Monday, June 24, 2019
Stanley Cup Final 2019
The St.
Louis Blues and the Boston Bruins are now preparing to play three
games to determine which team will have the right to carry the
Stanley Cup following the final game. On Monday night, the Blues tied
the series with a 4-2 victory in St. Louis.
These teams
do have some history in Stanley Cup play. Hockey fans will recall
that memorable occasion when Bobby Orr came from the corner near the
Blues' net, flipped the puck past Glenn Hall, and celebrated the goal
while flying through the air. A great goal, by a great player,
permanently etched into the memory of all hockey buffs. That ended
the hopes and dreams of the relatively young Blues, at that time.
The St.
Louis Blues is one of the few teams in the National Hockey League
never to have the opportunity to win the prize. The team has come
close, on occasion, but not for a long time.
Located in
the mid-west of the United States, it has taken a long time to
establish a strong hockey culture in the area. First of all, it is
truly American baseball territory. The Cardinals established
themselves as fan-favorites long before any sheets of ice saw the
light of day in that part of Missouri. College football and college
basketball reign supreme in those parts.
For many
years, the St. Louis Hawks was a member of the National Basketball
Association. Professional football in the form of the Cardinals and
the Rams captured the attention of sport fans in the city, only to
fall by the wayside, for a number of reasons.
There is an
enormous arch in St. Louis, indicating that the city is the “Gateway
to the West”. It is a rather curios phenomenon, because it is also
similar to a ride at Canada's Wonderland. You climb in a rather
crowded capsule, and slowly ascend the arch, to its apex. There is a
viewing room at the top of the arch. For someone who does not take
heights easily, the trip back to terra firma cannot come soon enough.
There are
many Blues' fans in the Quinte area, primarily because of the efforts
of Belleville's Rick Meagher. Meagher played 12 years in the NHL,
mainly with St. Louis. Along with a committee of friends and family,
he helped establish a fund-raising golf tournament in the Belleville
area. More than a million dollars was raised through the tournament,
and several play areas were established, for children, with the
funds.
Another
local connection to the Blues is another former captain, Brett Hull.
Hull became a prolific scorer for the Blues, often teaming with Adam
Oates. Hull is the son of Bobby Hull, and he was born in Belleville.
In order to stir the crowd on Monday night, Hull took the microphone
on the ice before the game, and led them in a cheer.
On the
Bruins side of the coin, a former star with the team was also born in
Belleville: Eddie Westfall. He left the city as a young child.
Another former Bruin from this area is Wayne “Weiner” Brown.
Brown was with the Bruins for a cup of coffee, but made his mark in
hockey as an important member of the Belleville McFarlands when they
won the Allan Cup and the World Championship in 1959.
More
recently, Andrew Raycroft spent some time tending the goal for the
Bruins. He currently resides in the area, and does television and
radio work for the Bruins.
There is a
host of other Bruin fans in this area, all shapes and sizes, and for
various reasons. They will all be glued to their television sets on
Thursday night for Game Five, from Boston.
Great hockey
traditions from the great game of hockey.
June 4, 2019
-- James Hurst 613.399.2278 sportslices.blogspot.ca
# posted by James Hurst @ 12:13 PM 
