The Intimacy of Old Rinks Between Players and Fans



Ted Lindsay (7) engages a fan at Maple Leaf Gardens with teammate Bob Goldham

 Hockey became highly interactive in the 1930s, which encouraged fan attendance as the boundary between players and fans was minimal. Only a small fence was in place on the ends of the rinks leaving front row seats where fans could literally touch their favorite player or have a conversation with them. The interaction of fans often had to be curbed such as the case when a fan threw a bottle of gin at a referee and was forced to pay a $50 fine in addition to his banishment [i].

Leo Labine (Boston) startles the front row with Eric Nesterenko (Toronto)

Often, fans were injured by errant sticks, pucks, or even the players themselves as they played close to the boards. Toronto’s captain, “Hap” Day invited his fiancé to watch him play in the front row at Maple Leaf Gardens. During the game, a player’s stick went above the boards inflicting an abrasion on her requiring a number of stitches [ii].



Terry Sawchuck engages fans at Joe Louis Arena



The intimate relationship the League offered between the fans and the superstars added to the thrill and appeal of the game. Additionally, the risk of injury and interaction with the players made the heroes and the game they loved all the more real.  

Fans hang over the boards at a Bruins vs. Maroons game



[i] The Globe and Mail, 14 April, 1931.

[ii] The Globe and Mail, 30 March, 1932.

*Photos credited to Harold Barkley



Tim Horton, the Mysterious Disappearance of Toronto Maple Leaf “Bashing” Bill Barilko and the “Bill Barilko Curse”; all Canadian Cultural Icons, But What’s The Connection?

The Connection!

Bill Barilko the Player: He was a great Toronto Maple Leaf defenseman and 1 of only 2 players ever to have their number retired by the Leafs (#5).  He helped the Leafs to 4 Stanley Cups in 5 years. 

The “Goal”

In Toronto Maple Leaf history it’s known as “The Goal”! The last goal he ever scored (in overtime against the Montreal Canadians in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final, on April 21, 1951) won the Leafs the Cup.

The Goal

Bill Barilko Disappears:

That same summer tragedy struck!  Bill got on an airplane for a fishing trip and never returned. 

The Legend:

The disappearance of Bill Barilko became a great Canadian mystery and the story spawned several books and a song by Tragically Hip.

“The Bill Barilko Curse”:

There would be no Maple Leaf Stanley Cup until Bill was found! That was the curse. With each passing year without a cup the curse/legend grew. The media began referring to it as the “Ghost of the Gardens” . The Maple Leafs did not win another Cup for 11 years.  Then after 11 years a helicopter pilot spotted the airplane wreckage and they found the remains of Barilko’s body.   Would that end the curse? Enter Tim Horton.

Ken Dryden Revisits the Bill Barilko's famous " Goal" Video:

Tim Horton Connection:

1) The wreckage of the airplane was found 35 miles off course, near Cochrane, Ontario- Tim Horton’s birthplace.

2) Tim Horton was playing for the Pittsburgh Hornets of the AHL (considered Toronto’s farm team) when Barilko scored the cup winning goal. With only 6 teams in the NHL the jump up from the AHL was difficult. Toronto Maple Leafs had won 4 Stanley Cups in 5 years, leaving no room in the strong Leaf roster for a rookie defenseman.

3)  Then the disappearance of star defensemen Bill Barilko meant a roster opening on the Leafs for a defenseman.  Tim Horton was that player and became a star Maple Leaf for the next 11 years but with no Stanley Cup.

4) In 1962, the year they found Barilko’s body, the Leafs were making a great run in the playoffs but was the “Barilko Curse” finally over?

5) Strangely,  it was a defenseman Tim Horton who was leading the Leafs in the playoffs with outstanding play. He led them to the finals against Chicago Black Hawks. Tim  Horton was  known as a defensive-defenseman yet he  scored 16 points in the 12 playoff games to lead the Leafs in scoring in the 1962 playoffs.

6)  Then the strange connection between Tim Horton and Barilko took a mystical step when Tim Horton, the man that replaced him, assisted on the goal that ended the “curse”.  As if the Ghost of the Gardens was directing the proceedings, Tim Horton  assisted on the Stanley Cup winning goal by Dick Duff.  



First Tim Hortons in Hamilton



7)  Tim Horton went on to have a great NHL career and after the Leafs had just won their 3^rd straight Stanley Cup in 1964,  he partnered to start the Tim Horton Donut company with the first Tim Hortons in Hamilton, Canada in 1964.

8)  There are 5 Tim Hortons in Timmins, Ontario-Bill  Barilko's hometown.

9)  The connection has a sad irony, neither player retired from the NHL as Tim Horton also died tragically in an accident while a player with the Buffalo Sabres.

Hockey history and Canadian culture come together in many interesting, complex and sometimes mysterious ways.

Tragically Hip Song About Bill Barilko:

Books: 

1988 book Overtime, Overdue: The Bill Barilko Story, by John Melady, and the 2004 book Barilko — Without A Trace, by Kevin Shea. A 2009 children's book about Bill Barilko, So, You Be Keon and I'll Be Mahovlich by Oksanna Crawley.

Tim Horton: From Stanley Cups to Coffee Cups by Don Quinlan (2010)

For more photos and stories about Bill Barilko go to Mike Boons blog:

http://www.mikeboon.com/billbarilko.html

Darryl Sittler, Stan Obodiac and the 10 Point Game Anniversary Connection

As we approach the 35^th Anniversary of Toronto Maple Leaf, Darryl Sittler’s NHL record of 10 points in one game we are also at the 60^th anniversary of the Lethbridge Maple Leaf, Stan Obodiac’s 10 point game.  But what’s the connection besides both playing for teams called the Maple Leafs?

Stan Obodiac was the top scorer in the Lethbridge Maple Leafs' 1951 European Tour and World Championship Victory. He scored 10 points in one of those games! See more about Stan Obodiac.

His sweater from the Championship is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He became the Public Relations Director and Statistician for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

When Sittler had 7 points after the second period in his historic game, it was Stan Obodiac who entered the Toronto Maple Leaf dressing room and asked Sittler if he knew that he was just one point shy of Rocket Richard's record of 8 points in a game.  Sittler went out and scored 3 points in the 3^rd period to establish a record of 10 points in one game. Stan Obodiac must have had a flashback to that night in 1951 when he also scored 10 points in one game!

See the interview with Darryl Sittler in which he talks of the record and Obodiac. 

Darryl Sittler's 10 Point NHL Record -35th Anniversay on February 7: Video of the Month for January

Top Five Current First Nations, Metis and Inuit (FMNI) Professional Hockey Players: "Don't Call Me Cheif" Series #2

Carey Price

Hockeyhistory.org picks for the Top Five current First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) professional hockey Players:

1) Carey Price: Starting goaltender for the Montreal Canadians. Carey's mother is from the Ulkatcho First Nation.

2) Jonathon Cheechoo: Won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, Member of the Moose Cree First Nation.He is currently back in the Sharks organization, leading the AHL's Worcester Sharks in total points.

3) Sheldon Souray: Sheldon is Métis from Elk River, Alberta. He holds the NHL record for most single-season powerplay goals by a defenceman- 19. He is currently on loan to the Hershey Bears of the AHL.

4) Jordin Tootoo: Jordin has an Inuit father. First Inuit to play in the NHL, as a member of the Nashville Predators. He is currently voluntarily enrolled in the NHL's substance abuse program and will return to the Predators upon completion of the program.

5) Rene Bourque: Rene is Métis and is currently with the Calgary Flames of the NHL.

Honourable mention: Aaron Asham is Métis playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL.

Reference: Will Cardinal (2008) First Nations Hockey Players. Eschia Books Inc.

"Don’t Call Me Chief” Series #2
At one time or another most First Nations and many Métis hockey players are nicknamed “Chief”. As Don Marks writes in his book, They Call Me Chief:  Warriors on Ice, it may be considered racist to call every First Nation hockey player “Chief” or it may be a case of ignorance. In either case it is a stereotype that is inappropriate and may be considered rude, racist, and offensive. Hockeyhistory.org's series of posts celebrates FNMI professional hockey players.