Entering the Hall 2009

Recently, four hockey players and a manager were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. They spent the weekend in front of microphones, cameras, and prodding journalists. Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille, Steve Yzerman, and Brian Leetch were the players. Lou Lamoreillo was the manager. It will be difficult to find a more deserving group.

The day of induction begins with the presentation of the Hall of Fame Rings. That takes place in the Great Hall, where all of the induction pictures are located. Players receive their rings and spend an hour chatting with media. Also on hand are a few friends and associates of the inductees.

It was my pleasure to chat with former Belleville Bull Darren Pang. Pang followed his National Hockey League career with an extensive ride in broadcasting. He has been everywhere, talking about hockey. He currently works in St. Louis, covering the Blues.

Pang grew up in Ottawa, and spent several minor hockey seasons with Steve Yzerman. Bulls’ fans first got to see Pang when he played for the Gloucester Rangers. That was the Bulls second season in the Tier II Junior Division. They had advanced through the Provincial Playoffs, then cruised through a series against Onaping Falls and Thunder Bay.

The Bulls faced Gloucester for the Ontario Championship, and a berth in the Centennial Cup Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In game seven, the Bulls “battled back from two goal deficits four times” to win 10-8 in overtime. In his book 25 years With the Belleville Bulls, Aaron Bell quoted coach Mavety after the victory: “I just can’t believe it. What can you say about a game like that?”

Mavety chose Pang to be his goalie in the Bulls first year at the OHL level. Pang shared the netminding duties with Ken Porteous. The Meaford, Ontario native carried the load for the Bulls that year, starting 47 games, winning fifteen. He started 12 games for the Bulls the following season, then was traded to the Ottawa 67’s.

Pang starred for the 67’s in the 83-84 season, was the top goalie in the Memorial Cup, winning the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy. Undrafted, he signed with the Chicago Black Hawks and played 81 games over three seasons with the Hawks.

Darren Pang was at the Hockey Hall of Fame because he is Steve Yzerman’s best friend. They began playing together in Nepean, and he remembers those days vividly. He told me that he believed that Yzerman was a “natural born leader”. As a young player, Yzerman was a true student of the game. “If you didn’t do it the right way, he let you know about it. He was so determined. He would tell his teammates, if they were having difficulty to “put your head down and you will get through it.’”

Pang and Yzerman played Midget together in Nepean. He remembers Yzerman winning the Bobby Orr Trophy at the Loblaws Cup as a youngster. Even as a fourteen year old, he caught the eye of the scouts. Pang remembers giving up an “awful goal” and having Yzerman skate back to him, tap his pads and state: “We’ll get it back”. And he did, in short order. Pang said that Steve was “always understated, always serious”. “He was a great defensive player on our Nepean team.”

Yzerman spent his entire career as a Red Wing, and is currently employed by the Wings as Vice-President, Hockey. He is also the General Manager of Team Canada for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

When I asked Yzerman for a piece of advice for young hockey players, he smiled and replied, “Keep your head up.” He added, “If you drop the puck to one of your teammates behind you, you had better be aware that it won’t be stolen”.

When asked about his Cup-winning days in Detroit, he replied, “We had a lot of fun. (Fellow Inductee) Brett Hull was a real spark in the dressing room”.

Understandably, Yzerman was in his office in Detroit when he received the call that he had been selected to the Hall of Fame. He has a lot on his plate right now with the approaching Olympics. He will be second guessed to Kingdom Come for the choices he ultimately approves for the team; however, he will make them, and stand by them in his always understated, serious fashion. A most welcome member to the Hall.

James Hurst

Gaels March On! 2009

In a brilliant display of offensive football, the Queen’s Gaels outlasted the University of Western Ontario Mustangs 43-39 to win the Yates Cup last Saturday.

The Yates Cup is the oldest football trophy in the history of the sport. The Gaels will keep possession of the trophy this year, relieving the Mustangs of the burden. It rested in London for the past two years.

Dr. Henry Brydges Yates first presented the Cup in 1893, as a McGill medical graduate. He later served as a lieutenant-colonel in the Canadian Army Medical Corps during the First World War. While overseas, he fell ill with bronchitis, and died in Europe in 1915.

In the victory presentation, it was announced that it has been thirty-one years since Queen’s had won the trophy. That year, 1978, the Gaels went on to win the National Championship and the Vanier Cup by defeating the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds at Varsity Stadium 16-11.

Belleville’ Jimmy Allin was ecstatic after the game. “I can’t even begin to describe the feeling,” he told me. He acknowledged that Western quarterback Michael Faulds had played a great game. “We will savour this win tonight, but we will be back to work tomorrow.” The Gaels will host the Laval Rouge et Or in the Mitchell Bowl next Saturday, for the right to play in the Vanier Cup on November 28.

Somewhat disappointed, Allin elaborated: “I don’t think we played well defensively. The offense was great.” Smiling, he added, “Maybe we can pay them back for their efforts next week”. Allin is also the premier kick returner on the team, and was well contained by a swarming group of Mustangs on every return. He was chosen as a First Team OUA All star this year as a defensive cornerback.

Under a slight drizzle in the first half, Queen’s quarterback Danny Brannagan moved the offense well, completing important passes when necessary. The teams combined for an incredible 1 209 yards of offense in the game. Brannagan threw for 515 yards, Faulds for 509 yards. Faulds was the MVP for the league this year, while Brannagan copped the honour in the Yates Cup game.

The Queen’s victory was somewhat disappointing for Stangs’ coach Greg Marshall. He went into the game with an eighteen game winning streak in OUA playoffs this decade.

The Gaels had lost three post season games in a row. Coach Pat Sheahan spoke to Sun Media after the game: “This year was resolve right from the beginning. It was going to be Yates Cup or bust. (The Players) would not have looked at this season as a success if we didn’t win the Yates Cup.”

After the game, Brannagan spoke to me about the contribution of the home town crowd, announced at 7 253. “They were unbelievable. At the end of the game, they were so loud that they forced Western to take an offside penalty on their last drive. It made a difference”.

Injured during the last drive, Michael Faulds limped on to the field for the last Western play of the game. His desperation pass fell just short of receiver Zach Bull on the Queen’s three yard line with less than a minute left on the clock.

Game. Set. Match.

The stands will be packed for the game next Saturday. Queen’s will have the benefit of the “Thirteenth Man”. They will need it. Laval has a potent offense, and will be trying to hang on to the Vanier Cup for the third consecutive year.

Bonne chance, tout le monde!

James Hurst
sportslices.blogspot.com

2009 Yates Cup : Western at Queen's

John Boultbee and his father Bill enjoying the game!

Under a brilliant November sun, the Queen’s Golden Gaels defeated the McMaster Marauders 32-6 last Saturday in Kingston. The Gaels dominated all aspects of the game from the opening kick off.

A strong westerly wind had a deciding influence on the outcome of the game. The Gaels went with the wind in the first quarter, and hemmed the Marauders into their end of the field on several occasions. Rather than chance a punt on third down, McMaster conceded safety touches on three occasions, adding six points to the Gaels’ scoreboard.

Queen’s added a touchdown by converting a turnover in the first quarter. Matt Vickers picked off an errant throw at the Mac 35 yard line, and Marty Gordon rambled in from the one to place the Gaels in front 13-0.

Queen’s running backs Jimmy Therrien and Gordon ran at will throughout the game. Despite the wind, Gaels’ quarterback Danny Brannagan threw for 161 yards on twelve completions.

The Queen’s offensive line proved to be the difference in the game. They blasted holes for the running backs, and held the Mustang defenders at bay, giving Brannagan time to read the defense.

There was constant pressure on the McMaster quarterback Kyle Quinlan the entire four quarters. Rush ends Osie Ukwuoma and Shomari Williams combined for twelve tackles and two sacks. Matt Vickers and Belleville’s Jimmy Allin combed the secondary, allowing Quinlan only 12 completions on 36 attempts.

Belleville Sports Hall of Fame inductees Gord Smith and Rick Locke were on hand for the Gaels’ triumph. Smith, a retired official, kept his eye on things from the press box. Locke was an outstanding running back for the Marauders. He went on to coach thousands of athletes at Quinte Secondary School in Belleville.

Next Saturday, the Gaels will meet the University of Western Ontario Mustangs for the Yates Cup in Kingston. The Cup will be awarded for the 102nd time. Game time is 1:00pm at Richardson Field.

The Mustangs knocked off the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks 26-16 in Waterloo on Saturday to earn the right to play in their third consecutive Yates Cup. Nathan Riva ran for 279 yards on 42 carries to lead the Stangs.

Western quarterback Michael Faulds completed 14 passes on 29 attempts. He is the CIS all-time passing yardage leader with 10 811 yards, just 97 yards ahead of the total that Brannagan racked up at Queen’s.
Note: Jimmy Allin elected to remain at Queen’s this year following four outstanding seasons with the Gaels. In 2007 and 2008 he was awarded the Bob Howes award as the Most Outstanding Special Teams Player. Laurier fullback Peter Quinney also hails from Belleville. Both got their careers started in the Belleville Minor Football League.

James Hurst
sportslices.blogspot.com
8 November 2009

Celebrating Hockey History at Lunch

Once a month, during the hockey season, several former National Hockey League players get together for lunch just north of Toronto.

It is truly a fine collection of players from many decades. There are a few who played in the Sixties and Seventies. And there are a few who have been away from the game for some time.

Wally Stanowski received an ovation from the crowd because he had passed his driver’s test---again. Wally has had several tests because he recently celebrated his ninetieth birthday.

Wally was also singled out because he was one of many NHL hockey players who left the game in the Second World War to serve the country. A most fitting tribute as we approach Remembrance Day.

Stanowski, nicknamed “Wally the Hat”, came east in 1938 to play for the Memorial Cup as a junior. The Leafs liked what they saw in the speedy defenceman, and moved him into their system. After winning the Cup in 1942, he joined the army for two years.

The First World War had finally ended when the NHL’s second season began in 1918. A player from the old National Hockey Association, Scotty Davidson, was among the first to enlist in 1914. He had won the Stanley Cup in 1914 with the Toronto Blueshirts. He was killed in Belgium on June 6, 1915.

Conn Smythe, the man who forged the Toronto franchise into the Leafs, and also built Maple Leaf Gardens, emerged from the First World War as an officer. He formed a Sportsmen’s Battery twenty years later at the outbreak of the Second World War.

Danny Lewicki began his hockey career in an impressive fashion. He won the Memorial Cup as a junior when he was 17, the Allan Cup when he was 19, and his first Stanley Cup when he was 20. He spent nine seasons in the NHL. His grandson Aaron was an outstanding player with the Wellington Dukes a couple of years ago. Danny

Jim Morrison shared a few stories from his early days in the NHL. He played only fourteen games with the Boston Bruins before being traded to the Leafs. He was sent to Pittsburgh for a month, because the Leafs wanted to convert him from defence to centre.

In his first game as a Leaf, he was told by his coach, Joe Primeau, to get ready to jump on the ice after “Teeder” Kennedy won the face-off. Kennedy cruised over to the bench and Morrison leapt over the boards onto the ice. He took one stride and fell flat on his face. Three times. He then realized that the old trick had been played on him. There was a thin strip of hockey tape on the blade on the bottom of his skate.

It was great to share a story with two former Whitby Dunlops-Bobby Attersley and Sandy Air. Both have great memories of the ice wars against the Belleville McFarlands at the Memorial Arena.

The great Harry Howell enjoyed his lunch at the Rangers table. Bob Baun, Bob Nevin, Ivan Irwin, and other former NHL players appreciated the opportunity to meet with friends. It was also a pleasure to chat with former Belleville McFarland “Pete” Conacher, a most congenial host.

Canadian singing legend Michael Burgess showed up a little late for the lunch after his game of shinny. The group sang Happy Birthday to Herb Carnegie, celebrating his Ninetieth at the luncheon.

“Reverend” Ron Hurst closed out the festivities with a few anecdotes. With his quick wit, sharp lines and dead-pan face, he left the group rolling in the aisles, until the next time.

James Hurst
sportslices.blogspot.com

World Series 2009

The New York Yankees disposed of the Los Angeles Angels from Anaheim last Sunday night to secure a berth in this year’s World Series. Somewhat surprisingly, the last time that the Bombers from the Bronx participated in the Fall Classic was half a dozen years ago. It just seems like they are there every year.

Despite the large number of sluggers on the squad, they reached the final clawing and scratching at the Angels’ pitching staff. They showed patience at the plate as well, drawing several walks in key situations. In the final game, the winning run was scored on a bases-loaded walk. That is enough to drive any manager to distraction.

The Yankee got outstanding pitching from one of their off-season acquisitions, C.C. Sabathia. The gentle giant mowed down Angel hitters in his appearances, and garnered MVP honours for the championship series. He stands six feet, seven inches, and is just shy of three hundred pounds. He stands on a mound of dirt about thirty inches above the rest of the field. He unloads the baseball at almost one hundred miles per hour. The distance between the mound and home plate is six inches more than twenty yards.

The Yankees also got good pitching performances from Andy Pettitte and A. J. Burnett. The relieving staff, with one exception, has become a little bit suspect. That exception, of course, is the incomparable Mariano Rivera. The Panamanian has baffled hitters since he was signed by the Yankees almost twenty years ago. His fastball does not have the same zip that it did when he signed. No matter. He has adjusted by adding nasty little glitches to his delivery that make him the best relief pitcher in baseball. Ever.

Although he signed in 1990, he did not make his first Major League appearance until 1995. Since then, he has amassed records in many categories. For example, he now has almost forty postseason saves in his career. Second on the list is Dennis Eckersley with fifteen! Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Derek Jeter have all played fifteen seasons with the Yankees. They are the longest serving, active players with one team in the big leagues today. Loyal, and likely quite wealthy, too.

To his credit, Rivera makes an effort to give back to the game. He has been honoured with the “Citizen Award” from latinobaseball.com for his commitment to the well-being of children throughout the Americas. He helped finance construction of a new elementary school and a church building in Puerto Caimito, Panama. He does what he can to enrich the lives of Panamanians in the off-season, with gifts to many of the local children.

The Philadelphia Phillies have been waiting for the Yankees. They are the reigning World Series Champions, and are not about to concede the title to anyone. They disposed of the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are well prepared to face the Yankees in an East Coast shootout which will concluded some time in November.

The Yankees pitching staff will face Jimmy Rollins, Chase Uttley, Shane Victorino, Ryan Howard and company for the next week or so. And the Yankee batters will have to contend with Cliff Lee, Raul Ibanez, and “El Perfecto” Pedro Martinez, one-time favourite Montreal Expo.

It all begins, weather permitting, on Wednesday night in the Bronx. They will head to Philly for a chilly Hallowe’en encounter Saturday night. Hide your children. It will be a scary affair!

sportslices.blogspot.com
October 26, 2009

Belleville-Hockey Haven for a Weekend

Last weekend, the Society for International Hockey Research held its annual Fall Meeting in Belleville at the Belleville Club. More than thirty hockey enthusiasts from Canada and the United States met to share their passion about the great game.

The organization is described on its web site as “a growing network of writers, statisticians, collectors, broadcasters, academics, and just plain hockey buffs.” The hoard met in Belleville to share their stories, and their particular interests in the game.

I was fortunate enough to come out of the weekend with three great hockey books.

On Saturday afternoon, Todd Denault, a freelance writer from Cobourg, took the podium and told us about his adventures in the pursuit of the story of Jacques Plante. With great tenacity, Denault interviewed more than forty of the late, great goaltender’s teammates, coaches, hockey friends. He chatted with Andy Bathgate, Johnny Bower, Red Fisher, Dick Irvin, Dickie Moore, Henri Richard, and Scotty Bowman. He chased the elusive legends about Plante all the way to Switzerland, where Plante was laid to rest. For a time, at least.

Denault whet my appetite to the extent that I can hardly wait to tear into the book. He received seven offers from publishers to do the book, finally settled on McClelland and Stewart. Not a bad start for his first book. He did hang his head slightly when asked about the fortunes of the Cougars from Cobourg. I believe I did mention that the Wellington Dukes had swacked them the night before.

I also received a copy of a fine volume of the hockey history of Kingston. The irrepressible Bill Fitsell, one of the founders of SIHR, and Mark Potter put together a wonderful tome on shinny in the Limestone city. Needless to say, there is the odd quote in there from Don Cherry. Cherry writes: “Make no mistake, Kingston is the cradle of hockey and I’m proud to be a Kingstonian.” It must hurt Don every time a Belleville team goes in there and comes out with yet another victory.

There was a “Meet and Greet” on Friday night, and Wayne “Weiner” Brown, a key player in the McFarland triumphs shared his stories for a couple of hours. Mayor Neil Ellis brought greetings from the city, and announced that the long-anticipated unveiling of THE SIGN had taken place. On Pinnacle Street, north of the Moira, there finally is a sign proclaiming the McFarlands as Canadian and World Champions. Somewhat overdue, as it took fifty years to come up with an appropriate location. There will be another erected near the Quinte Sports Centre.

On Saturday, following the usual business requirements, Benoit Clairoux from Verdun, Quebec shared his thoughts on the Battle of Quebec-Thirty Years Later. An intriguing topic at this time, as there have been rumblings about moving a disenchanted NHL franchise to the capital of Quebec. Another hockey enthusiast, James Mancuso from Utica, New York, related his research on the various trophies from the minor leagues. He was well familiar with the exploits of former Belleville Bull Scott Feasby, who had a sip or two from the Turner Cup in Muskegon with the Fury. Mancuso was not aware that Feasby had slipped into Rochester for a spell, and got his name engraved on the Calder Trophy when the Americans won the American Hockey League Championship.

The meeting ended with a screening of Peter Lockyer’s “Celebrating Hockey History: The Story of the McFarlands”. The crowded room rose to its feet as the movie ended, and applauded loudly. They were overwhelmed when three of the players who won the World Championship were introduced: David Jones, Keith Macdonald, and Lionel Botly. The players spent half an hour answering questions about their triumphs until Macdonald announced: “Sorry folks, I’m a farmer, and I have chores to do.”

Most of the group hung around the city to watch the Bulls beat the Kitchener Rangers that evening. Yet another hockey experience for the members of SIHR. Check the web site. Google: Society for International Hockey Research. New members welcome!

James Hurst
October 20, 2009

Preparing For the Fall Classic

The Official American League Division Series program contains the rosters of the New York Yankees, the Minnesota Twins, and the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers and the Twins finished the regular season tied after 162 games, and they played one game to decide who would move on to the ALDS championship.

The Twins won that game, celebrated briefly, then headed to New York to play the Yankees the next day. Certainly, fatigue was a factor in their first game loss to the Yankees.

The second game of the best of five series also took place at Yankee Stadium. Passports in order, it took less than eight hours from the County to stand in the shadows of the house that George (Steinbrenner) built. A quick trip south on 81 past Watertown and Syracuse takes one to the border at Binghampton. East from there, highway 17 winds its way through the Catskills to the Tappan Zee Bridge. The skyline of the Big Apple lies to the south as you cross the Hudson River into the borough of Tarrytown, and its twin sister of Sleepy Hollow. Both towns are now preparing for Hallowe’en, including late night walks in the cemetery. Not for me, thanks.

Parking at the Police Station in Tarrytown costs six dollars a day. The return train trip directly to the Stadium is four dollars, seniors’ rate. We bought our tickets from the machine beside the track, birth certificates not required. In other words, a great way to get in and out of the city.

The Yankee faithful ambled into the park for the 6:07pm start. There was an element of hustle and bustle, but not much. Scalpers had tickets for less than $ 100. The game had been sold out, but here was little panic for patrons seeking seats. The old Yankee Stadium is still standing, covered in a gray shroud.

Reggie Jackson threw out the first pitch. “Mr. October” took a few strides from the dugout, practiced his swing a couple of times to delight the crowd, and threw the ceremonial pitch ten feet into the dirt in front of home plate.

Burnett started for the Yankees, Blackburn for the Twins. Both pitched well until the middle innings when managers began manipulating pitchers and batters. The Twins almost broke the goose egg in the sixth, but Carlos Gomez overran second base, and was tagged out just before teammate Delmon Young touched home plate. Baserunning gaffes would be the undoing of the Twins in the series.

Naturally, power hitting also had something to do with the loss. Alex Rodriguez clubbed a two run homer in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game. Mark Teixeira won the game in the eleventh with a shot inside the foul pole in left field. The Bronx Bombers of 2009 had left another footprint in the sands around the bases of Yankee Stadium.

In the final game of the Series, the Twins again had a chance to win a game when poor baserunning did them in. Derek Jeter snagged a shot up the middle behind second base. With no play at first, he spied Nick Punto rounding third, heading for home. He snapped a throw to Posada behind the plate, who easily caught Punto scampering back to third base.

The Yankees now face the Los Angeles Angels from Anaheim. The Angels disposed of the Boston Red Sox in three games to earn the right to play the Yankees in the American League Championship Series, slated to begin Friday, October 16th. The last four games of the World Series are scheduled for the first few days in November. As we have seen, they are having difficulty getting through the first round of the playoffs in Colorado. Can you imagine playing there in November?

Toronto got it right when they installed the retractable roof. Baseball needs to be played in a hospitable climate. Peanuts and Cracker Jacks do not mix well with snowflakes.

James Hurst
sportslices.blogspot.com