Monday, May 18, 2020
Rob Ray Remembers
Rob Ray
hails from Stirling, Ontario. He played exactly 900 games in the
National Hockey League, all but 11 of them with the Buffalo Sabres.
He stayed in Buffalo following his career on the ice, and has been
doing commentary work for the Sabres since 2012. He was a fan
favourite in Buffalo, without question. At one game I attended, in
Buffalo, Ray spent most of the game on the bench. During the third
period, things got a little nasty on the ice. 18 000 fans began to
chant, “We want Ray, we want Ray”. The coach sent Robert to the
ice. Things settled down considerably the moment his blades cracked
the surface.
In 1999, the
Sabres faced the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference Final.
They split the first two games in Toronto, won the next two in
Buffalo. Ray added a marker in the second period of game four, and
they headed back to Toronto for game five. The Sabres disposed of the
Leafs in that game, and headed back to Buffalo, by bus. Needless to
say, it was a raucous trip. “It was an emotional time,” reported
Ray. Things quieted down at the border, as the American customs agent
border the bus. “That lasted for about two seconds before he
started running down the aisle, high -fiving everyone, and joining
the celebration.”
Dominic
Hasek, the Sabres goaltender, greeted the agent at the front of the
bus, put his arm over his shoulder, and poured a beer over his
head. “We're in trouble,” was the thought that crossed the
minds of all of the players on the bus. After a moment's hesitation,
the officer hollered, “Yeah!!!”, and exited the bus. ( Once we
get to cross the border again, this is not recommended.)
Ray won the
King Clancy Award that year for his humanitarian efforts in Buffalo.
He has always been involved in charity work, on both sides of the
border. He visited my classroom several times, and the kids were
delighted to spend an hour or two with Mr. Ray. After one visit, I
invited Rob to dinner at my house, fresh corn and steaks.
We headed to
Lewis Wight's corn field when he arrived. We met Lewis at the field,
and I introduced him to Rob. “What do you do for a living?” Lewis
asked Rob, barely into the conversation. Rob told him he played
hockey. “No, no,” Lewis retorted, “I mean for a living!”.
I told Lewis that Rob had made half a million dollars the
previous year. Lewis chewed on that for a minute, then asked Rob
where his home was. When told that he was from Stirling, Lewis asked
him if he knew John Ray, the farm machinery dealer. Rob told Lewis
that John was his Dad. Lewis then blurted out, “Why, I kept you in
coveralls for years!” The corn was excellent, as usual.
Robert Ray
watched a lot of the play in the NHL from the penalty box. He spent
more than 3200 minutes in the “sin bin”. He trailed just a few
other notables in the career penalty minute category when he retired:
Tiger Williams, Dale Hunter, Marty McSorley, Tie Domi, and Chris
Nilan. He did not win all of his scraps, but he showed up for every
one.
Rob had a
decent career in the Ontario Hockey League before being drafted by
the Sabres. He had 52 points in 61 games in his final season with the
Cornwall Royals. He saved his best games for the Stirling fans who
made the trip to Belleville to watch him play against the Bulls. He
was no favourite of coach Larry Mavety, as Ray would sometimes cruise
in front of the Belleville bench with a huge smile on his face!
Certainly
the pride of Centre Hastings, and Stirling, Ontario!
May 12,
2020.
James Hurst
Spring Fever 2020
I have no
doubt that most of us are experiencing “Spring Fever” more so
this year than ever. Cabin fever has us in its grasp. We can't wait
to escape the confines, and enjoy the rebirth of our world, as we
enter the month of May. The virus has had us in its grasp since
March, and we are sick and tired of it.
The sports
world is reeling at this time. The brains in the sports industry have
been working overtime to figure out ways to kickstart their worlds,
as the number of Covid-19 cases subsides. Right from the start,
league officials have been setting tentative dates to resume play.
There have been discussions about ways to throw out the first pitch,
to drop the puck, to tip off the basketball, or to flip the coin at
centre field. Decisions made are changed hourly, as there seems to be
very little positive news from the health officials.
As long as
the “curve refuses to flatten” and the numbers of new cases show
up on our television screens, executives in the sports world will
wring their hands. There are no correct or certain answers at this
time.
I cannot
wait until I have an opportunity to attend a sports event. Major
League, Minor League, perhaps even a T Ball game featuring the mighty
mites! Simply being there will signify that the back has been broken
on this insipid disease.
What do I
miss about being there? Let's start with colour. (Yes, we spell the
word that way, in our parts!) I vividly remember the first time I
laid eyes on a Detroit Red Wings uniform at Maple Leaf Gardens. The
red was so brilliant! The lights were bright, the ice was stark
white. That may have had something to do with my reaction. It was as
brilliant as the cardinal that perches in the cedar hedge next door.
I loved to
see the Black Hawks in their red uniforms as well. There was just
enough contrast to the Maple Leaf blue to set them apart. Pierre
Pilote would handle the puck behind Glenn Hall, move to the left of
the cage, and begin the movement toward the other end of the rink.
Naturally, there were five players in blue uniforms trying to thwart
his efforts. Our attention intensified if Bobby Hull swooped across
ice to pick up a loose puck, and dash into the Leafs zone. Just over
the blue line, he would bring back the blade of his stick and let
loose his patented slap shot.
We groaned
collectively, as we heard unmistakable ping. The puck ricocheted off
the crossbar. A fine souvenir for a fan sitting in the Blues behind
Johnny Bower.
We had the
Ranger blue, and yes, the “rouge” from Montreal. The Bruins?
Well, they had decided on a combination of yellow and brown, like the
bear.
When
baseball came to Canada, first with the Expos and then the Blue Jays,
we were given the opportunity to share in the brilliant colours of
the game. When the stadia open again, just watch the eyes of the
children as they scurry along the ramps, leaving the concession
areas, to view the field for the first time. It does not matter to
them that the green is not grass, but artificial turf. It is indeed a
big field, with lots of activity, and it is important.
I can't wait
to sit on the sidelines of a game in the Canadian Football League.
The Calgary Stampeders will be the team in the red uniforms, the
Argos in blue, well, double blue. It might be the brilliant yellow of
the Ticats, or the blue in an Alouette uniform, or a Winnipeg Blue
Bomber.
When the
light turns green, when the danger has passed, I will hustle my buns
to see the Raptors in The Big Smoke. I am sure that you can easily
discern that I am chomping at the bit. All in good time. Enjoy the
colours of Spring!
May 4, 2020.
James Hurst
