-64, leading the league in scoring with a career high 89 points on 39 goals and 50 assists, along with 146 penalty minutes, third overall and just 5 behind the league leader.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mikita would again lead the league in scoring in 1964-65 with 87 points and 154 penalty minutes plus 10 more points in 14 playoff games as they again reached the finals.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then an amazing thing happened. Mikita returned home from a road trip and his wife told him that their daughter was watching the last road game on TV and asked "Mommy, why does Daddy spend so much time sitting down?" It was at that point that Mikita thought about how to explain to a three-year-old how her father took a penalty he shouldn't have and was being punished for it. He also figured out where his penalty minutes were coming from and made a conscious decision to eliminate "lazy" penalties such as holding, hooking and tripping, as well as his misconduct penalties and began to play a different style of hockey and keep quiet with the referees.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The results were dramatic.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1965-66 saw a drop in penalty minutes to 58, yet he still managed 78 points, second overall.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mikita's reinvention</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of his style continued in 1966-67 as he scored 35 goals and 62 assists tying the single season league record of 97 points to capture his third Art Ross Trophy, yet even more surprising was his mere </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">12 penalty minutes</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, 142 less than just two seasons prior, which earned him the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Byng_Trophy"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lady Byng Award</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Had you suggested such a thing was even possible the first six seasons of his career, you would have been laughed at. Mikita is fond of saying, "I realized that you need an awfully long stick to score from the penalty box." The scoring title, along with reinventing his style in play, resulted in Mikita winning the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hart_Trophy"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hart Trophy</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> as well, the first player to ever win all three trophies in a single season.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande"; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/StanMikitatrophies.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mikita poses with his record setting trio of trophies in 1967</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He would repeat the triple trophy feat in 1967-68 with a career high 40 goals, 47 assists for 87 points and just 14 penalty minutes and be named the winner of the Lady Byng, Hart and Art Ross trophies his fourth scoring title in five years.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Although his point total increased the following season to 97, tying his career best, he would finish fourth in the scoring race. The next six seasons Mikita's consistent production saw him average 78 points per season, with none lower than 65. During that time period the Black Hawks would make it to the finals in 1970-71 (18 points in 18 games) and 1972-73 (20 points in 15 games).</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was just prior to the 1972-73 season that Mikita would have a homecoming while part of Team Canada. After completing the grueling Summit Series against the Soviet Union, Team Canada travelled to Prague to play the Czechoslovakian National Team. Mikita was named team captain for the contest, which was the first time he was able to play in front of his parents and siblings. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"The welcome I received from the crowd was the proudest moment in my life," said Mikita.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/MikitaTeamCanada.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo MikitaTeamCanada.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/MikitaTeamCanada.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mikita as a member of Team Canada in 1972</span></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
During the 1973-74 season, Mikita played in his 1,000th career game in a 5-3 win over the Minnesota North Stars on December 9, 1973. In doing so, Mikita became only the third player to appear in 1,000 games with Chicago. Additionally, on the same date in 1978, Mikita became only the second player in NHL history to register 900 career assists in a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">His production would drop from the 80's to the high 50's, partly due to back problems which would eventually cause him to retire in 1980 as the second highest career scoring leader in NHL history, behind only Howe, with 1,467 points from 541 goals and 926 assists in 1,394 games, the 7th most in league history at the time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">His games, assists and points were all Black Hawks records and he would finish his career with 4 Art Ross Trophies, 2 Hart Trophies and 2 Lady Byng Trophies. In addition to his trophy collection, Mikita would appear in nine NHL All-Star Games - 1964, 1967-1969 and 1971 through 1975.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/HoweMikitaampHull-1967ASG.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Howe, Mikita & Hull-1967 ASG photo HoweMikitaampHull-1967ASG.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/HoweMikitaampHull-1967ASG.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mikita played on a line with Howe and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hull in the 1967 All-Star Game</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Slovak Hall of Fame in 2002.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In addition to all his scoring exploits, Mikita was also an innovator of hockey equipment, both intentional in unintentional. Following a concussion in 1972-73, Mikita began wearing a helmet designed especially for him with it's distinctive round crown and even put it into production for others to purchase.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande"; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/MiktaHelmet.jpg" /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mikita wearing the Northland Dome helmet</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Having even more of an impact on how the game is played, Mikita is credited with the innovation of the curved stick blade in the early 1960's.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"My invention of the curved stick came by accident. One day, I cracked my stick in practice, forming an angle in the blade. I was tired and angry at the thought of climbing the 21 stairs to the dressing room to get another stick. I fired a puck in frustration, and the way it left my stick and the sound it made against the boards caught my attention. Before the stick finally broke, I had taken a half a dozen shots, and each time, it was the same."</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"After that, I intentionally bent my stick. I broke a lot before I figured out how to make the wood pliable with heat and soaking. I experimented in practice for a month or two before I used a curved blade in a game."</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande" , serif; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/MikitaCurvedStick.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Handyman Mikita ushering in the curved stick era</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The curve gave the puck a fluttering path like a baseball knuckleball, moving unexpectedly. Once put into use by Mikita and teammate Bobby Hull, and combined with Hull's notoriously hard slapshot, the curved stick blade quickly became adapted league wide and by 1963 rules were put in place to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">limit the amount</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of the curvature to lessen the effect.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Apparently not everyone agrees with this rule...</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/m-iberZsyWE?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today's featured jersey is a</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></b><b>1960-61 Chicago Black Hawks Stan Mikita jersey</b> from the early days of his career. This sweater has the trappings of a 1950's style with the lace-up collar, one color numbers and no name on the back. This was the first variation where the secondary logo of the C with the crossed tomahawks were above the sleeve numbers rather than overlapping the arm stripes and below the sleeve numbers.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This indian head logo sweater, so revered today and often topping Best Jersey Lists, came into being in the 1955-56 season, replacing the previous style which had a small indian head of a different design contained in a circle logo. The 1955-56 version had no sleeve numbers and a slightly different main crest design before the logo changed to today's more familiar version and sleeve numbers were added in 1957-58. Note today's jersey has two sleeve stripes and long black cuffs, which were changed to three stripes to match the waist striping for the 1963-64 season.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/ChicagoBlackHawks1959-60Fjersey.jpg.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Chicago Black Hawks 1959-60 jersey photo
ChicagoBlackHawks1959-60Fjersey.jpg.png" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/ChicagoBlackHawks1959-60Fjersey.jpg.png" /></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/ChicagoBlackHawks1959-60Bjersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Chicago Black Hawks 1959-60 jersey photo
ChicagoBlackHawks1959-60Bjersey.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/ChicagoBlackHawks1959-60Bjersey.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<b>Bonus jersey:</b> Today's bonus jersey is a <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1973-74 Chicago Black Hawks Stan Mikita jersey</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> from the season in which he played his 1,000th game. This was the first season that the Black Hawks numbers were two colors, previously being one color white numbers. The Black Hawks would not being using names on the back of their jerseys until 1977.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande"; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/BlackhawksMikita73-74.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
We hope you have some time on your hands today, as we mine a rich vein of video about Stan Mikita and his lengthy career.</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">First up, highlights of the 1961 Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 where Mikita assisted on the game winning goal, the first Stanley Cup won by the Black Hawks in 38 years and the only one of Mikita's career.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sB-csuX0GBk?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here is an interview with Mikita who discusses the creation of the helmet he wore and the incident that led to the development of the curved stick and gives you a glimpse of his self-depreciating sense of humor.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/geb_91x9CGc?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Next is a nice career retrospective on Mikita.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dkurOuIwW6M?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In one of the nicer stories in hockey of the last few seasons, here is Mikita talking about rejoining the Chicago Blackhawks family as an ambassador for the team followed by the long overdue Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita Night.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/94dESRTkj-o?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/r1taWZYQ2vw?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For further viewing, this two part profile of Mikita from 1995 is also recommended. </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q36-zNmh2AA" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Part One</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXLN6gaZJgQ" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Part Two</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Finally, for fan's of the movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne%27s_World_(film)" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Wayne's World</span></a>, no one should be without their own</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/kaptainmyke/works/8919511-stan-mikita-donuts?p=classic-tee&rbs=97ce0c0f-c97d-4032-a0cd-fa90318fcd89" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Stan Mikita's Donuts</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> t-shirt.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande"; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/StanMikitasDonuts.jpg" /></span></span></div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-87892892046000712272018-02-20T05:00:00.000-06:002018-02-20T05:00:00.326-06:001903-04 Portage Lakes Hod Stuart Jersey<b> William Hodgson "Hod" Stuart</b> was born on this date in Ottawa, Ontario in 1879. His first senior level team was the Rat Portage Thistles in 1895-96. He joined the Ottawa Hockey Club (later known as the Silver Seven and then the Senators) of the Canadian Amateur Hockey League for the 1898-99 season for three games. A cover-point (later known as the more familiar term of a defenseman), Stuart played in 3 games, scoring one goal for Ottawa while his brother <b>Bruce Stuart</b> played in one game for the team.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/32212113603/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="1899 Ottawa Hockey Club team"><img alt="1899 Ottawa Hockey Club team" height="324" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/682/32212113603_33a056d78d.jpg" width="425" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 1898-99 Ottawa Hockey Club</span></div>
<br />
Stuart returned to Ottawa HC for the 1899-00 season and was named the team captain. He played in seven of the team's eight games, scoring 5 goals, as he was not afraid to join the offense from his defensive role.<br />
<br />
As hockey was still a purely amateur sport in those days, Stuart moved to Quebec when he was able to land a job there though his father's business contacts. The change in location led to him joining the Quebec Bulldogs, also of the CAHL, for the 1900-01 season and his brother Bruce did the same. Again, he played in seven of the club's eight games, scoring twice.<br />
<br />
He returned for a second season with the Bulldogs in 1901-02, scoring 5 times in 8 games.<br />
<br />
As professionalism started to come into the game, Stuart was signed for the princely sum of $15-$20 per week for the 1902-03 season by the Pittsburgh Bankers of the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League in the United States, in addition to his income from his day job in Pittsburgh. In 13 games, Stuart scored 7 goals and 8 assists with 29 penalty minutes as the Bankers finished first in the four team league with a 10-3-1 record. Stuart was named the best cover-point in the league.<br />
<br />
After one season in Pittsburgh, Stuart moved further west with his brother Bruce to join the professional Portage Lakes Hockey Club in Northern Michigan for the 1903-04 season. The club was not part of any league that season and played a schedule of 14 exhibition games, with Stuart scoring 13 goals while Bruce had an astonishing 44!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/33027147165/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="1903-04 Portage Lakes Hockey Club team"><img alt="1903-04 Portage Lakes Hockey Club team" height="313" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3854/33027147165_023133139f.jpg" width="425" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 1903-04 Portage Lakes Hockey Club</span></div>
<br />
For the 1905-06 season, the American Soo Indians and Canadian Sault were banned from competing in the amateur Ontario Hockey Association after having played against the professionals from Portage Lakes. The solution was the formation of a new, professional league, which consisted of five teams, which was dubbed the International Hockey League.<br />
<br />
Stuart was given $1,800 to play for the Calumet Miners as well as manage their rink for the season. While Hod changed teams, Bruce remained with Portage Lakes for the next three seasons.<br />
<br />
Stuart scored 18 goals in 22 games for the Miners, who won the league championship with a 18-5-1 record, as he was named the best cover-point in the league.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/32212113393/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="1904-05 Calumet-Laurium_Miners"><img alt="1904-05 Calumet-Laurium_Miners" height="318" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/639/32212113393_c8e01c04fa.jpg" width="425" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 1904-05 Calumet Miners Hockey Club</span></div>
<br />
On December 11, 1905, Stuart was suspended from the league after other teams complained he had won too many championships and was too rough a player. He was reinstated on December 30th and joined the Pittsburgh Professionals for the remainder of their season, scoring 11 times in 20 games. After Pittsburgh completed their schedule, Stuart suited up for one additional game for Calumet.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/32212113713/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="1905-06_Pittsburgh_Bankers"><img alt="1905-06_Pittsburgh_Bankers" height="332" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3954/32212113713_44671e6713.jpg" width="425" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 1905-06 Pittsburgh Professionals</span></div>
<br />
Stuart began the 1906-07 season with Pittsburgh in the IPHL, but after 4 games with a goal and 3 assists, he grew increasingly frustrated with the violence and refereeing in the league and went so far as to have a letter critical of the league and its officiating. Shortly afterwards, the Pittsburgh players refused to play a game against the Michigan Soo due to the choice of referee. The club's management felt that Stuart was the instigator of the boycott and released him from the club.<br />
<br />
Having heard earlier that the Montreal Wanderers of the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association were not only interested in his services, but willing to make hm the highest paid player in hockey, signed with the Wanderers and made his debut on January 2, 1907 in front of 6,069 fans. He would eventually play in 8 of the Wanderers 10 regular season games, scoring 3 times and was one of only four professionals to play for the club that season. With Montreal, he was once again reunited with Bruce, who also played 3 regular season and 3 Stanley Cup games with the Wanderers that season.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/32541799956/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Stuart Montreal Wanderers"><img alt="Stuart Montreal Wanderers" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/311/32541799956_52c11248e3.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stuart joined the Montreal Wanderers after his release from Pittsburgh </span></div>
<br />
If Stuart was unhappy with the level of violence in the IPHL, he certainly was not pleased with the events of January 12th, when the Ottawa Senators repeatedly battered the Wanderers players with their sticks, with <b>Charles Spittal's</b> attack on <b>Cecil Blanchford</b> later being described at "attempting to split his skull", while the Senators <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2015/03/1897-ottawa-hockey-club-alf-smith-jersey.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Alf Smith</span></a> hit Stuart "across the temple, laying him out like a corpse", while <b>Harry Smith</b> broke <b>Ernie Johnson's</b> face, breaking his nose. Reports of the game commended Stuart, stating that he neither flinched or retaliated, even after bearing most of the hits.<br />
<br />
At a special league meeting, the Montreal Victorias proposed suspending Spittal and Alf Smith for the rest of the season, which was voted down and eventually led to the league president <b>Fred McRobie</b> resigning. When the Senators returned to Montreal, Spittal, Alf Smith and Harry Smith were all arrested, with Spittal and Alf Smith eventually paying $20 fines.<br />
<br />
On January 17th and 21st, the Wanderers faced a challenge for the Stanley Cup they had won the previous March. Kenora, the 1906 Manitoba champions, pulled off an upset, wresting the cup away from the Wanderers by winning 4-2 and 8-6.<br />
<br />
Afterwards, the Wanderers focused on their ECAHA schedule, and racked up win after win, eventually finishing the season as league champions after a perfect 10-0 undefeated season with Stuart contributing 3 goals in eight games.<br />
<br />
That championship earned them the right to a rematch with Kenora, which took place on March 23rd and 25th in Winnipeg. Montreal dominated the first game 7-2, and even though the Thistles won Game 2 by a score of 6-5, the Wanderers large margin of victory in the first game gave them ta 12-8 win in the two game, total goals series, giving Stuart a Stanley Cup championship.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/32212113263/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="1907 Montreal Wanderers team"><img alt="1907 Montreal Wanderers team" height="238" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2651/32212113263_2c2136e601.jpg" width="425" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 1906-07 Stanley Cup champion Montreal Wanderers</span></div>
<br />
In celebration of their championship, the Wanderers engraved the names of their entire roster inside the bowl of the Stanley Cup, the first winning team to do so in what is now and annual tradition.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/32212113463/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="1907 Wanderers engraving"><img alt="1907 Wanderers engraving" height="446" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2479/32212113463_229ec0a2ec.jpg" width="425" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Wanderers started a tradition when they</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">engraved their entire roster into the Stanley Cup</span></div>
<br />
Tired of the violence in hockey, Stuart quit playing hockey after the Stanley Cup matches and joined his father in the construction business. As part of his duties, he was sent to Belleville, Ontario to oversee a construction project. On the afternoon of June 23, 1907, he went swimming with some friends and swam to a nearby lighthouse, climbed on a platform and dove onto some obscured rocks in
the shallow water and died instantly of a broken neck at the age of 28 just three months
after he and the Wanderers won the Stanley Cup in 1907.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/32459912251/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Hod Stuart Obit"><img alt="Hod Stuart Obit" height="371" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/646/32459912251_4c5f1cb9c2.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A newspaper account of Stuart's accident</span></div>
<br />
On January 2, 1908 (nine years before the
creation of the National Hockey League) an all-star benefit game was held as a benefit for the family of <b> </b>Stuart with the tickets sold out days in advance.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/32541800056/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Stuart Memorial Game"><img alt="Stuart Memorial Game" height="267" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/659/32541800056_579accf2e5.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An ad for the first All-Star Game,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a fundraiser for the family of Hod Stuart</span></div>
<div>
<br />
In
that first all-star game ever held in any sport, the Montreal Wanderers faced off against a team of
players from the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association with the game hosted at no charge by the Westmount Arena in
front of 3,800 fans, raising over $2,100 for his widow and two children.<br />
<br />
The
Wanderers led 7-1 after the first half of the contest, but the
All-Stars, which consisted of players from the Ottawa Senators, Montreal
Victorias, Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, Montreal Shamrocks
and Quebec Bulldogs, fought back to make it a game, but the Wanderers
prevailed by a final score of 10-7.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/33027147015/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Hod Stuart Memorial Game article"><img alt="Hod Stuart Memorial Game article" height="349" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/779/33027147015_572f20c2ea.jpg" width="350" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A newspaper account of the Hod Stuart Memorial Game</span></div>
<br />
Stuart was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945, one of the original nine honored members of the inaugural class along with <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2015/01/1911-12-princeton-tigers-hobey-baker.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Hobey Baker</span></a>, <b>Charlie Gardiner</b>, <b>Eddie Gerard</b>, <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2016/01/1905-ottawa-silver-seven-frank-mcgee.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Frank McGee</span></a>, <b>Howie Morenz</b>, <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2015/05/1907-kenora-thistles-tommy-phillips.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Tommy Phillips</span></a>, <b>Harvey Pulford</b> and <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2015/04/1910-11-montreal-canadiens-georges.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Georges Vezina</span></a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/32212113233/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Hod Stuart autograph"><img alt="Hod Stuart autograph" height="160" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3741/32212113233_3141bf5bfb.jpg" width="425" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div>
<br />
Today's featured jersey is a <b>1903-04 Portage Lakes Hockey Club Hod Stuart jersey</b><span data-offset-key="2rsi9-0-0"><span data-text="true">. The Portage Lakes Hockey Club was founded back in 1899 and began to pay its players in 1902. They introduced their winged logo for the 1902-03 season with sweaters that had <a href="https://flic.kr/p/R5w2iD" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">white shoulders</span></a> and turtleneck collar. For the following season they sweaters became a solid color and remained so through their final season of 1906-07 when the IPHL folded and the Portage Lakes club along with it. We have seen a single mention that the team's sweaters were green, but cannot be certain of this.</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="2rsi9-0-0"><span data-text="true"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="2rsi9-0-0"><span data-text="true">Noteworthy players enticed by the lure of being paid to play hockey who suited up for Portage Lakes at times included Hall of Famers <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2012/05/1913-14-quebec-bulldogs-joe-hall-jersey.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">"Bad" Joe Hall</span></a>, <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2016/12/1911-12-montreal-wanderers-riley-hern.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Riley Hern</span></a>, Bruce Stuart, Hod Stuart and </span></span><span data-offset-key="2rsi9-0-0"><span data-text="true"><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2014/06/1905-06-portage-lake-hockey-club.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Fred "Cyclone" Taylor</span></a>.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/32212113823/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Stuart Portage Lakes"><img alt="Stuart Portage Lakes" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2662/32212113823_6fc0e88daa.jpg" width="300" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-53069278364577048292018-02-19T05:00:00.002-06:002018-03-04T10:58:08.201-06:00President's Day - 1976-77 Hyannisport Presidents Nick Brophy JerseyWith today being <b>President's Day</b> in the United States, we felt it was an appropriate time to take a look at hockey teams named Presidents.<br />
<br />
The first such team actually began life as the Washington Lions of the Eastern Hockey League in the 1951-52 season, replacing a previous American Hockey League team of the same name who left Washington DC after the 1948-49 season. The EHL Lions had a extremely tough time their first season, withdrawing from the league due to poor attendance on January 15, 1952 after 36 of a scheduled 68 games with a 9-24-3 record.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/32314539004/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Washington Lions 1951-52 program"><img alt="Washington Lions 1951-52 program" height="391" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/777/32314539004_14e38fe120.jpg" width="300" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Washington Lions inaugural season program</span></div>
<br />
The Lions returned to try again in 1952-53 and not only played the entire season, but were able to make the playoffs after finishing fourth out of five with a 26-31-3 record which was followed by a first round playoff exit.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/33003346552/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Washington Lions 1952-53 program"><img alt="Washington Lions 1952-53 program" height="389" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3713/33003346552_3334328133.jpg" width="300" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Lions re-colored their program cover for 1952-53</span></div>
<br />
Down to just five teams in 1952-53, the entire EHL did not operate during the 1953-54 season. When the league returned in 1954-55, Washington finished first overall with a 26-21-2 record and then defeated the New Haven Blades 3-1 before sweeping the Baltimore Clippers in four to win the EHL championship.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/32314538974/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="WashingtonLionsEHLChamps1954-55"><img alt="WashingtonLionsEHLChamps1954-55" height="310" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/582/32314538974_40f34ae796.jpg" width="425" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 1954-55 Washington Lions brought the city its first championship</span></div>
<br />
They finished mid-pack in 1955-56 at 33-28-3 and were led by <b>Fern Lapointe's</b> 92 points but were a first round playoff exit. The Lions plummeted to last place in 1956-57, winning just 18 times out of 64 tries.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/33032168681/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Washington Lions 1955-56 program"><img alt="Washington Lions 1955-56 program" height="403" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/733/33032168681_905fd17e09.jpg" width="300" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The franchise's final season with the Lions moniker came in 1956-57</span></div>
<br />
For the 1957-58 season, the club changed its name to the <b>Washington Presidents</b>. They were led in scoring by <b>Wally Kullman</b>, the only player on the team to average more than a point per game with 26 goals and 63 points, playing in 60 of the team's 64 games. The club finished second in the regular season with a 38-24-4 record for 76 points, just one back of the Charlotte Clippers. They defeated the Johnstown Jets 4-2 and then outlasted the Clippers in a full seven game final to win the 1958 EHL championship after their first season as the Presidents.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/33003346432/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Washington Presidents 1957-58 program"><img alt="Washington Presidents 1957-58
program" height="389" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3816/33003346432_dcb6834e01.jpg" width="300" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The team was rechristened the Presidents in 1957 </span></div>
<br />
Kullman again led the team in 1958-59, only in much more dominant fashion, with 41 goals and 56 assists for 97 points, far ahead of his next closest teammate with 69. While Kullman's 97 points were good for third in the league, the team finished fifth out of six and out of the playoffs at 29-35.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/33032168561/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Washington Presidents 1958-59 program"><img alt="Washington Presidents 1958-59 program" height="454" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2905/33032168561_ab820dcc4e.jpg" width="300" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A 1958-59 Washington Presidents program</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with some very bold graphics for <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">its day</span></span></div>
<br />
The 1959-60 Presidents were led by <b>Ken Davies</b>' 65 points and <b>Dan Patrick's </b>64. The team once again missed the playoffs after finishing last in the Southern Division with 25 wins, 35 losses and 5 ties.<br />
<br />
This would prove to be the final season of the Presidents, as the club folded after eight seasons due to financial difficulties. Washington D.C. would be without hockey for 14 seasons until the arrival of the Washington Capitals of the NHL for the 1974-75 season.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/33003346322/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Washington Presidents 1959-60 program"><img alt="Washington Presidents 1959-60 program" height="388" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/602/33003346322_03b4827a65.jpg" width="300" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Presidents final season program cover</span></div>
<br />
The best known team to be called the Presidents would be the <b>Hyannisport Presidents</b> of the fictional Federal League from the 1977 movie Slap Shot starring <b>Paul Newman</b>. The Presidents appear in the movie's first game action, where center <b>Nick Brophy</b> confesses to the Charlestown Chiefs player/coach <b>Reg Dunlop</b> that he is drunk, his wife left him and "if anyone throws me against the boards, I'm going to piss all over myself."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/32314733424/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Brophy and Dunlop"><img alt="Brophy and Dunlop" height="253" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/730/32314733424_9db360083d.jpg" width="425" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brophy confesses to Dunlop that he is playing drunk</span></div>
<br />
Once the Chiefs players realize Brophy is plastered, the Chiefs leading scorer <b>Ned Braden</b>,
checks him into the boards and warns him to "Get off the ice. You're
going to kill yourself." Brophy, having been checked, does indeed wet
himself and slinks off the ice, hoping no one has noticed his
predicament.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/q5TU0QhczPY" width="425"></iframe><br /></div>
<br />
Later in the film, with the Chiefs playing much better having added the notorious Hanson Brothers to the roster, travel to Hyannisport. An incensed Presidents fan hurls a set of keys at <b>Jeff Hanson</b>, which prompts the brothers to invade the stands, looking for retaliation as the Presidents look on.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/33003561132/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Hyannipsort Presidents home jersey"><img alt="Hyannipsort Presidents home jersey" height="250" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/751/33003561132_948fee3919.jpg" width="425" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brophy and t</span>he Hyannisport Presidents look on as the Hansons invade the stands</span></div>
<br />
A melee breaks out as the most of the Chiefs follow close behind. In the end, the Hanson's need to be bailed out of the Hyannisport jail before the Chiefs can return home to Charlestown.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/PQRSyhLKue8" width="425"></iframe></div>
<br />
Of note, the actual Hyannis Port, Massachusetts is two words, but in
the film, the team is referred to as the single word "Hyannisport" on
scoreboards and the town's welcome sign in the film.<br />
<br />
Perhaps the most famous Presidents' alumni is #7 <b>Bruce Boudreau</b>, who was with the real life Johnstown Jets at the time of the filming of Slap Shot. Cast as one of the Presidents in the movie, he would later go on to play 30 games in the WHA, 141 in the NHL, 30 in Germany, 145 in the CHL, 240 in the IHL and 634 in the AHL scoring 574 goals. He would later go on to become head coach of the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks and currently the Minnesota Wild.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/33160029565/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Boudreau Presidents"><img alt="Boudreau Presidents" height="452" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2814/33160029565_d7811e86a6.jpg" width="350" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Hyannisport Presidents Bruce Boudreau</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Today's featured jersey is a <b>1976-77 Hyannisport Presidents Nick Brophy jersey</b>. The Presidents jerseys may look familiar to those with a keen eye for history, as the striping template and coloring for their jerseys is that used by the Minnesota North Stars from 1968-69 through 1974-75.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/33003561062/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Hyannisport Presidents 1976-77 jersey"><img alt="Hyannisport Presidents 1976-77 jersey" height="373" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/718/33003561062_bf91582e1a.jpg" width="425" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Also in honor of President's Day, a few extra photos of Presidents enjoying their hockey!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/32776987440/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Washington Nationals Presidents"><img alt="Washington Nationals Presidents" height="315" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3764/32776987440_e362e4dc51.jpg" width="425" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Washington National baseball club President mascots,<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>Teddy<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>Roosevelt,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln take to th<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e ice</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/33003407802/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="George Washington USA Hockey"><img alt="George Washington USA Hockey" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3712/33003407802_1fb48c6089.jpg" width="334" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">George Washington in his 2010 USA Olympic jersey</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The annual tradition of the NHL Stanley Cup champion visiting the White House began in 1991 when <b>Mario Lemieux</b> and the Pittsburgh Penguins met with <b>George H. W. Bush</b>, which even merited its own hockey card from Upper Deck.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30289779@N05/33005067332/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="George Bush 1991 Pittsburgh Penguins Mario Lemieux"><img alt="George Bush 1991 Pittsburgh Penguins Mario Lemieux" height="302" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3854/33005067332_816c6e6603.jpg" width="425" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<br />
Here is a fun article about the <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/stanley-cups-most-memorable-white-house-moments/c-282417362" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Stanley Cup's most memorable White House moments</span></a>.<br />
<br />
In today's video section, President Obama welcomes the Pittsburgh Penguins, the eighth and final team he hosted at the White House, which included several humorous moments and plenty of impressive hockey insights.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/wZRgRDfJ_WI" width="425"></iframe><br /></div>
</div>
</div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-62764006500752253162018-01-14T05:00:00.001-06:002018-01-14T08:12:02.985-06:001972 Soviet Union National Team Valeri Kharlamov Jersey<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Considered to be one of the greatest players the game has ever seen, </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Valeri Kharlamov</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of the Soviet Union was born on this date in 1948. He joined the Central Red Army club in the Soviet Elite League in 1967-68 and scored two goals in 15 games as a rookie.</span><br />
<div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=ValeriKharlamovCCCP.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Valeri Kharlamov" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/ValeriKharlamovCCCP.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Soviet hockey legend Valeri Kharlamov</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Having got his feet wet the season before, Kharlamov made no secret of his prodigious talent the following season when he increased his goal scoring to 37 goals in 42 games of the shorter Soviet League season. Following the season he would make the first of his 11 consecutive World Championship appearances and contributed 13 points in ten games on his way to the first gold medal of his illustrious international career.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In the 1969-70 season Kharlamov averaged a goal per game while playing in 33 contests for Central Red Army in a season which concluded with the first of four consecutive Soviet League championships. He followed that with ten points in nine games on his way to another World Championship gold medal.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kharlamov won the Soviet League goal scoring title in 1970-71 with a career highs with 40 goals and 52 points in 34 games. He earned his first World Championship All-Star selection when he tallied 17 points in ten games as he was awarded his third consecutive World Championship gold medal, the dominant Soviet Union's 9th in a row.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He one-upped himself by capturing the Soviet League points scoring title in 1971-72, albeit with a lower personal point total that the previous season, with 40 points and was named the Soviet League MVP for the first time. That was not the highlight of Kharlamov's season however, as he introduced himself to the world as he led the Soviet Union to the gold medal at the 1972 Olympic Games in Sapporo, Japan where his 15 points in just five games led all scorers by six points as the world got their first real glimpse of his superior skating and playmaking abilities. Later that spring he was again named to the World Championship All-Star team, but had to settle for the silver medal for the first time.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In case anyone missed his performance in the Olympics, Kharlamov became a true star of international hockey with his performance in the fabled 1972 Summit Series when the best that the Soviet Union had to offer took on an All-Star team of Canadian professionals for the first time ever. While many in Canada assumed that their professional players would easily win all eight games of the series, Kharlamov led the Soviets with two goals in their stunning Game 1 upset of Team Canada on home ice in Montreal. While Canada led by two six minutes in, the Soviets quickly turned the tide, evening the score before the period ended and began to pull away with Kharlamov's two goals in the second on their way to a 7-3 win.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=MikhailovPetrovKharlamov.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Mikhailov Petrov Kharlamov" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/MikhailovPetrovKharlamov.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">First teamed together in 1968, the line of Boris Mikhailov, Vladimir Petrov and Valeri Kharlamov, dominated international hockey throughout the 1970's</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After losing Game 2, Kharlamov contributed another goal in their 4-4 tie in Game 3. After the Soviets 5-3 win in Game 4 in Canada, the series shifted to Moscow in the Soviet Union. When the Soviets came from behind 4-1 to win Game 5, Bobby Clarke of Canada deliberately broke Kharlamov's ankle in Game 6 which enabled the Canadians to stage a comeback and eventually win the series in a dramatic Game 8.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A fourth Soviet League title came in 1972-73 as he scored 32 points in 27 games after recovering from his broken ankle. A return to World Championship gold was powered by an on-from Kharlamov as he racked up 23 points in ten games for the host Soviet Union.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The consecutive championship streak ended in the Soviet League in 1973-74 but the World Championship success continued with another gold in 1974.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Prior to the start of the next season, Kharlamov again participated for the Soviet Union in the 1974 Summit Series, where they took on a team of mainly Canadian professionals from the World Hockey Association, which the Soviets won with a 4-1-3 record. Kharlamov contributed seven points in the eight games.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Soviet League title returned to Central Red Army in 1974-75 as Kharlamov had a great season with 39 points in 31 games and yet another World Championship gold on the heels of 16 points in 9 games.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=Kharlamov.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Valeri Kharlamov" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/Kharlamov.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kharlamov on the attack<span style="color: #3333ff;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While his personal scoring level continued unchanged in 1975-76, Kharlamov had to unusually settle for silver in both the Soviet League and the World Championships. All was not lost however, as the Soviet Union dominated the 1976 Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria to win the second gold medal of Kharlamov's career. He would be one of four Soviet players to tie for the tournament scoring lead with ten points in five games, including his game winning goal in their final game against Czechoslovakia.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Of interest, it was during the Soviet League season that the Central Red Army club took a break from domestic competition and participated in the first Super Series of exhibition games in North America against teams from the NHL which included a win over the New York Rangers, the enthralling tie against Montreal on New Year's Eve, </span><a href="http://hockeyadventure.com/2007/08/11/the-greatest-tie-ever-montreal-versus-red-army-in-1975/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">called by many the greatest game of hockey ever played</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, another win, this time over the Boston Bruins and the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_Flyers-Red_Army_game" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">notorious game against the Philadelphia Flyers</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> when Kharlamov was targeted with an elbow to the head from the blind side which caused the Soviet coach to pull his team off the ice when to penalty was called. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That spring he was seriously injured in a car accident, which put his hockey career in jeopardy and cost him a chance to compete in the 1976 Canada Cup.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While Kharlamov was limited to 21 games because of recovery time from his injuries, the 1976-77 saw Central Red Army begin an era of dominance unlike any ever seen before with the first of 13 consecutive titles but the national team would fall to third place and the bronze medal at the World Championships.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kharlamov would have one of his best offensive seasons when he totaled 42 points in only 29 games during the 1977-78 domestic season and a new run of gold medals would begin at the 1978 World Championships, the first of five in a row for the Soviet Union.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He was in peak form in 1978-79, scoring 22 goals and 48 points in the Soviet League, his greatest number of points since 1971. He had another impressive tournament at the World Championships with 14 points in eight games as the Soviet Union won gold on home ice in Moscow. He also participated in the 1979 Challenge Cup for the Soviet Union in a three game series against a team of NHL All-Stars which took the place of the normal NHL All-Star Game that season, which the Soviets won two games to one with a decisive 6-0 victory on Game 3.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1979-80 was a memorable campaign for Kharlamov as he added 38 points in 42 games and another Soviet League title. In February of 1980, his chance at his third consecutive Olympic gold medal was derailed by the "Miracle on Ice" during which the Soviet Union was upset by the United States in an upset so great that the loss was ranked the #1 story of the century by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The Soviet Union eventually was awarded the silver medal with a 7-1 record. Of note, there were no World Championships held in 1980 due to the Olympic games.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A final Soviet League title for Kharlamov came in 1980-81 when he scored 25 points in 30 games. During his Soviet League career, Kharlamov scored 293 goals and 214 assists for 504 points in 436 games.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sadly, on August 17, 1981, Kharlamov was killed at the age of 33 due to injuries suffered in a car accident which also claimed the life of his wife Irina.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In 1998, Kharlamov was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame. 2005 saw him become only the second non-NHL player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, joining fellow Soviet player and teammate, goaltender </span><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2009/10/1972-soviet-union-vladislav-tretiak.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vladislav Tretiak</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. In 2008 he was selected as just one of six players to be named to the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team, honoring the best players in the 100 year history of the IIHF.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=IIHFAllCenturyTeam.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="IIHF All Century Team" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/IIHFAllCenturyTeam.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The IIHF Centennial All-Star Team announcement honoring Kharlamov, Tretiak, Slava Fetisov, Borje Salming, Wayne Gretzky and Sergei Makarov.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Other tributes to Kharlamov include a division of the top Russian professional hockey league, the KHL, being named after him, the the award for the top Russian player in the NHL each season being named the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharlamov_Trophy" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kharlamov Trophy</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and the championship team in the junior league in Russia for players aged 17-21, the Minor Hockey League, is awarded the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharlamov_Cup" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kharlamov Cup</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Additionally, Kharlamov's #17 has been retired by both the Central Red Army club and the Russia National Team.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=Kharlamov17.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Kharlamov #17" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/Kharlamov17.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kharlamov looking to score against Sweden</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In total, Kharlamov won 11 Soviet League titles, eight World Championship Gold medals and two Olympic gold medals as well as one Soviet League scoring title, seven Soviet League All-Star awards and two Soviet League MVP awards and is the all-time leading scorer in the Olympics for the Soviet Union with 35 points in 17 games.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today's featured jersey is a </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1972 Soviet Union National Team Valeri Kharlamov jersey </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">as worn in the 1972 Summit Series between the Soviet Union and Team Canada in which Kharlamov suffered a broken ankle after a deliberate slash in an effort to neutralize him.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Soviet National Team jerseys were generally quite spartan in appearance, using simple red jerseys with generally minimal striping and one color white names and numbers.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There were occasional dashes of flair, such as 1956's </span><a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/CCCPjerseys1956copy.png" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">chevron striping</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, their first use of red and white after debuting </span><a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/SovietUnion1954.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">in blue and white</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(!) in 1954, 1987's </span><a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/SovietUnion1986jersey.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">dual triangle look</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and the </span><a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/SovietUnion1981jersey.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">diamond trim</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> used on their jerseys in the late 70's and early 80's, such as those worn during the "Miracle on Ice". Just the </span><a href="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/SovietUnion1992F.png" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">addition of yellow trim</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in the late 1980's was a radical departure after 30 years of only red and white sweaters.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=SovietUnion1972F.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Soviet Union 1972 jersey" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/SovietUnion1972F.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=SovietUnion1972B.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Soviet Union 1972 jersey" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/SovietUnion1972B.jpg" /></a></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Bonus jersey: </b>Today's bonus jersey is a <b>1976 Soviet Union National Team </b><b><b>Valeri Kharlamov </b>jersey.</b> This simple jersey style severed the Soviets well for over a decade, having used it as far back as the 1964 Olympics, wearing it through the 1976 World Championships. By 1976 the numbers used on the back were quite bold and much more professionally executed than the thin, seemingly hand cut numbers in the quirky font used in the 1972 Summit Series.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Russia%20CCCP%201976%2017%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Soviet Union 1976 jersey photo Russia CCCP 1976 17 F.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Russia%20CCCP%201976%2017%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Russia%20CCCP%201976%2017%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Soviet Union 1976 jersey photo Russia CCCP 1976 17 B.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Russia%20CCCP%201976%2017%20B.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Bonus jacket: </b>Today's bonus jacket is a <b>1970's Soviet National Team Valeri Kharlamov jacket</b> as worn during the 1970's. Unusually, Kharlamov's name appears above the CCCP, which seems odd considering the entire philosophy of the team above the individual of the Soviet hockey system. Still, the arched name over his number 17 and the CCCP makes for a striking look for this great piece of seldom seen team gear.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Kharlamov%20jacket%20F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1970s Kharlamov jacket photo Kharlamov jacket F.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Kharlamov%20jacket%20F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202016/Kharlamov%20jacket%20B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="1970s Kharlamov jacket photo Kharlamov jacket B.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202016/Kharlamov%20jacket%20B.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today's video segment begins with this tribute to Kharlamov.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TDOZSdZjEzQ" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="425"></iframe></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This next video is about the dedication of a monument to Kharlamov in Moscow and includes several interviews with former teammates who speak about their recollections of playing with him.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m0-v49Wk1Q8" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="425"></iframe></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here is one more very well put together tribute video to Kharlamov, followed by his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TTzBIOWayEE" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="425"></iframe></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4wSFVeua-dY" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="425"></iframe></span></div>
</div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-45432161158679105912017-12-19T05:00:00.001-06:002017-12-19T06:36:01.710-06:00The 100th Anniversary of the NHL<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was on this date one hundred years ago in 1917 that the first games of the <b>National Hockey League</b> were played. The league was formed for one basic reason - for the owners to rid themselves of fellow team owner </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Eddie</b> <b>Livingstone</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">!</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Livingstone was the owner of the Toronto Shamrocks of the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">National Hockey Association</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Hockey_Association" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;">NHA</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">) and had a contentious relationship with his fellow owners, primarily </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Sam Lichtenhein</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of the Montreal Wanderers, with whom he often butted heads with. At one point, Lichtenhein even offered Livingstone $3,000 to abandon his team and walk away, but the cheeky Livingstone countered with a $5,000 offer for Lichtenhein to do the same!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Prior to the 1915-16 season, Livingstone purchased the Toronto Blueshirts, giving him both Toronto NHA franchises - and an unwelcome two votes in league matters. When </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Frank Patrick</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2011/12/1913-14-victoria-aristocrats-lester.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lester Patrick</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, owners of the Pacific Coast Hockey League (</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Coast_Hockey_Association" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;">PCHA</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">) Seattle Metropolitans raided the Blueshirts roster, Livingstone transferred Shamrocks players to the Blueshirts. The league seized the Shamrocks franchise from Livingstone, as had been demanded by the league only a week earlier, not wanting one owner with whom they did not get along with having two votes, when there was now nothing left for Livingstone to sell since the club had no players. It also angered the other owners that they were now a five team league, forcing one club to be idle each week and that road trips to Toronto would be for one game instead of the more economical two, as in the past.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In 1916-17, the <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2012/11/1916-17-toronto-228th-battalion-jersey.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">228th Battalion</span></a> of the Canadian Army formed a team in the six team NHA, taking the place of the Shamrocks. Unfortunately, the 228th received their orders to head overseas to join the fighting in World War I and had to withdraw from the league during the season. This gave the other four owners of the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Quebec Bulldogs and Ottawa Senators the opening they needed, and they held a meeting </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">without</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Livingstone and voted to suspend his remaining Blueshirts franchise with the excuse of wanting to keep the league with an even number of teams.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202015/1917-18%20228th%20Battalion%20Team.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 1917-18 228th Battalion Team.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202015/1917-18%20228th%20Battalion%20Team.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A rare shot of the 228th Battalion Hockey Team</span></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Livingstone field suit against the league as a result. The Blueshirts home rink, the Arena Gardens</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> were then given three weeks to separate itself from Livingstone by the NHA or the other owners would operate without a club in Toronto and thus the arena would lose its tenant. The feisty Livingstone of course refused to sell his club, and therefore, at their annual meeting in November, the NHA announced it was suspending league operations due to the difficulty of running a five team league and also blaming player shortages due to World War I.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/Mutual_Street_Arena_interior.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Mutual_Street_Arena_interior.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/Mutual_Street_Arena_interior.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Blueshirts home rink, the Arena Gardens</span></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A week later, all of the owners, minus Livingstone naturally, announced they had formed a brand new league, the National Hockey League (</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Hockey_League" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;">NHL</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">), which consisted of the Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Wanderers, the Ottawa Senators and the Quebec Bulldogs. The new league also claimed to have retained the contracts of the suspended Toronto Blueshirts players!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With the Quebec Bulldogs suspending operations due to financial difficulties before the new NHL could even begin the 1917-18 season, the Arena Gardens were awarded a temporary NHL franchise, managed by </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Charlie Querrie</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, making the fledgling NHL a four team league once again. The league also assigned the Blueshirts players on a lease basis to the temporary Toronto franchise. To further complicate matters, many of the players had signed contracts with both Livingstone </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> the Arena.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The season, and the league, would kick off on this date in 1917 when Toronto lost to the host Montreal Wanderers in front of 700 fans by a score of 10-9. The Wanderers <b>Dave Ritchie</b> scored the first goal in NHL history, while <b>Harry Hyland</b> had four goals to record the league's first hat trick in short order. In the day's other game, </span> the Ottawa Senators lost to the Montreal Canadiens 7-4 in Ottawa.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Canadiens would win the first half of the season to earn a spot in the postseason championship playoff, while the Wanderers opening night win would be their only one in the NHL, as they would cease operations following the fire that burned down their home, the Montreal Arena, on January 2nd after just six games of their schedule and the Wanderers at a dismal 1-5 record.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div>
Team owner Lichtenhein had already made a request from the other clubs to loan the Wanderers better players to field a more competitive team in hopes of attracting more fans, but when the plan was rejected by his fellow owners following the fire, and with his club dealing with the loss of their home arena, Lichtenhein disbanded the club on January 4, ending the Wanderers fourteen year history.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=MontrealArenafire1917-18.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Montreal Arena fire, Montreal Arena fire" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/MontrealArenafire1917-18.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">The aftermath of the Montreal Arena fire</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Toronto club had no official nickname, but the "Blueshirts" were successful on the ice, winning the second half of the season schedule and earned the right to play Montreal for the championship. Toronto was led by </span><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2010/12/1919-20-toronto-st-patricks-reg-noble.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Reg Noble</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, who scored 30 goals and 10 assists in 20 games for 40 points, third overall in the league behind the prolific </span><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2010/01/1912-13-quebec-bulldogs-joe-malone.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Joe Malone</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of the Canadiens who scored a spectacular 44 goals in just 20 games as part of his league leading point total. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Corbett Denneny</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Harry Cameron</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> also were standouts for Toronto, with 29 and 27 points respectively, for fifth and sixth in league scoring. Toronto's </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Harry "Hap" Holmes</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> came in second to </span><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2011/01/1924-25-montreal-canadiens-georges.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Georges Vezina</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of Montreal in the goaltending department with a goals against average of 4.80 in 16 games.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Toronto defeated the Canadiens for the league championship in a two games, total goals series 10-7, capturing the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Brien_Trophy" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">O'Brien Cup</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Toronto then faced off against the Vancouver Millionaires of the PCHA and won the Stanley Cup by 3 games to 2, causing Livingstone to again head to court to file suit for the revenue earned by "his" championship squad of players.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/TorontoArenascolorized.png" /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As a result of this lawsuit, the Arena Gardens formed a new company, the Toronto Arena Hockey Club Company, to own and run a hockey team separate from the Arena Gardens business in order to protect the Arena business from Livingstone's lawsuits. The NHL then awarded a "new" franchise to the Hockey Club Company. This club was officially named the Toronto Arenas and, not surprisingly, was stocked with the same players from the 1918 championship club. When his players were once again not returned to him for the 1918-19 season, Livingstone sued the Arena Gardens.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Once again, the players were uncertain who would prevail in the courts and covered their bases by signing contracts with both the Toronto Arena Hockey Club Company </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Livingstone.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Livingstone did prevail in the courts sometimes, but not always. Two rulings in his favor of $20,000 and later $100,000 sent the Arena Gardens into bankruptcy. Despite the company's legal wranglings at the time, the arena would </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_Street_Arena" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">continue to operate</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for 77 years until closing in 1989.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When the Toronto Arenas did take to the ice in the 1918-19 season as Stanley Cup Champions, they did not play like it. Forced to sell most of their star players due to mounting legal bills, the Arenas record for the season was 5 wins and 13 losses, attendance was low and several players left the team. Finally, the team wrote to the league requesting that the season be ended when each of the three clubs had reached 18 games played and then officially withdrew from the league. This left only the Canadiens and Senators to play for the championship of the NHL and the right to meet the Pacific Coast Hockey Association</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">champions for the Stanley Cup, which Montreal won 4 games to 1.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Meanwhile, Livingstone was busy was attempting to overthrow the NHA management, purchased the dormant Quebec Bulldogs franchise, and began an unsuccessful attempt to start a rival league, the Canadian Hockey Association and threatened to file an injunction to stop the NHL from operating. He also made unsuccessful attempts to start new leagues in 1920, 1924 and 1926, none of which ever played a single game.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Finally, the Toronto Arenas franchise was sold to the St. Patricks Hockey Club of Toronto, who ran the successful senior amateur St. Patricks team in the Ontario Hockey League, which included Arenas team manager Querrie in the four-man ownership group, in December of 1919.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The new owners renamed the club the Toronto St. Patricks and the $5,000 sale price was supposed to go to Livingstone to settle the purchase of his NHA club, for which he had once demanded $20,000 for after they had won the 1918 Stanley Cup. However, Livingstone never received the money, which many believe was kept by NHL president <b>Frank Calder</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Toronto St. Patricks were members of the NHL through the 1926-27 season, when Querrie, having been sued by none other than Livingstone, was forced to sell the St. Patricks. He reached an agreement to sell the club to <b>Conn Smythe</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, who renamed the club the Toronto Maple Leafs and constructed </span><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2013/11/1998-99-toronto-maple-leafs-mats-sundin.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Maple Leaf Gardens</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in 1931.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today's featured jersey is a </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1917-18 Toronto Blueshirts Hap Holmes jersey</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> as worn during the inaugural season of the National Hockey League. Their jerseys would change for the second NHL season with the addition of white stripes around the arms and the word "Arenas" across the front, bisected by the large T crest from the previous season.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Holmes would win the Stanley Cup four different times, and with four different teams. He first joined Eddie Livingstone's Toronto Blueshirts of the NHA in 1912, winning the cup with them in 1914. He joined the Seattle Metropolitans of the PCHA in 1915 and won the cup with Seattle in 1917.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In his only season with the Toronto Blueshirts, he would win his third Stanley Cup before returning to Seattle the following season. After the Metropolitans folded four seasons later, Holmes would join the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Canada_Hockey_League" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">WCHL</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'s Victoria Cougars in 1924 and go on to win his fourth Stanley Cup, the last cup won by a non-NHL team. After one more season in Victoria, the entire WCHL folded and the Victoria Cougars players were sold to the new Detroit NHL franchise, which took the name the Cougars as a tribute to the Victoria club before eventually becoming the Red Wings. Holmes would play his final two seasons in Detroit and conclude his career with 408 games played, 198 wins, 40 of which were shutouts, 192 losses and 14 ties.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Holmes was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 and the American Hockey League award for the top goaltender each season is named the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_%22Hap%22_Holmes_Memorial_Award" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hap Holmes Memorial Award</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/HapHolmes.png" /></span></span></span></div>
</div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-54379287291920488002017-12-15T05:00:00.003-06:002017-12-15T05:01:06.524-06:00The Halifax Explosion - 1917-18 Montreal Wanderers Harry Hyland JerseyThe morning of December 6, 1917 was like any other day in <b>Halifax, Nova Scotia</b>. Halifax had been founded by the British military as a fortress to protect their interests against the French back in the late 1700s thanks to its large and deep natural harbor as well as its strategic location.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=HalifaxBefore.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Halifax Before, Halifax Before" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/HalifaxBefore.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Early 20th Century Halifax</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With World War I raging in Europe, the factories, foundries and mills in both Halifax and nearby Dartmouth were working at full capacity, keeping the harbor busy with with shipping convoys taking goods and supplies across the Atlantic, destined for the war effort in Europe.<br />
<br />
Ferries to and from Dartmouth, located on the opposite side of the harbor, civilian shipping, as well as fishing boats and pleasure craft all competed for space with the military shipping traffic on the harbor adding to the congestion.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span">Meanwhile, the French vessel the </span>Mont-Blanc<span class="Apple-style-span"> was loaded with 228,000 kilos of TNT, 2.1 million kilos of wet and dry picric acid, a toxic substance used in the making of munitions and explosives, 223,000 kilos of Benzol, a highly flammable liquid similar to gasoline, and "guncotton", a highly flammable substance used in firearms, all of which made the </span>Mont-Blanc<span class="Apple-style-span"> a floating bomb of the highest order.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=TheMontBlanc.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="The Mont Blanc, The Mont Blanc" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/TheMontBlanc.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">The Mont-Blanc</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span">Unable to cross the Atlantic solo due to the risk of a German u-boat attack, the </span>Mont-Blanc <span class="Apple-style-span">sailed out of New York for Halifax in order to join a convoy of other ships congregating in Halifax Harbour in the interests of safety. While the ship arrived in late afternoon on December 5th, it was too late in the day to enter the harbor, as the anti-submarine nets had been closed for the night, forcing the Mont-Blanc to spend the night outside the harbor.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Meanwhile inside the harbor, the Belgian relief ship Imo was forced to delay its scheduled departure that day due to the supply of coal for its boilers arriving too late for it to leave for New York in order to collect emergency supplies for civilians in war ravaged Belgium prior to the harbor gates being closed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span">At 7:30 in the morning on December 6th the navy opened the gate in the nets, allowing the </span>Mont-Blanc<span class="Apple-style-span"> to head into the harbor, traveling at a speed of four knots, under the limit of five knots. At the same time, the Imo headed toward the Narrows to begin its voyage south. As the Imo increased its speed to seven knots, it encountered the first ship entering the harbor. That incoming ship went against the usual rules of passing on the left. The two ships exchanged horn blasts to signal their intent, which resulted in the Imo passing the other ship on the right, putting the Imo on the wrong side of the harbor in the Dartmouth channel.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once past the first ship, the Imo continued to steam along on the wrong side of the channel, allowing it to avoid a tug boat towing a pair of barges which had just pulled away from the Halifax shore on the right of the Imo.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Mont-Blanc and the Imo were now in the same channel as they continued to travel toward each other. The Mont-Blanc blew its whistle first to signify that it had the right of way and would be maintaining course, implying the Imo would have to move to the right to clear the way. The captain of the Imo however, had other thoughts, and blew his whistle twice to signify his intent to hold his course. The Mont-Blanc then moved slightly to its right closer to the Dartmouth shore to give the Imo additional room for clearance, hoping the Imo would respond in kind by moving to its right in order to give the two ships adequate distance between them for safe passage. When the Mont-Blanc again blew its whistle once, the Imo responded with two blasts of his horn, indicating it would not be changing course.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The sailors who knew what the repeated signals meant realized trouble was brewing and gathered to watch the two ships. Finally, as the Mont-Blanc and the Imo were bearing down on each other, the Mont-Blanc turned hard left into the center of the channel to avoid a collision with the Imo, as it could not move any further toward shore for fear of running aground while loaded with such dangerous cargo.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Unfortunately for all concerned, the Imo now finally chose to change course by reversing engines, which swung the ship to its right - and into the path of the Mont-Blanc. If only one of the ships had made its evasive maneuver, nothing more than a close call would have been the result. However, they both were now aimed for the same spot and the resulting collision caused the Imo to penetrate nine feet into the hull of the Mont-Blanc at 8:45 AM. The Imo then pulled away to extricate itself from the Mont-Blanc, causing enough sparks to ignite the lethal combination of picric acid and vapors from the ruptured drums of benzol, producing an uncontrollable fire at the forward end of the damaged Mont-Blanc.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fearing an immediate explosion, the captain of the Mont-Blanc ordered the crew to abandon the ship, which was spewing a large column of oily, black smoke. As the public gathered on the streets or stood at the windows of their homes to watch the spectacular fire and exploding barrels of benzol rocketing into the air.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The rescuers, as well as those on the shore, had no idea of the danger contained inside the Mont-Blanc, as any outward warnings of the dangerous cargo in the form of red flags were not displayed on the Mont-Blanc for fear of drawing unwanted attention from the Germans while at sea. As boats rushed to their assistance, the crew of the Mont-Blanc attempted to warn them off as they rowed furiously ashore in their lifeboats, but they were unable to be understood, as the crew spoke only French as they reached the Dartmouth side and ran for the woods and to safety.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The hastily abandoned ship was now not only ablaze, but also adrift and moving toward Halifax's Richmond neighborhood and into Pier 6, which then caught fire as well. The boat was then met by the Halifax Fire Department, with its one motorized truck and a dozen horse-drawn wagons, who were all unaware of the ship's highly dangerous contents.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And then it happened.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Mont-Blanc erupted with a force stronger than any man-made explosion in world history prior to the atomic age. The ship shattered and was blown sky-high, 980 feet into the air. White hot pieces of its hull came falling back to Earth as lethal shrapnel rained down all over Halifax and Dartmouth. A 1,140 pound piece of the ship's anchor landed 2 1/2 miles away while the Mont-Blanc's gun barrel flew over three miles, landing clear across the harbor in Dartmouth.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=HalifaxExplosion.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Halifax Explosion, Halifax Explosion" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/HalifaxExplosion.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">This photo was taken just seconds after the explosion of the Mont-Blanc</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The fireball rose over 6,200 feet over the harbor, symbolizing the hell that had just descended on the area. The smoke from the fire reached 20,000 feet while buildings shook and items fell off of shelves as far as 80 miles away with the shock wave being felt 200 miles away as 400 acres in the immediate vicinity were completely destroyed by the blast.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=Halifaxdamagemap.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Halifax damage map, Halifax damage map" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/Halifaxdamagemap.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Halifax damage map</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
Homes, apartments, business and the sugar refinery were all destroyed in an instant. Every building within a 10 mile radius, 12,000 in all, were badly damaged, if not destroyed.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=RichmondSchool.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Richmond School, Richmond School" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/RichmondSchool.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
Additionally, the water immediately surrounding the ship was evaporated by the intense heat of the explosion, which momentarily exposed the harbor floor! The shockwave from the blast sent water rushing violently outwards, creating a wave that spread toward both shores, rising as high as 60 feet. The wave carried the Imo onto the shore on the Dartmouth side of the harbor as the tidal wave washed up three blocks into the city.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=TheImo.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="The Imo, The Imo" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/TheImo.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">The Imo, washed ashore on the opposite side of the harbor</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span">Over 1,500 people died instantly, while 9,000 were injured by not only the blast, but falling debris from the shattered ship, collapsing buildings and shards of flying glass, which blinded 38 people with roughly 600 more suffering eye injuries while standing at their windows watching the initial blaze.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">Many of those who survived the initial blast now had to hang on for their lives as the water rushed up onto the shore where they had gathered, claiming more victims who were in shock or injured and unable to withstand the surging waters. Miraculously, all but one of the crew of the </span>Mont-Blanc<span class="Apple-style-span"> survived the disaster.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Since it was wintertime, fires broke out all over as stoves, lamps and furnaces throughout the area were toppled, igniting blazes fueled by the debris, which claimed even more victims throughout the region, in part due to the majority of the firefighters having died in the initial blast, as well as the lack of standardized equipment from town to town which hampered the efforts when fire hoses could not be coupled together.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=HalifaxsExhibitionBuilding.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Halifax Explosion, Halifax Explosion" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/HalifaxsExhibitionBuilding.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">The damaged </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Halifax Exhibition Building</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
More fatalities occurred the following day when a blizzard dumped 16 inches of snow on the region, which included those still trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings, those not yet tended to and those susceptible to the cold, as homes no longer had glass in the windows to contain any heat. In the days that followed, people moved into churches, temporary shelters and even railroad boxcars - anywhere warm and dry. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=HalifaxAfter4.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Halifax After, Halifax After" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/HalifaxAfter4.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Halifax after the snowfall</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
The final death toll was 1,950 with 1,630 homes destroyed in the explosion and fires. 6,000 people were rendered homeless and 25,000 lacked adequate housing. Industry was essentially gone, as was the workforce.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=HalifaxHeraldheadline.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Halfiax Herald Headline, Halfiax Herald Headline" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/HalifaxHeraldheadline.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In 1994 a study was conducted comparing 130 major, artificial, non-nuclear explosions by a team of scientists and historians and they concluded that "Halifax Harbour remains unchallenged in overall magnitude as long as five criteria are considered together: number of casualties, force of blast, radius of devastation, quantity of explosive material and total value of property destroyed."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=montblancanchor.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Mont Blanc anchor, Mont Blanc anchor" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/montblancanchor.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">The piece of the Mont-Blanc anchor, which was hurled over 2 miles by the blast</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Nine days after the disaster, the first exhibition game in NHL history was contested between the <b>Montreal Canadiens</b> and the <b>Montreal Wanderers</b> played a benefit game for the victims of the explosion at Halifax Harbour.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The first NHL season was only four days away, as the league had only just been formed the previous month when the owners of the Canadiens, Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Arenas and Quebec Bulldogs, in an effort to rid themselves of contentious, difficult and abrasive fellow National Hockey Association owner <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Livingstone" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Eddie Livingstone</span></a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Livingstone, who owned both the Toronto Shamrocks and Toronto Blueshirts, had multiple disagreements with the NHA and his fellow owners over many matters, including his ownership of two clubs, which gave him two votes in league matters. He feuded with the Wanderers owner <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Lichtenhein" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Sam Lichtenhein</span></a> in particular, and at one point Lichtenhein offered Livingstone $3,000 to simply close up shop and walk away from the NHA, while Livingstone countered with a $5,000 offer if Lichtenhien would do the same!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today's featured jersey is a <b>1917-18 Montreal Wanderers Harry Hyland jersey</b>. At their November, 1917 annual meeting, the NHA voted to suspend operations, supposedly "due to the difficulty in running a five team league", only to meet again in a weeks time, only this time without Livingstone, to form a new <i>five team league</i>, the National Hockey League, which was the NHA minus Livingstone but with the Toronto franchise in new hands.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Wanderers, who had been formed back in 1903, had first taken possession of the Stanley Cup in 1906 by winning the ECAHA playoffs and won seven cup challenges and four league titles over the next five seasons. They then fell on hard times after entering the NHA, losing the only playoff series they contested over the next eight seasons. Their final three NHA seasons saw a string of fourth and fifth place finishes, thanks in part to the loss of players off to serve in World War I, putting the team in a fragile financial position as interest in the club among the anglophones waned.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once the inaugural NHL season began, the Wanderers, the team of Montreal's minority English speaking population, defeated Toronto in a thrilling 10-9 opening night contest attended by just 700 fans despite the offer of free admission for military personnel and their families. They were then manhandled by the Canadiens 11-2. Ottawa then took two games in a home and home set by scores of 6-3 and 9-2, with the second game begin played on December 29, 1917.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=1917-18MontrealWanderersteam.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="1917-18 Montreal Wanderers team, 1917-18 Montreal Wanderers team" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/1917-18MontrealWanderersteam.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">The 1917-18 Montreal Wanderers</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Four days later on January 2, 1918, the Wanderers were scheduled to play the Canadiens again, but a fire that began in the Montreal Arena's ice making plant, spread and burned the arena down to the ground. Team owner Lichtenhein had already made a request from the other clubs to loan the Wanderers better players to field a more competitive team in hopes of attracting more fans, but when the plan was rejected by his fellow owners following the fire, and with his club dealing with the loss of their home arena, Lichtenhein disbanded the club on January 4, ending the Wanderers fourteen year history.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=MontrealArenafire1917-18.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Montreal Arena fire, Montreal Arena fire" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/MontrealArenafire1917-18.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">The aftermath of the Montreal Arena fire</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Harry Hyland</b> was leading the Wanderers in scoring in 1917 when the club folded. He had a ten year career in hockey, playing first for the Montreal Shamrocks in 1908. He joined the Wanderers for two seasons, including as a Stanley Cup champion in 1910, before spending the 1911-12 season with the New Westminster Royals.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He returned to the Wanderers in 1912-13 and played six more seasons with the club with whom he averaged over a goal per game, scoring 158 goals in 134 games with a high of 30 in 18 games in 1914. His greatest single game came in 1912-13 when he scored 8 goals against Quebec.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Following the demise of the Wanderers, he joined the Ottawa Senators as a playing coach to finish the season and his career. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today's featured jersey is a <b>1917-18 Montreal Wanderers Harry Hyland jersey</b> worn by the Wanderers for their brief time in the brand new National Hockey League. The Wanderers debuted white sweaters with the red stripe around the center adorned with a shield containing a white "W" for the 1905 season and it would remain their only sweater throughout the rest of their days.<br />
<br />
Had the Wanderers survived, it is hard to imagine they would have ever changed their style in a manner similar to the Canadiens or Detroit Red Wings. So closely was their distinctive sweater associated with the club, that the team was often referred to as "the Redbands".</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=MontrealWanderers17-18jersey.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Montreal Wanderers 17-18 jersey, Montreal Wanderers 17-18 jersey" border="0" src="https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/MontrealWanderers17-18jersey.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Today's first video is a reenactment of the Halifax Explosion, which illustrates the incredible devastation of the largest man made detonation on Earth prior to the atomic age.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="243" width="420"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/e3DU95ZLxw8?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/e3DU95ZLxw8?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="243" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Today's second video is actual newsreel footage of the devastation and rescue work immediately following the disaster.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/yViaCDJbgJk?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/yViaCDJbgJk?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-8916629967395114712017-12-13T05:00:00.000-06:002017-12-13T19:00:26.029-06:00Zarley Zalapski<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The hockey world was saddened to hear to the passing yesterday of NHL veteran</span> </span><b>Zarley Zalapski</b> at the age of 49.<br />
<br />
Zalapski was born on April 22, 1968. Following two seasons of junior hockey Zalapski played three seasons for the Canadian National Team, then a season long proposition which many players used as a stepping stone to the NHL.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/?action=view&current=CanadianNational.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Zalapski Canada, Zalapski Canada" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202012/CanadianNational.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1986-87 Canadian National Team</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He was drafted fourth overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut following the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Alberta. He would play four seasons for the Penguins, playing a high of 66 games before being traded near the end of the 1990-91 season and just missing out on the Penguins run to the Stanley Cup.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=PittsburghPenguinsZalapski.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/PittsburghPenguinsZalapski.jpg" /></span></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;">1987-88 Pittsburgh Penguins</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "lucida grande";"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=PittsburghPenguinsZalapski2.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/PittsburghPenguinsZalapski2.jpg" /></span></a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre;">1988-89 Pittsburgh Penguins</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Notice the changes in the customization in the Penguins jerseys from Zalapski's rookie year to his sophomore season. The name on the back is thinner and without serifs, the number changes font and the sleeve numbers move from the shoulders down to the arms.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Penguins dealt Zalapski to the Hartford Whalers as part of the </span><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2014/01/2001-02-carolina-hurricanes-ron-francis.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Ron Francis</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> trade, a move that saw Zalapski see an increase in playing time and career highs in points as a result. The defenseman's only 20 goal season of his career came in 1991-92 followed by a 65 point campaign the following season while wearing the Whalers green jerseys.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=HartfordWhalersZalapski1.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/HartfordWhalersZalapski1.jpg" /></span></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif; white-space: pre;">1990-91 Hartford Whalers</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; white-space: normal;">Prior to Zalapski's final season in Hartford, they would change to their new modernized jerseys, which featured blue road jerseys rather than the traditional green.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=HartfordWhalersZalapski2.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/HartfordWhalersZalapski2.jpg" /></span></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;">1993-94 Hartford Whalers jersey</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Traded once more, Zalapski was on the move, this time north of the border to Calgary to join the Flames. Once in Calgary, he would find his customary #3 already in use by </span><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2011/12/1987-88-minnesota-north-stars-frantisek.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Frantisek Musil</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and adopt the #33 while skating for the Flames. He would play in five seasons with the Flames, although he would miss all but two games of the 1996-97 season with a knee injury suffered in practice.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=CalgaryFlamesZalapski1.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/CalgaryFlamesZalapski1.jpg" /></span></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;">1993-94 Calgary Flames</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Zalapski played a more defensive role in Calgary, as he would never again approach the offensive numbers he achieved while in Pittsburgh and especially Hartford. Zalapski also was present for yet another uniform change, as the Flames finally moved away from their traditional jerseys, which remained unchanged, save for the crest, even after their relocation from Atlanta.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The bold new sweaters featured the addition of a shot of black, reminiscent of the change the Minnesota North Stars made in </span>1981<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, where the restrained use of black added to the jersey, rather than taking over, such as what the North Stars succumed to in </span>1991<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. The main feature of the new design was the arresting diagonal multi-stripe on the front of the jerseys, which originated just below the main crest and shot off in the direction of the right hip. These bold jerseys would remain in use for three seasons before becoming dated.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=CalgaryFlamesZalapski2.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/CalgaryFlamesZalapski2.jpg" /></span></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;">1994-95 Calgary Flames</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After five seasons in Calgary, Zalapski was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens in a deal which brought </span><b>Valeri Bure</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to Calgary. His stay in Montreal was brief, playing there for only the second half of the 1997-98 season. Now back in his customary #3 Zalapski would have the honor of wearing the classic "bleu, blanc et rouge" sweater of the storied Canadiens.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande"; white-space: pre;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=MontrealCanadiensZalapski.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/MontrealCanadiensZalapski.jpg" /></span></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre;">1997-98 Montreal Canadiens</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The 1998-99 season would see Zalapski's first foray into European hockey with an abbreviated season of just 11 games with the ZSC Lions in Zurich, Switzerland. He returned to North America for the 1999-00 season, which included time with the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL for seven games before spending the majority of the season with the Utah Grizzlies, also of the IHL and a return to the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers for 12 games.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande"; white-space: pre;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=PhiladelphiaFlyersZalapski.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/PhiladelphiaFlyersZalapski.jpg" /></span></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre;">1999-00 Philadelphia Flyers</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">His time in Philadelphia would be the conclusion of Zalapski's NHL career, which would finish with 637 games played with five teams, 99 goals and 285 assists for 384 points and one All-Star Game appearance in 1993.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He would begin the 2000-01 season with the Houston Aeros of the IHL for nine games before returning to Europe, this time with the Munich Barons of the German DEL.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=MunichBaronsZalapski.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/MunichBaronsZalapski.jpg" /></span></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2000-01 Munich Barons</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A new season meant another new country, as the former NHL All-Star found himself with HC Merano of the Italian league for 26 games. Zalapski began to apparently "dabble" in hockey at this point, playing seven games with IF Bjorkloeven Umea in the Swedish second division in 2002-03, no hockey at all in 2003-04 and 11 games with the Kalamazoo Wings in the UHL in 2004-05.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The 2005-06 season saw a total of just 16 split between three clubs, EHC Visp in the Swiss second division, Innsbrucker EV in Austria and SC Rapperswill-Jona Lakers in the Swiss top division. He suited up for just five games in all of 2006-07 with EHC Chur in the Swiss second division leaving behind a trail of lightly used game worn jerseys in his wake!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2007-08 saw a more serious effort with 33 games for EHC Biel-Bienne, still in the Swiss second division and a move to EHC Olten for a 34 game season and one of the more unique team logos in the world of hockey.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande"; white-space: pre;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=OltenZalapski.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/OltenZalapski.jpg" /></span></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre;">2008-09 EHC Olten</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
photos courtesy of <a href="http://www.classicauctions.net/"><span style="color: #333ffb;">Classic Auctions</span></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Zalapski continues to play 22 years after his NHL debut, proving once more that there is life beyond the NHL, having moved to Lausanne HC in the Swiss second division and are currently involved in a playoff to determine promotion to the Swiss National League A, the top division of Swiss hockey for 2010-11. Lausanne currently leads Bienne three games to two in their best of seven series with Game 6 scheduled for today and Game 7 if needed on Saturday.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today's video section begins with Zalapski scoring his first NHL goal on March 19, 1988 on a beautiful feed from <b>Mario Lemieux </b>followed by a report on Zalapski's passing.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nx59B7I8o1s" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5H0av4AgU7s" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-697676493740613932017-09-11T05:00:00.000-05:002017-09-11T05:37:05.462-05:002000-01 FDNY Hockey Team Ray Downey Jersey<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><b>Ray Downey</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> was the Fire Department of New York's Chief of Special Operations and a passionate New York Rangers fan and founding member of the FDNY Hockey Team.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/?action=view&current=RayDowney.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Chief Ray Downey" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/RayDowney.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">He served with the United States Marine Corps and then became a member of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) on April 7, 1962, beginning a 39-year career. In August of 2001, Chief Downey was put in charge of Special Operations Command, a team of specialists who aid regular firefighters with unique or highly critical situations, which include Hazardous Materials, Marine Units, Rescue Companies (experienced units with specialized tools and equipment) and Squads, often regarded as mini Rescue Companies who also have specialized tools and equipment. Downey was also promoted to Deputy Chief at the time.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">His career was built on numerous successful rescues which made him the most decorated man in the history of the FDNY. He received five medals for valor and 16 unit citations as well as the 1995 Administration Medal.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Additionally, Chief Downey was a task force leader for the New York City Urban Search and Rescue Team as well as the National Disasters Team, who responded to both the Oklahoma City and Atlanta Olympics bombings. He was also a team leader in response to Hurricanes Hugo, Andres, Fran, Marilyn and Opal, Chief of Rescue Operations at the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, all of which contributed to his being called "a charismatic national legend in rescue circles" and he was credited with creating the modern search-and-rescue system adopted by FEMA and fire departments worldwide while pioneering a national network of eight search and rescue teams under FEMA.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">He also made frequent trips to Washington D.C. while serving on a congressional panel on domestic terrorism and it's prevention.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">All of this led to Downey commanding rescue operations at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 following the terrorist attacks earlier that morning when hijacked jetliners were crashed into each of the twin towers.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">His unit was called in immediately after the first impact at #2 World Trade Center and he was leading the rescue operations which helped save thousands of lives when the second of the towers collapsed, costing him his life.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">He left behind his wife </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Rosalie</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> and five children, two of whom, </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Joe</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> and </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Chuck</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">, are now firemen.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">It would take eight months after 9/11 for his remains to be identified through DNA testing before Chief Downey was then laid to rest on May 20, 2002.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">When once asked asked why he searched so long for remains of those presumed dead, he cited the families of those left behind. </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">"The only way you can relieve some of their sorrow," he said, "is to successfully recover the bodies of the people they loved."</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Of the 343 firefighters lost on 9/11, Special Operations Command lost a total of 95 men with 1,600 years of experience that day.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Ray Downey's life and career are commemorated with </span><a href="http://www.pennwell.com/index/about-us/courage-and-valor-foundation/raydowney-award.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">The Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">, which is presented each year to an extraordinarily courageous American firefighter.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Following the terrorist attacks in September, 2001 the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres faced off in the Rangers first home game of the season on October 7th. Both the Rangers and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Sabres</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> wore special jerseys with "New York" diagonally across the front. Following the game won by the Rangers 5-4 in overtime, both sets of jerseys were auctioned off to raise money for the Twin Towers Fund.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/NewYorkRangers2001-029-11smjersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo NewYorkRangers2001-029-11smjersey.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/NewYorkRangers2001-029-11smjersey.jpg" /></a><span style="color: white;">a</span><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/BuffaloSabres01-029-11smjersey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo BuffaloSabres01-029-11smjersey.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/BuffaloSabres01-029-11smjersey.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Prior to the game the NYPD and FDNY hockey teams lined up on the ice and the Rangers skated between them during their introductions. FDNY team member </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Larry McGee</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> had brought Ray Downey's firefighters helmet with him with a picture of Downey tucked into the brim of the helmet. He noticed that of all the players, only Rangers captain </span><a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2009/11/1992-93-new-york-rangers-mark-messier.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Mark Messier</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> had not worn his hockey helmet during the pre-game ceremonies.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">As the Rangers were lined up at the blueline, McGee sensed the moment was right and skated over to Messier with the helmet and told him it would be an honor if he would wear it. Messier responded, "Sure, whatever you need" and donned the helmet of the still missing Downey as the Madison Square Garden crowd roared it's approval.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=01.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Messier Firehelmet 10/7/01" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/01.jpg" /></span></a></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Mark Messier wearing Chief Downey's helmet prior to the Rangers first home game following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Note the special "New York" jersey worn only for that game.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">"For me, personally, it was very emotional for a lot of reasons," said Messier, "Obviously, with all the people being honored - the firefighters, the police, the rescue workers, the volunteers, the entire city - and all our fans. All on a day when we started fighting back as a country."</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">At the end of that same season, Messier presented his #11 jersey to the family of Ray Downey during the Rangers annual Blueshirts off our Backs night on April 10, 2002.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=MessierBlueshirtsoffourBacks2002.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Messier Blueshirts off our Backs 2002" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/MessierBlueshirtsoffourBacks2002.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">The FDNY Hockey Team was first formed back in 1968 and played it's first game against the New York Police Department in 1974 and the FDNY Hockey Team now competes in charity events and tournaments from Alaska to Sweden as well as hosting the FDNY "King of the Ice" Firehouse Tournament, where for over 15 years nearly 100 different firehouses compete for the championship in the largest tournament of it's kind.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">The main event on the FDNY Hockey Team calendar is always their annual faceoff against the New York Police Department (NYPD) game as the FDNY Bravest take on the NYPD Finest in "The Battle of the Badges". To date, 42 games have been played with the FDNY holding a 23-17-2 lead in the series.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Today's featured jersey is a </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">2000-01 Fire Department of New York Hockey Team Ray Downey jersey</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">. This jersey takes the classic simplicity of a jersey very similar to the New Jersey Devils and combines it with the timeless look of the drop shadowed New York Rangers cresting and numbers to create as perfect a hockey jersey as you will ever see.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Of note, none of the players wore their individual names on the back of their jerseys, and instead they all had their team nickname "Bravest" on the back in place of their names, similar to Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series when they all had "Canada" <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2011/09/1972-team-canada-paul-henderson-jersey.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">on the back</span></a>.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="FDNY 2000-01 jersey photo FDNY2000-01F.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo FDNY2000-01B.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01B.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01P1sm.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="FDNY 2000-01 P1 small photo FDNY2000-01P1sm.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01P1sm.jpg" /></a><span style="color: white;">a</span><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01P2small.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo FDNY2000-01P2small.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/FDNY2000-01P2small.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;">Chief Downey's jersey #9 was retired by the FDNY Hockey Team during a pre-game tribute at the March 2, 2002 FDNY vs. NYPD hockey game.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=Downeyjerseyretirement.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Downey jersey retirement" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/Downeyjerseyretirement.jpg" /></span></a></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Rosalie Downey receives </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Chief Downey's retired</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 100%;">jersey before the FDNY vs. NYPD game in 2002</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">While this style jersey has been retired, you can get the current <a href="http://www.fdnyshop.com/product/official-fdny-hockey-jersey-home-away/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">FDNY Hockey Team jersey</span></a>, based on the 2000-2007 Calgary Flames jerseys, through the above link or at the official store for FDNY gear - <a href="http://www.fdnyfirezone.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Fire Zone</span></a> at Rockefeller Center at 34 W 51st St. in New York, New York.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Please take a moment to visit the Deputy Chief Raymond Downey Scholarship Charity Fund, at </span><a href="http://www.chiefraymonddowney.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">ChiefRaymondDowney.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">, which holds the annual </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><i>Forever Running Memorial 5K Run/Walk</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"> each Father's Day to benefit the organizations he supported, and consider making a donation to the fund. Information on how to contribute can be found by clicking the banner below.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://www.chiefraymonddowney.com/donate" target="_blank"><img alt="Downey banner,Downey banner" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/Downeybanner.png" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">The Rescue Company, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">written by Chief Ray Downey, a how-to manual on rescue operations for firefighters in both paperback and hardcover, as well as his instructional video on collapse rescues are available below.</span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></span></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=third0a-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=091221225X&asins=091221225X&linkId=3RLTYNJTEQLMVHFI&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></p>
<p>
</iframe><br /></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><i style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">The Last Men Out</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">, written by Ray Downey's nephew <b>Tom</b> <b>Downey</b>, is about Rescue 2, the firehouse Ray Downey commanded for fourteen years. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Rescue 2 doesn't leave a fire until everybody's safe - they're the last men out.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0px" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=third0a-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0805078444&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="display: none !important; height: 240px; opacity: 0 !important; visibility: hidden !important; width: 120px;" width="0px"></iframe></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0px" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=third0a-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0805078444&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="display: none !important; height: 240px; opacity: 0 !important; visibility: hidden !important; width: 120px;" width="0px"></iframe></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<div style="font-size: 100%;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=third0a-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0805078444&asins=0805078444&linkId=DZZOLTUFAOJ7UVHZ&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></p>
<p>
</iframe><br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=WTClights.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="WTC lights" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/WTClights.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-85385256627119462782017-09-07T05:00:00.000-05:002017-09-07T20:21:37.777-05:002010-11 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Pavol Demitra Jersey<div>
Today marks the sixth anniversary of the crash on takeoff of the jet carrying the Russian club <b style="font-weight: normal;">Lokomotiv Yaroslavl</b> to what was supposed to be their season opening game. The crash killed 43 of the 45 people on board, taking the lives of all but one of the players, <b>Alexander Galimov</b>, who succumbed to his injuries five days later, and all of the other team personnel on the flight. The only other survivor of the crash was a member of the plane's crew.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
"At first we didn't want to believe it. But right now there is no hope. The team is gone," a Lokomotiv team official told the Russian news outlet Sovietsky Sport.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
The catastrophe claimed the lives of players and coaches from Belarus, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Latvia, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and Ukraine, shaking the hockey community worldwide.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%203/LokomotivYaroslavlteampicture.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team picture photo LokomotivYaroslavlteampicture.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/LokomotivYaroslavlteampicture.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
Among those familiar to fans of the NHL were assistant coach and 12 year NHL veteran and multiple Soviet and Russian league champion Russian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igor_Korolev" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Igor Korolev</span></a>, eight year NHL veteran and World Championship gold medal winner Czech <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karel_Rach%C5%AFnek" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Karel Rachunek</span></a>, Stanley Cup and World Championship gold medal winner Czech <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Va%C5%A1%C3%AD%C4%8Dek" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Josef Vasicek</span></a>, 11 year NHL veteran, owner of the NHL's longest playing streak for a defenseman and Latvian National Team mainstay <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%81rlis_Skrasti%C5%86%C5%A1" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Karlis Skrastins</span></a>, 12 year NHL veteran, World Championship gold medal winner and one of the first four Russians to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, assistant coach <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%81rlis_Skrasti%C5%86%C5%A1" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Alexander Karpovtsev</span></a>, 14 year NHL veteran, with 917 games played, and Belarus National Team leader <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruslan_Salei" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Ruslan Salei</span></a>, 18 year NHL veteran of 1,222 games and Stanley Cup winner and team head coach Canadian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_McCrimmon" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Brad McCrimmon</span></a>.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
Russian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Vasyunov" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Alexander Vasyunov</span></a> had played two seasons with the Lowell Devils of the AHL and 18 games with the New Jersey Devils last season and German <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Dietrich_(ice_hockey)" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Robert Dietrich</span></a> spent two seasons in North America in the Nashville Predators system with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals, </div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
Czech <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Marek_(ice_hockey_b._1979)" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Jan Marek</span></a> led the KHL in goal scoring in 2008-09 and was a World Championship gold medal winner in 2010. Sweden was hit hard by the loss of goaltender <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefan_Liv" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Stefan Liv</span></a>, a three time Swedish Elitserien champion with HV71, and World Championship gold medal and Olympic gold medal champion, both coming in Sweden's historic double of 2006. The Polish born Liv also played in North America with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL in 2006-07.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
One of the highest profile names to perish in the crash was Slovak star <b>Pavol Demitra</b>. Demitra began his professional career with two seasons in the Czechoslovak league before moving to North America following his being drafted 227th overall by the Ottawa Senators. He would split three seasons between the NHL's senators and their top minor league affiliate, the Prince Edward Island Senators from 1993-94 to 1995-96.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
Demitra played for the Las Vegas Thunder and Grand Rapids Griffins of the IHL as well as eight games with the St. Louis Blues following a trade. he found his greatest success with St. Louis, with three seasons of 35 goals or more, including a high of 37 in 1998-99, the year of his first NHL All-Star Game appearance. Two more All-Star appearances would follow in 2000 and 2002 before Demitra would set a career high in points with 93 in 2002-03, placing 6th overall in the league scoring race. In all, Demitra would lead St. Louis in scoring four times, in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%203/DemitraBlues.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Demitra Blues photo DemitraBlues.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/DemitraBlues.jpg" /></a></u></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
He would also be recognized with with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Byng_Trophy" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Lady Byng Trophy</span></a> in 2000 after recording 28 goals and 75 points with just eight penalty minutes.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
He returned to Slovakia during the NHL lockout of 2004-05 to once again play for Dukla Trencin. Once the NHL resumed play, the free agent Demitra signed to play for the Los Angeles Kings for one season prior to being traded to the Minnesota Wild to be teamed with fellow Slovak and close friend <b>Marian Gaborik</b>. for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%203/DemitraandGaboirkWild.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Demitra and Gaborik photo DemitraandGaboirkWild.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/DemitraandGaboirkWild.jpg" /></a></u></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
Demitra tied for the team lead in scoring during his first season in Minnesota despite Gaborik missing nearly half the season due to injury. While with the Wild, Demitra served as team captain during October of 2007.</div>
<div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%203/DemitraCaptain.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Demitra captain photo DemitraCaptain.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/DemitraCaptain.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
His final two NHL seasons were spent with the Vancouver Canucks, although the second was limited to 28 games following a lengthy recovery from off-season shoulder surgery.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
His NHL career concluded with 847 games played, 304 goals and 464 points for 768 points. Additionally, in 94 career playoff games, Demitra scored 23 goals and 59 points.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
For the 2010-11 season, Demitra signed with Lokomotiv of the KHL in Russia, where hisrenowned playmaking abilities made the veteran the club's leading scorer and placed him in a tied for third in league scoring.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
Internationally, Demitra played in the 1992 European Junior Championships and the 1993 World Junior Championships, winning a bronze medal, for Czechoslovakia. Following the division of Czechoslovakia, Demitra skated for Slovakia in both the 1996 World Championships and 1996 World Cup, the 2002 Olympics and 2003 World Championships where he earned a bronze medal.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
He then went on to participate in both the 2004 World Championships and 2004 World Cup, the 2005 World Championships, 2006 Winter Olympics and 2007 World Championships.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
Demitra then led all players at the 2010 Olympics in scoring with ten points in seven games on his way to being named a tournament all-star. He also scored a sublime shootout goal to give Slovakia a win over Russia in the preliminary round.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
His final international appearance was as the 2011 World Championships, where he had the honor of captaining the Slovak team on home ice.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%203/Demitracelebrates.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Demitra captain photo Demitracelebrates.png" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/Demitracelebrates.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%203/DemitraandRachunek.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Demitra and Rachunek photo DemitraandRachunek.png" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/DemitraandRachunek.png" /></a></u></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Here, Demitra and future Lokomotiv teammate Rachunek embrace following their preliminary round game at the 2011 World Championships.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
Demitra leaves behind his wife Maria and his two children, Lucas and Zara.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Today's featured jersey is a </span><b>2010-11 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Pavol Demitra jersey</b> as worn during Demitra's final season of play during which he scored 18 goals and 60 points in 54 games, which placed him fifth in league scoring. During the postseason, Demitra scored another 6 goals and 21 points for second in KHL playoff scoring.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The name Lokomotiv comes from the fact the club is owned by the Russian national railroad, Russian Railways. The club was founded back in 1959 and has won the Russian Open Championship three times (1997, 2002 and 2003), and were KHL runner's up twice (2008 and 2009) and were also runner's up in the 2003 IIHF Continental Cup.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Following the crash, the club fielded a team of young players in the VHL, the second level of Russian hockey, but will return to the KHL for the 2012-13 season, having signed NHL veterans <b>Viktor Kozlov, Niklas Hagman, Staffan Kronwall, Curtis Sanford</b> and <b>Vitaly Vishnevsky</b> to rebuild their roster in an attempt to return to their place among the top clubs in the KHL.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/RussiaLokomotivYaroslavl2010-11F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo RussiaLokomotivYaroslavl2010-11F.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/RussiaLokomotivYaroslavl2010-11F.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/RussiaLokomotivYaroslavl2010-11B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Russia Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 2010-11 jersey photo RussiaLokomotivYaroslavl2010-11B.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/RussiaLokomotivYaroslavl2010-11B.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Bonus jersey: </b>Today's bonus jersey is a <b style="font-weight: normal;">2006-07 Minnesota Wild Pavol Demitra jersey</b> as worn on January 6, 2007 with the <a href="http://www.teammatesforkids.com/" style="font-weight: normal;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation</span></a> patch. Each player on every team would wear the Teammates for Kids patch on their jerseys for a game that January, after which the jerseys were then auctioned off for charity to raise money for the foundation.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
To date, the foundation has distributed over $75 million through its various programs in conjunction with professional athletes.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/MinnesotaWildG06-07F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo MinnesotaWildG06-07F.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/MinnesotaWildG06-07F.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/MinnesotaWildG06-07B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Minnesota Wild G 06-07 jersey photo MinnesotaWildG06-07B.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/MinnesotaWildG06-07B.jpg" /></a><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%202013/MinnesotaWildG06-07P.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Minnesota Wild G 06-07 jersey patch photo MinnesotaWildG06-07P.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%202013/MinnesotaWildG06-07P.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
Today's first video is Demitra having the perfect timing to score a hat trick on Hat Night in Los Angeles. The results were swift and predictable!</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<object height="345" width="420"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/L9abBhpKXA4?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/L9abBhpKXA4?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="345" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></object></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
Here is Demitra's game winning goal in the shootout against Russia in the 2010 Olympics, where he displayed his puck control by deftly lofting the puck over the Russian goaltender counter to the direction of his body following his patented "swing wide" approach to the net.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<object height="345" width="425"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/XtcWbqUtBTA?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/XtcWbqUtBTA?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="345" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></object></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
In Minsk, Lokomotiv's scheduled opponents for their first game, Dynamo Minsk, held a hockey funeral for those killed in the crash, a moving and emotional ceremony.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<object height="345" width="425"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/AI8YPm_tYXA?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/AI8YPm_tYXA?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="345" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></object></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
To see the full 35 minute version of the service, <a href="http://youtu.be/OtPPB4r-o6Y" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">click here</span></a>.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
***********</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
On a personal note, we had the pleasure of seeing Demitra play in person for the two seasons he was with the Wild and the opportunity to meet him in person following a few practices. Our favorite memory of him began when we were at a pre-game warmup one night. A kid came down the steps of the arena toward the glass wearing a goaltenders catching glove while the players were warming up. As soon as the kind stopped and held up his glove, Demitra looked up after finishing a stick handling warmup drill and lofted the puck over the glass to the kid, who caught the puck in the glove and ran off.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
We commented, "It was like he knew it was coming," to which the regulars replied, "He did, Pavol always looks for a kid to give a puck to."</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
Armed with that knowledge, the next time we attended a game with our youngster, we did all we could to put ourselves in position to get Demitra's attention. Wearing a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">vibrant yellow Dukla Trencin jersey</span>, Demitra's previous Slovak club of which he was then a part-owner, to stand out against the dark green seats of the Xcel Energy Center, and with our youngster not only dressed in a Wild jersey, but holding a Dukla Trencin sign with Demitra and Gaborik's numbers 38 and 10 to further stand out, we positioned ourselves alone six rows up to make any attempt to loft a puck to us easier than if we were right behind the glass in the first couple of rows, not to mention away from the larger number of fans at the glass.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog%203/Demitrasign.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Demitra Sign photo Demitrasign.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog%203/Demitrasign.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
As Demitra finished his stickhandling drill, he looked up to scan the crowd for a kid, we gave him a quick "over here!" wave, as if we needed to wearing the bright yellow of Dukla, and he softly floated the puck over the glass right to us, which landed more gently in our hands than one could ever imagine.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
We repeated this later in the season, and those two seemingly ordinary warmup pucks now hold an even more special place in our modest collection of memorabilia now that Demitra and his many Lokomotiv teammates have now left us.</div>
</div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6525056977684151005.post-56099884578090498192017-06-28T05:00:00.000-05:002017-06-28T05:53:25.296-05:001998-99 EV Zug Wes Walz Jersey<b>Wes Walz</b> returned from the hockey wilderness on this day in 2000 when he signed a contract with the expansion Minnesota Wild of the NHL.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Expected to be a force offensively after scoring 104 points in 63 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes in junior hockey, Walz was selected in the third round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, ahead of players such as <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2010/06/2001-02-detroit-red-wings-kris-draper.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Kris Draper</span></a>, <b>Robert Reichel</b>, <b>Sergei Fedorov</b> and <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2014/04/1992-93-vancouver-canucks-pavel-bure.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Pavel Bure</span></a>, although it must be noted that selecting Soviet players was still a gamble at the time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Walz lived up to the Bruins expectations with 54 goals and 140 points in 56 games and 37 points in 19 playoff games in his final season of junior hockey, won a gold medal with Canada at the 1990 World Junior Tournament, including five points in seven games, and made his NHL debut with the Bruins in two games, which included scoring his first NHL goal. In 1990-91 he split time between the Maine Mariners and the Bruins and played for no less than four teams in 1991-92, the Mariners (21 games) and the Bruins (15) and, following a trade, the Hershey Bears of the AHL (41) and the Philadelphia Flyers (2).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After a full season with Hershey in 1992-93, he signed as a free agent with the Calgary Flames and again divided his time between the AHL and the NHL. 1994-95 Walz was limited to 39 games with Calgary in 1994-95. He then signed with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent, but only appeared in two games with the Detroit and spent 38 games with Adirondack of the AHL.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And with that, his once promising NHL career wound down after just 169 games and 78 total points.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fast forward four seasons and Walz, a six year veteran of the NHL, was playing for Lugano of the Swiss Nationalliga A after three successful seasons with EV Zug, which included leading the team in points and to a championship in 1997-98.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A father with growing children ready to start school, Walz, now age 30, had a desire to return to North America, and the expansion taking place with the addition of Nashville in 1998, Atlanta in 1999 and now Columbus and Minnesota in 2000 had created roughly 100 new jobs for players in the NHL. With both Columbus and Minnesota looking to stock up their rosters for their debut seasons in 2000-01, Minnesota general manager <span style="color: black;"><b>Doug Risebrough</b></span> contacted Walz, his GM when he was with Calgary, to see if he would be interested in a job, which Walz jumped at.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I was excited about the prospect of playing in the league again, and the timing was right for me to give it another shot. The experience of playing in Switzerland had been a good one, but the challenge of living in Europe was growing a little tougher. My son needed to get started in school, and the language barrier was becoming a factor in some of our decision-making. We were ready for a move." Walz recounted.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
During the Wild's first training camp, the hard working, tireless Walz caught the attention of head coach <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2010/09/1978-79-montreal-canadiens-jacques.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Jacques Lemaire</span></a>, who tabbed Walz as a "checker". With his role now defined and plenty of ice time to be had on the outgunned expansion Wild, Walz transformed himself from a marginal NHL forward into one of the most tenacious defensive forwards in the NHL. He chose the #37, the first one ever assigned to him in training camp as rookie, to remind himself of where he came from and to keep himself humble, and seized the opportunity to return to the NHL. He played in all 82 games of the Wild's debut season, scoring 18 goals, seven of which were shorthanded which was second best in the league.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As a reward for his hard work and to use him as a role model to the team's younger players, Walz was named team captain for the first time in December of 2000. Not having captained a team since he was 14, he recalled, "I wasn't very big when I was a kid, and being captain then didn't have anything to do with leadership. It was just a matter of who was scoring the most goals. This is a huge honor, and certainly nothing I was expecting. I'm surprised and very humbled."</div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog/C2000.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Wes Walz photo C2000.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/C2000.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Walz as Wild team captain</span></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When Walz was not wearing the "C", which Lemaire rotated on a monthly basis, he was often one of the Wild's assistant captains throughout his time in Minnesota. He was also selected by the local Professional Hockey Writer's Association as the Wild's nominee for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Masterton_Memorial_Trophy" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Masterton Trophy</span></a>, awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey in 2001.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
His hard work was also recognized with the second invitation of his career to play for Team Canada, this time at the 2001 World Championships, something that certainly would not have happened had he stayed in Europe off the radar.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=WalzCanada01.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Wes Walz" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/WalzCanada01.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Walz playing for Canada at the 2001 World Championships</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In 2002-03, Walz helped the Wild advance past the favored Colorado Avalanche thanks to is defensive work against Colorado's top players, <a href="http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com/2012/09/2004-05-modo-hockey-peter-forsberg.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Peter Forsberg</span></a> in particular, as the Wild overcame a 3-1 deficit in games to win in seven. The Wild repeated the comeback feat in round two against the Vancouver Canucks as Walz contributed a vital five of his seven playoff goals during the series. His hard work that season was recognized when he was named one of three finalists for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_J._Selke_Trophy" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Selke Trophy</span></a>, which recognizes the top defensive forward in the league.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=Game7vsVan03.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Wes Walz" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/Game7vsVan03.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Walz makes Daniel Cloutier look foolish</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">as he scores in Game 7 against Vancouver</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After his 2003-04 season was cut short by a sports hernia, which required surgery and months of rehabilitation, Walz resumed playing after the lockout ended and set a personal high with 19 goals and came within a point of tying his NHL career best with 37 points in 2005-06, earning another Masterton Trophy nomination in 2006.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In 2006-07, Walz was credited with one of the most unusual goals in the league, an overtime game winner on December 29th against Columbus. Walz drove to the net as teammate<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"> </span><b>Martin Skoula</b> was shooting the puck. Simultaneously, <b>Jason Chimera</b> checked Walz just as the puck arrived - and disappeared into the airborne Walz's breezers! When Walz then landed in the net, the puck when in with him, and after a video review, he was credited with the winning goal!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=Walzgoalinpants.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Wes Walz" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/Walzgoalinpants.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Walz scoring the game winning goal - with</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">the puck stuck in the leg of his pants!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In 2007-08, Walz played the first 11 games of the season prior to taking an indefinite leave on November 11th following a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins before formally announcing his retirement on December 1, 2007 as the all-time franchise leader in games played and one of only two remaining original members of the team.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today's featured jersey is a <b>1998-99 EV Zug Wes Walz jersey</b> from his time in Switzerland. P<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">erhaps the worst hockey jersey ever on planet Earth, EV Zug apparently purchased their jerseys on clearance from the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="http://www.buycostumes.com/p/68393/big-top-clown-adult-plus-costume" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">circus clown supply store</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">. It looks like a minor league New Year's Eve special occasion jersey or perhaps some sort of European Mardi Gras in a very 1990's style when torn paper edges and paintbrush strokes were all the rage in graphic design. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">We're not certain how the jersey's four sponsors must have felt about having their logos lost in the clutter of the busiest jerseys we've ever seen. It would be interesting to hear a player's perspective on what it was like to play in these jerseys, as they could either make their teammates highly visible on the ice, or have the opposite effect of making them blend into the multicolored background of the spectators.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Don't miss the video of the jerseys in action below, as Walz's jersey carries an ad on the back so large, it obscures both his name and number!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=1998-99EVZugF.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Wes Walz EV Zug jersey" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/1998-99EVZugF.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=1998-99EVZugB.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Wes Walz EV Zug jersey" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/1998-99EVZugB.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Bonus Jersey:</b> Today's bonus jersey is a <b>2005-06 Minnesota Wild Wes Walz jersey</b> which features the NHL Cares/Katrina Relief Fund patch worn for the first period only for each team's first home game.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/?action=view&current=Walzcares.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Wes Walz" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/Walzcares.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Walz wearing the NHL Cares patch during the first period of the Wild's first</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">game </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">of 2005-06, the NHL's return to action following the NHL lockout</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The patched jerseys were then auctioned off to raise money to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans, Louisiana in August of 2005. <b>Sidney Crosby's</b> game worn jersey generated the highest final price league-wide with a final bid of $21,010 followed by <b>Alexander Ovechkin</b> at $7,929. Overall the auction of 600 jerseys raised over a half a million dollars, which was then matched by the Garth Brooks' <a href="https://teammatesforkids.com/" target="_blank">Teammates for Kids Foundation</a> for a total of $1,060,944.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/MinnesotaWild2005-06NHLCaresF.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Minnesota Wild 2005-06 NHLCares jersey photo MinnesotaWild2005-06NHLCaresF.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/MinnesotaWild2005-06NHLCaresF.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/MinnesotaWild2005-06NHLCaresB.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Minnesota Wild 2005-06 NHLCares jersey photo MinnesotaWild2005-06NHLCaresB.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/MinnesotaWild2005-06NHLCaresB.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%202014/MinnesotaWild2005-06NHLCaresP.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Minnesota Wild 2005-06 NHLCares jersey photo MinnesotaWild2005-06NHLCaresP.jpg" border="0" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/spyboy1/TSG%202014/MinnesotaWild2005-06NHLCaresP.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Our video section today begins with a beautifully produced look back at the career of Walz and his retirement announcement.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_gguPmWs6wU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_gguPmWs6wU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Next, the always tenacious Walz scores a shorthanded goal while playing for EV Zug in Switzerland. Notice that Walz has a full size "Key Player" ad covering his name and number on the back of his jersey! Apparently he is so "key", that everyone knows who he is without aid of any identifying information, like being able to actually see his name and number.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/l-W6iJI3kJU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/l-W6iJI3kJU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";">Finally, highlights of the Minnesota Wild Skills Competition, where the fastest skater competition was won annually by Walz, over recognized NHL speedster <b>Marian Gaborik</b>.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia";"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3FTpPrdZvC4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3FTpPrdZvC4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>
spyboy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17209364157144832648noreply@blogger.com0