I was born a poor Leafs fan in Ottawa in 1963. I found myself amongst a family of Leaf and Hab fans. Sadly my first words were Jean Beliveau thanks in no small part to that segment of the family that rooted for the Canadiens. I have nothing against Mr Beliveau as he is pretty much a perfect gentleman and as gifted a player as any that have played. I do of course take umbrage at the sweater he chose to wear during all those years. Can you imagine my evil brothers and sisters sitting around the breakfast table with Mr. Beliveau's image on the cereal box whispering his name over and over to a tiny baby Leaf fan. I have come to believe that I wanted to say George Armstrong but I feared they would not continue to give me access to said cereal so... out came the name of the Hab's cpatain. It would not be the last time that I betrayed the honour of the Blue and White's but it is perhaps the most stinging example of my trespasses.
We moved to Toronto in the late 60s and I have the most distant, perhaps phantom memory of that fabled cup win in '67. I believe that I remember the family going crazy with joy, at least that part of the family that lived and died with our Leafs. I grew up and lived through the early exansion years starting with seeing that team of time tested veterans, storied mature playes and young prospects tossed into the hat of expansions that bled the team greatly. Seeing a combination of Ballard's mis-management (the most polite words i have for Mr Ballard.) and the WHA take away Keon, Parent, Plante amongst others in the early 70s set the stage for the team which would be filled out with people who would become my childhood heroes.
Darryl Sittler, Lanny Mcdonald, Borje Salming, Mike Palmateer, Tiger Williams, etc. were to become as important to me as my friends I played road hockey with during the 70s. A time where helmuts did not seperate the fan from the face left the players vulnerable to injury but allowed the fans to know the players a little better than is possible even with today's high definition coverage. These men were the hope and promise of my youth. They were not the best team in the league but they and the players surrounding them played a brand of hockey that was tough and exciting.
Sittler was my first Captain. I was around for Keon but a little too late in his time with the Leafs to appreciate what he accomplished with the storied '60s teams. Darryl was youthful, energetic, skilled and the consumate modern Captain. His work with Ronald Mcdonald House, off and on ice events, summer slow pitch games etc. was remarkable. His respect and affection for his team mates shone through the flickering lights of our TV very clearly. The memory of him breaking in on odd man rushes with the Leafs scrambling to get into position around him is very clear to me. My mother loved the guy.
Lanny. What can you say? That shot, his speed, the mustache. Darryl's best friend and linemate. Traded away to punish Darryl protected by his no trade clause when Ballard soured on him. I remember that goal against the Isles like it was yesterday. Scored with a broken wrist. Echoes of Bobby Baun were still bouncing around the franchise then. My mother loved the guy, but kept hoping he would "Shave that darn mustache".
Borje Salming. Anyone who was around to see the man play saw greatness. They saw incredible bravery and a sense of purpose that was staggering. He stood up against the worst that decade known for worsts could throw at him. His long bomb backhanded clears during penalty kills, his amazing gifts with the puck, shot blocks, passing, speed, on and on. He had it all and left everything he had on the ice at the end of a game. My mother worshipped him.
Mike Palmateer was fun to watch. So tiny and full of excitement. Shut out the Habs early on in his tenure with the Leafs. Right hand catcher, butterfly on overdrive. Never a dull moment as he could be up down in and out of position a 1/4 second after the puck was dropped in his end. So much entertainment from one diminutive guy. My mother loved him.
Tiger Williams. Could score as well as fight. Never let the team down. He was the response to the Broad Street Bullies, the Big Bad Bruins and the monsters they pushed into Hab jerseys. Any Tiger goal paled beside any Tiger goal celebration. Too cool for school.
With Ian Turnbull, Errol Thompson, Brian Glennie and all the various parts to the 70s team it was fun to be a Leaf fan, young and full of hope. I think of those men often and hope they know that what they did meant so much to so many young kids.
I got to meet a few of them at old timers games but never had the chance to say what they meant to me. I sat within a few rows of Borje at a Jay game once in the first few years at Skydome. I had the urge to stand up and say "Ladies and Gentlemen, Borje Salming" but I just sat there smiling and remembering what it was like to be 14 and know that my team would win The Cup for sure. Know that my heroes were people worth cheering for, worth remembering. Go Leafs Go
We moved to Toronto in the late 60s and I have the most distant, perhaps phantom memory of that fabled cup win in '67. I believe that I remember the family going crazy with joy, at least that part of the family that lived and died with our Leafs. I grew up and lived through the early exansion years starting with seeing that team of time tested veterans, storied mature playes and young prospects tossed into the hat of expansions that bled the team greatly. Seeing a combination of Ballard's mis-management (the most polite words i have for Mr Ballard.) and the WHA take away Keon, Parent, Plante amongst others in the early 70s set the stage for the team which would be filled out with people who would become my childhood heroes.
Darryl Sittler, Lanny Mcdonald, Borje Salming, Mike Palmateer, Tiger Williams, etc. were to become as important to me as my friends I played road hockey with during the 70s. A time where helmuts did not seperate the fan from the face left the players vulnerable to injury but allowed the fans to know the players a little better than is possible even with today's high definition coverage. These men were the hope and promise of my youth. They were not the best team in the league but they and the players surrounding them played a brand of hockey that was tough and exciting.
Sittler was my first Captain. I was around for Keon but a little too late in his time with the Leafs to appreciate what he accomplished with the storied '60s teams. Darryl was youthful, energetic, skilled and the consumate modern Captain. His work with Ronald Mcdonald House, off and on ice events, summer slow pitch games etc. was remarkable. His respect and affection for his team mates shone through the flickering lights of our TV very clearly. The memory of him breaking in on odd man rushes with the Leafs scrambling to get into position around him is very clear to me. My mother loved the guy.
Lanny. What can you say? That shot, his speed, the mustache. Darryl's best friend and linemate. Traded away to punish Darryl protected by his no trade clause when Ballard soured on him. I remember that goal against the Isles like it was yesterday. Scored with a broken wrist. Echoes of Bobby Baun were still bouncing around the franchise then. My mother loved the guy, but kept hoping he would "Shave that darn mustache".
Borje Salming. Anyone who was around to see the man play saw greatness. They saw incredible bravery and a sense of purpose that was staggering. He stood up against the worst that decade known for worsts could throw at him. His long bomb backhanded clears during penalty kills, his amazing gifts with the puck, shot blocks, passing, speed, on and on. He had it all and left everything he had on the ice at the end of a game. My mother worshipped him.
Mike Palmateer was fun to watch. So tiny and full of excitement. Shut out the Habs early on in his tenure with the Leafs. Right hand catcher, butterfly on overdrive. Never a dull moment as he could be up down in and out of position a 1/4 second after the puck was dropped in his end. So much entertainment from one diminutive guy. My mother loved him.
Tiger Williams. Could score as well as fight. Never let the team down. He was the response to the Broad Street Bullies, the Big Bad Bruins and the monsters they pushed into Hab jerseys. Any Tiger goal paled beside any Tiger goal celebration. Too cool for school.
With Ian Turnbull, Errol Thompson, Brian Glennie and all the various parts to the 70s team it was fun to be a Leaf fan, young and full of hope. I think of those men often and hope they know that what they did meant so much to so many young kids.
I got to meet a few of them at old timers games but never had the chance to say what they meant to me. I sat within a few rows of Borje at a Jay game once in the first few years at Skydome. I had the urge to stand up and say "Ladies and Gentlemen, Borje Salming" but I just sat there smiling and remembering what it was like to be 14 and know that my team would win The Cup for sure. Know that my heroes were people worth cheering for, worth remembering. Go Leafs Go
