TORONTO (Feb. 19) -- Any of us would be a bit wealthier today had we predicted, prior to the season, that a Leafs-Islanders game at the Nassau Coliseum in late-February would be critical to the Eastern Conference playoff race. While yours truly picked the Maple Leafs to return to the post-season last summer, most others figured they'd be lucky to finish as high up in the standings as they did a year ago. And the Islanders? Well, Garth Snow and Co. was the butt of pre-season jokes once again after the Neil Smith fiasco, and the signing of goalie Rick DiPietro to a contract through the age of 60 (or so it seemed). But, this Thursday, a lot will be on the line when the Leafs and Isles face off in Uniondale. The Maple Leafs have been among the hottest teams in the NHL since the all-star break, and I watched the Islanders score a late goal to beat the streaking Pittsburgh Penguins earlier today. It's clear that Ted Nolan has his players in a superb frame of mind heading down the stretch, and he should easily win coach-of-the-year honors if his club qualifies for the post-season. Thursday is actually the first of two up-coming Leafs-Islanders match-ups at the Coliseum. Toronto's final road game of the season is also there, Apr. 5...
I ENJOYED THE the simple, classy ceremony that honored the 1967 Maple Leafs on Saturday night, prior to the Toronto-Edmonton game at the Air Canada Centre. It marked Dave Keon's first appearance at a club-organized event since he swore, in 1975, never again to have anything to do with the Leafs. Some were predicting a 10-to-15-minute ovation for the reclusive hall of famer, but those folks obviously hadn't gauged the Toronto hockey crowd particularly well. Many, beforehand, were reflecting on the endless applause accorded Maurice Richard during the closing ceremony of the Montreal Forum in March, 1996. But, to compare Toronto hockey fans to their Montreal counterparts is foolhardy. First off, the winning tradition in Montreal far exceeds anything that is evident in Toronto, for obvious reasons. The Habs, though they haven't sipped champagne since 1993, have won ten Stanley Cups since the '67 Leafs upset them to win their last championship. Also, there are cultural differences among people in Ontario and Quebec that lead to a more passionate, noisy hockey crowd at Habs games. Here in polite, conservative Toronto, people do not start making a fuss until the Leafs win a first-round playoff match -- at which point Yonge Steet, the main north-south drag in our city, is closed to vehicular traffic. Montreal, because of its rich French-Canadian heritage, is more reminiscient of the culture and custom in Europe. And anyone who watches soccer from England, Italy, Spain or Germany knows how demonstrative and zealous good European soccer fans can be. Montreal's hockey audience reflects that trait, and it frequently carries over to the devotion for past heroes. There will never be a Rocket Richard-like ovation in Toronto for any hockey player, past or present. It just isn't in the genes...
AND, WHILE WE'RE on the topic, why should Dave Keon receive a longer tribute than Johnny Bower, Ron Ellis, Bob Baun, Red Kelly, Allan Stanley, Mike Walton, or any of the other '67 Leafs that have made themselves a part of the Toronto hockey community in the past 40 years? I'm personally happy that Keon attended Saturday's event -- he is truly one of the greatest Leafs of all time -- but he's given back nothing to this city since he left in '75. Nor is he as engaing a fellow as someone like Bower, whose goodwill and genuine affection for others is always in evidence, even at 82 years of age. Accordingly, Keon's ovation on Saturday was the longest (the crowd prodded, undoubtedly, by the reams of advance notice in the media), but the warmest and most spontaneous reaction arose when Bower was introduced. And, rightfully so...
WE, HERE IN Canada, are most familiar with the hockey announcers that grace our televisions during the winter... Bob Cole, Jim Hughson, Chris Cuthbert, Gord Miller, Mark Lee, the venerable Don Wittman, etc. Joe Bowen, here in Toronto, has called Maple Leafs games since 1982; only Foster Hewitt did so for a longer period of time. In our youth, we were accustomed to the disparate tones of Bill Hewitt, Danny Gallivan and Jim Robson -- all legends. But, the play-by-play broadcasters south of the border are sometimes overlooked by fans in hockey-crazed Canada -- primarily, because most people don't often have a chance to hear them. The forerunners of hockey broadcasting in the U.S. were the late Dan Kelly (St. Louis), along with Marv Albert (New York), Lloyd Petit (Chicago), Budd Lynch (Detroit), Fred Cusick (Boston), Jiggs MacDonald (Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York), Gene Hart (Philadelphia) and Al Shaver (Minnesota). All were terrific and many are in the hall of fame. There is, however, a group of current U.S. broadcasters that should not take a back seat to its predecessors. Mike (Doc) Emrick is the most widely acclaimed of the American crop, and for good reason. Doc calls TV games for the New Jersey Devils, but also handles the prime national assignments on NBC, as he did for FOX and ABC. Emrick is a sensational play-by-play man, with the perfect blend of voice fluctuation and personality. He is also one of the nicest people in the business; humble, and friendly to everyone that knows him. I am fortunate to count myself in that group. One of the most underrated American broadcasters is Dave Strader, who worked for many years in Detroit and is now the TV play-by-play voice of the Florida Panthers. Few people call as crisp a game as Strader, and he's been recognized by the national TV element as well, having called games for the ESPN NHL package. My two pals in Carolina are among the very best. Chuck Kaiton is a living legend, and should be on any list of Hockey Night In Canada executives looking to the near future. Hurricanes' TV man John Forslund isn't as well known, but his clear, consise delivery has caught the attention of the people at Versus -- the NHL's midweek cable partner. John is doing a number of games across the country this season, and you'll be highly impressed if you get a chance to hear him. My long-time friend, Ken Daniels, is an exceptional broadcaster, having now been in Detroit for almost a decade. What a great career he's carved for himself. Sam Rosen has long been synonymous with the New York Rangers, and is one of a select few hockey broadcasters calling NFL games on TV each week. Sam lost his veteran color-man, John Davidson, to the St. Louis Blues executive suite this season, but he's done a typically fine job of adjusting to new partner Joe Micheletti (who is no slouch). And, what can we say about the excitable Rick Jeanneret down the road in Buffalo? His unique calls have become part of hockey lore, and it's amazing how low-key an individual he is away from the microphone. I'd like to see the results of a hearing test administered to long-time partner Jim Lorentz, who perfectly complements raging Rick. I love listening to Jim Jackson's homey telecasts out of Philadelphia. And, of course, the great Bob Miller is still going strong in Los Angeles, along with the very unique Mike Lange in Pittsburgh. What the aformentioned have in common (from my point of view) are qualities we should all strive for. They are good, down-to-earth people who work dilligently to maintain the heights they've achieved. It is my privilege to have gotten to know so many of them over the years.
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