Marner & Matthews will write the franchise's future story
By
Mark Schadenberg
I
grew up with Hockey Night In Canada.
Memories
from my youth include Darryl Sittler’s 10-point game against Boston in 1976,
the moustache of Lanny McDonald, and the goal celebrations of Tiger Williams. I
even have vague recalling thoughts about Red Kelly’s ‘pyramid power’ when the
Leafs were battling the Flyers in the 1976 playoffs. Toronto had a large
pyramid for positive energy in their dressing room and several under their
bench. I was just 11 then.
I’ve
become jaded in recent years obviously, but the likes of Mitch Marner and
Auston Matthews will certainly re-kindle my adoration of the Maple Leafs.
Last
night, as the Leafs celebrated their 100th birthday, it became a
double reason to celebrate their past and the lore – sometimes folklore -- of
the Leafs.
Darryl Sittler
RETIRING
NUMBERS
The
club retired 16 jersey numbers, including Sittler (27) and Tim Horton (7),
along with Dave Keon (14), Borje Salming (21), Syl Apps (10), George Armstrong
(also 10), Frank Mahvolich (also 27), Charlie Conacher (9), Ted Kennedy (also
9), King Clancy (7), Johnny Bower (1), Turk Broda (also 1), Wendel Clark (17), Mats
Sundin (13), Hap Day (4), Red Kelly (4), and Doug Gilmour (93). With Salming’s
No 21 retired during the ceremony, current Leafs forward James VanRiemsdyk
replaced his 21 with 25.
The
jersey numbers of legendary Bill Barilko (5) and also Ace Bailey (6) had also
been retired earlier due to the well-known history of each Leaf. Barilko was
eulogized in the Tragically Hip song 50 Mission Cap. Barilko netted the Stanley
Cup winning goal in 1951 versus the Habs, but would die that summer in a plane
crash as he was travelling in the north with his dentist on a fishing trip.
The
new era in Leafs land is underway, so let’s hope this Toronto franchise climbs
the ladder faster than the Oilers who seem to slip down a few rungs as they try
to ascend.
TOP
100 ALL-TIME
Besides
the retirement of numbers, which should have been a task accomplished the
season after Harold Ballard left terra ferma, the Toronto club announced its
top 100 players of all-time. An exercise like this is almost impossible as the
game and its equipment changes, as TV brings the NHL into more living rooms, as
expansion dilutes the product but the arrival of worldwide talent acts as a
counter-balance.
As
you might guess, I would place Sittler and Keon at the top of my list. Sittler
– also a former London Knights star – epitomized the Buds in my era of growing
up along with Salming, McDonald, Errol Thompson, Ian Turnbull, Mike Palmateer,
and even (to a lesser degree) Rick Vaive.
Dave Keon
Toronto Star photo
Toronto Star photo
Also
utilizing as many as 30 Toronto media members, along with fan participation of more
than 300,000 votes from Leafs faithful, the top 10 (in order) is as follows:
Dave
Keon
Syl
Apps
Ted
Kennedy
Darryl
Sittler
Mats
Sundin
Tim
Horton
Johnny
Bower
Borje
Salming
Frank
Mahovlich
Turk
Broda
Charlie
Conacher and George Armstrong were 11 and 12 respectively. My list would
somehow include both of them in the Top 10.
Canadian
Tire was the official sponsor of the 100 best Leafs list, so that’s the retail
location to search out a poster depicting all 100. Proceeds will be donated to
3 important charities – Jump Start, the MLSE Foundation, and the Maple Leafs
alumni association.
Even
though club president Brendan Shanahan played against a few on the list, he
admits the selection process would have been difficult.
"As lists
go, they are very controversial. I'm glad that I was not a part of making [it],"
Shanahan said with a laugh before introducing a video unveiling the
100. "It's a great honor to be with
the Toronto Maple Leafs organization at this time in their history, to be able
to celebrate the centennial season, for us to be able to establish where we are
going to go as an organization but also take the time to celebrate our rich
history."
In a CBC story,
Shanahan listed Sittler as his favourite Leafs player as Brendan grew up in the
Toronto area.
MITCH MARNER
October 15 (yesterday)
was an important day in Leafs history for 3 reasons – retiring numbers,
honouring the past, and celebrating Mitch Marner’s first NHL goal.
I’ve
interviewed Marner many times and we’ve talked away from the microphones as
well. He has accomplished all he can in the OHL with the London Knights as
Memorial Cup champion and tourney MVP (Stafford Smythe trophy), collecting 44
points in 18 playoff games last season as Knights go 17-1 in post-season to win
the OHL championship. Marner was playoff and regular season most outstanding
player (Red Tilson trophy). Back in the 14-15 season he had 126 points, including
82 assists.
While Canada
did not have a great result at the 2016 world juniors (losing 6-5 in quarters
to eventual champion Finland), Marner led the squad with 4 goals and 2 assists
over 5 contests.
From www.nhl.com
LINKS:
https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/toronto-maple-leafs-retire-the-numbers-of-17-players/c-282696202
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-t8W4X8Obo (Bill Barilko, Hip video)
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/gotta-see-maple-leafs-officially-retire-legendary-numbers/ (Video)
() () () () () () () () () ()
Full-time Realtor; avid Leafs fan
Mark Schadenberg, Sales
Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist
(SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553, cell or text
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . .
Destination
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