A Hall of Fame Selection Decades Overdue
Hats off to those making this year's selection to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Four were elected to be inducted on to the Hall located in Toronto this November. The most recognizable names are those of Patrick Roy, goaltender with the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado, and the late Herb Brooks, coach made famous by the "Miracle on Ice" when he was head coach of the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team - that underdog team that won the gold medal in 1980. Also being honored is Harley Hotchkiss, part owner of the Calgary Flames and chairman of the NHL's board of governors.
But for me the most notable and satisfying selection was that of Dick Duff.
Duff, 70, retired in 1972 and has been waiting for this honor for over 30 years.
He was on four Stanley Cup winners with the Montreal Canadiens (1965, 1966, 1968, 1969) after winner the cup twice with Toronto (1962 and 1963).
To me he embodies much of what hockey used to be about in the pre-expansion, pre- Sun Belt days. He was a player that went up and down his wing, and got the job done. He was a team player, a money player, a winning player - a true professional.
He was having breakfast at a hotel in his home city of Kirkland Lake, Ont., when he got the word.
"I was almost in tears," he said during the conference call. "This means a lot to me, just like playing hockey meant a lot to me."
His 283 career regular-season goals leave him way down the list of all-time scorers, but he scored many a key goal including overtime winners. Like Roy, he was at his best when it meant the most. He scored 30 playoff goals. He was a five-foot-nine, 166-pound offensive player who would thrive in the new NHL of today.
"It was a great journey," he said of his career, which included playing witht he likes of Jean Beliveau, Henri Richard, Dave Keon and Frank Mahavolich.
He was not flashy, but always appreciated by the fans - whether in Toronto (where he was known as Dickie Duff), in Montreal or even in New York, where he was most remembered for having been part of a big trade that included Andy Bathgate.
Congratulations to Dick Duff for an honor long overdue.
Career info. and quote courtesy of Hockey Hall of Fame and Canadian Press
Four were elected to be inducted on to the Hall located in Toronto this November. The most recognizable names are those of Patrick Roy, goaltender with the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado, and the late Herb Brooks, coach made famous by the "Miracle on Ice" when he was head coach of the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team - that underdog team that won the gold medal in 1980. Also being honored is Harley Hotchkiss, part owner of the Calgary Flames and chairman of the NHL's board of governors.
But for me the most notable and satisfying selection was that of Dick Duff.
Duff, 70, retired in 1972 and has been waiting for this honor for over 30 years.
He was on four Stanley Cup winners with the Montreal Canadiens (1965, 1966, 1968, 1969) after winner the cup twice with Toronto (1962 and 1963).
To me he embodies much of what hockey used to be about in the pre-expansion, pre- Sun Belt days. He was a player that went up and down his wing, and got the job done. He was a team player, a money player, a winning player - a true professional.
He was having breakfast at a hotel in his home city of Kirkland Lake, Ont., when he got the word.
"I was almost in tears," he said during the conference call. "This means a lot to me, just like playing hockey meant a lot to me."
His 283 career regular-season goals leave him way down the list of all-time scorers, but he scored many a key goal including overtime winners. Like Roy, he was at his best when it meant the most. He scored 30 playoff goals. He was a five-foot-nine, 166-pound offensive player who would thrive in the new NHL of today.
"It was a great journey," he said of his career, which included playing witht he likes of Jean Beliveau, Henri Richard, Dave Keon and Frank Mahavolich.
He was not flashy, but always appreciated by the fans - whether in Toronto (where he was known as Dickie Duff), in Montreal or even in New York, where he was most remembered for having been part of a big trade that included Andy Bathgate.
Congratulations to Dick Duff for an honor long overdue.
Career info. and quote courtesy of Hockey Hall of Fame and Canadian Press
posted by eric model | 12:20 AM
1 Comments:
I think Dick Duff's hall of fame induction would be about the same as Kris Draper getting inducted around 2040 or so. A disgrace.
Duff was a good checking forward on several cup teams, who never fit in when he played on a team without cup talent. His biggest strength that gave him his nomination is that he is a friend of many hall of fame committee members.
If you need to go back and add some 60's players (and you dont - there is a reason they havent been inducted yet) Carl Brewer and Claude Provost should come far ahead of Duff (and that doesnt make Brewer or Provost hall of famers)
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