CrashingTheGoalie

by Ron Spence
Hockey News writer Adam Proteau was taking the NHL owners to task over the NHLPA’s firing of Paul Kelly.
He referred to “…a Goodenowian philosophy from the owners….”
Mr. Proteau is obviously chronologically challenged.
That’s like saying that Roberto Luongo taught Georges Vezina how to play in goal.
Bob Goodenow was mirroring Alan Eagleson who totally mirrored [...]

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by Ron Spence
The Bowman takeover - with all of its subplots – could only have happened in Chicago.
The big question is whether Dale Tallon will place a curse on the Blackhawks.

One of the highlights of my – sort of – hockey writing career was a lunch I shared with Jim Coleman.
He was a wonderful, crusty old [...]

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by Ron Spence
It was the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, and the Panthers wanted to select Alexander Ovechkin, even though his birthday was two days after the cut-off.
The Florida GM claimed that with the addition of the extra days falling on Leap Year, Ovechkin was actually eligible to be drafted that June.
But, the NHL didn’t [...]

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by Ron Spence
Clint Smith passed away last week. He was 95-years-old and had won a Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1940.
I met with Clint – and interviewed him on a couple of occasions – and we talked about hockey during the 1930s and 1940s.
He called the semi-final series between the Bruins and Rangers – [...]

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During the 25 years of the Original Six era, this was the only time a team other than Montreal, Toronto, or Detroit had won the Cup.
Boston would win the Cup twice – following the expansion to 12 NHL teams – and the New York Rangers would beat Vancouver to win the Cup in 1994.

courtesy ofclassicauctions.net
Murray Balfour’s [...]

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by Ron Spence
Depression and St. Louis hockey seem to go together. 
The Blues were swept by the ‘nucks and St. Louis hockey fans are feeling down. They made it into the post-season – after a handful of years – but were quickly shown the exit after the first round.
St. Louis’ NHL hockey started during a depression [...]

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by Ron Spence
Many hockey fans will remember Guy Charron. He’s one of the guys – along with Mickey Redmond and Bill Collins – who went the other way to Detroit when Frank Mahovlich, was traded to the Habs on January 13, 1971. Charron would have won a Cup that spring with Montreal, but started his career [...]

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by Ron Spence
Matt Anderson had it all. He had a 100 mph fastball. He was voted an All-American at Rice University, and he was selected 1st overall in the June, 1997 MLB draft. 
For all of this, the 6′4″ right hander received a $2.5 million signing bonus.
The kid from Louisville was a real prodigy and in his first [...]

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by Ron Spence
“All roads [led] to the Victoria arena….,”  wrote the Daily Colonist.
It was the place to be. Derby-hatted and spats-strutting spectators arrived by the tramload. Victoria’s finest orchestra set the ambiance and the Lieutenant Governor dropped the first puck.
It was January 3, 1912 and there was finally a top-notch hockey league west of the [...]

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