Two Impactful Personalities on the Ice Look Forward & Back
In separate articles, two vital cogs of Stanley Cup teams in the 1960's have been profiled this week.
John Ferguson was an enforcer for the Montreal Canadiens. On a team known as the Flying Frenchman (with the likes of Jean Beliveau, Henri Richard and Yvan Cournoyer), Ferguson (along with the likes of Terry Harper, Ted Harris & Claude Larose) offered toughness to round out a talented team. Many consider Feguson to be the most vital contributor in helping the Canadiens of the mid-60's to be transformed from a pretty good team to a Stanley Cup Champions. In fact, with Ferguson around, the Canadiens won cups in 1965,66,68,69 and 1971.
These days Ferguson the battler is in a different type of battle - he is fighting bone cancer and receiving treatment at a Toronto hospital. And this comes after bypass five years ago, and then prostate cancer two years ago. A column in the Winnipeg Free Press updates Fergie's conidition and how he is handling things talking about his condition.
See:http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/columnists/top3/v-full/story/3844750p-4449236c.html
In Toronto, Eddie Shack was known as The Entertainer. There (and other stops)
he played a similar role as an energizer and character - helping the Leafs to Stanley Cups. This year their last, now 40 years removed, is being remembered.
A good profile of Shgack recalling that great unique Leaf team and its personalities (including the likes of Frank Mahavolich, Bobby Baun, Tim Horton, George Armstrong, Dave Keon, Terry Sawchuck, Johnny Bower and coach Punch Imlach).
The Clown Prince, the cut-up, the head case in a hockey sweater, was arguably the most unprofessional professional player on those Leaf teams. He was a character off and on the ice.
His playing style was unique as well. It appeared as though Shack was on rails, and a saying was coined to match the unorthodox style: "Clear the track, here comes Eddie Shack."
Taking up a cause personally dear to me, Shack would like to see a return to a more innocent and entertaining NHL era, where men would wear shirt and tie and women elegant gloves to games.
Everything was dressed up," he said of the old days. "Now, you look at the crowds, and you see a Montreal sweater, Los Angeles, or whatever it is, and you just wonder."
He does not watch today's game. He does not know the names of today's players. And he does not appear to care.
"We knew all the players names because we had no helmets," Shack said. "There were no concussions. All we had was hangovers."
See:http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/sports/story.html?id=32e3b674-4421-4f3a-b4d7-2c8cc7c2b483
John Ferguson was an enforcer for the Montreal Canadiens. On a team known as the Flying Frenchman (with the likes of Jean Beliveau, Henri Richard and Yvan Cournoyer), Ferguson (along with the likes of Terry Harper, Ted Harris & Claude Larose) offered toughness to round out a talented team. Many consider Feguson to be the most vital contributor in helping the Canadiens of the mid-60's to be transformed from a pretty good team to a Stanley Cup Champions. In fact, with Ferguson around, the Canadiens won cups in 1965,66,68,69 and 1971.
These days Ferguson the battler is in a different type of battle - he is fighting bone cancer and receiving treatment at a Toronto hospital. And this comes after bypass five years ago, and then prostate cancer two years ago. A column in the Winnipeg Free Press updates Fergie's conidition and how he is handling things talking about his condition.
See:http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/columnists/top3/v-full/story/3844750p-4449236c.html
In Toronto, Eddie Shack was known as The Entertainer. There (and other stops)
he played a similar role as an energizer and character - helping the Leafs to Stanley Cups. This year their last, now 40 years removed, is being remembered.
A good profile of Shgack recalling that great unique Leaf team and its personalities (including the likes of Frank Mahavolich, Bobby Baun, Tim Horton, George Armstrong, Dave Keon, Terry Sawchuck, Johnny Bower and coach Punch Imlach).
The Clown Prince, the cut-up, the head case in a hockey sweater, was arguably the most unprofessional professional player on those Leaf teams. He was a character off and on the ice.
His playing style was unique as well. It appeared as though Shack was on rails, and a saying was coined to match the unorthodox style: "Clear the track, here comes Eddie Shack."
Taking up a cause personally dear to me, Shack would like to see a return to a more innocent and entertaining NHL era, where men would wear shirt and tie and women elegant gloves to games.
Everything was dressed up," he said of the old days. "Now, you look at the crowds, and you see a Montreal sweater, Los Angeles, or whatever it is, and you just wonder."
He does not watch today's game. He does not know the names of today's players. And he does not appear to care.
"We knew all the players names because we had no helmets," Shack said. "There were no concussions. All we had was hangovers."
See:http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/sports/story.html?id=32e3b674-4421-4f3a-b4d7-2c8cc7c2b483
posted by eric model | 4:44 AM
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