The Goal of My Life
Page 22
• Wrote his second book, his first post-retirement from the NHL, titled The Game, in 1983. Was nominated for a Governor General’s Award. He has written six books in total.
• Became president of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1997.
• Resigned from the hockey world in 2004 when he began his pursuit of politics.
• Joined the Liberal Party of Canada and ran for federal election in June 2004. He was re-elected in 2006, but lost his cabinet seat in the 2011 federal election.
RON ELLIS
Born: January 8, 1945, Lindsay, Ontario
• Played in all eight games of the Summit Series on a line with Bobby Clarke and Paul Henderson, registering three assists.
• Played in 1,034 NHL games, all with the Toronto Maple Leafs (332 goals, 308 assists, 640 points).
• Tied for lead in NHL in game-winning goals in 1966–67 (7).
• Was a member of the last Toronto Maple Leaf team to win the Stanley Cup in 1967.
• Played in four All-Star games (1964, 1965, 1968, 1970).
• Played for Team Canada in 1977 World Championships.
• Became the director of public affairs for the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992.
• Founded The Ron Ellis Team Canada Foundation.
• Co-wrote his biography Over the Boards: The Ron Ellis Story.
• Works closely with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, spreading awareness of the stigma associated with depression.
PHIL ESPOSITO
Born: February 20, 1942, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
• Was assistant captain of Team Canada 1972. Led the team in scoring with 7 goals and 6 assists for 13 points in the 8-game series.
• Played in 1,282 NHL games between 1963–64 and 1980–81 (717 goals, 873 assists, 1,590 points) for the Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers.
• Began his career with the Chicago Blackhawks; traded to Boston in 1967.
• Was a member of two Stanley Cup–winning teams with the Bruins (1970, 1972).
• Was the first player in NHL history to reach 100 points, in 1968–69; finished the season with 126 points.
• Set NHL records with 76 goals and 152 points in 76 games, 1970–71.
• Played in 10 All-Star games (1969–75, 1977, 1978, 1980).
• Won Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’S leading scorer five times (1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74).
• Won Hart Trophy as the NHL’S most valuable player twice (1968–69 and 1973–74).
• Won the Lester B. Pearson Trophy as the NHLPA’S choice as most valuable player twice (1970–71, 1973–74).
• Won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s male athlete of the year, 1972.
• Was First Team All-Star at centre six times (1968–69 through 1973–74).
• Was Second Team All-Star at centre twice (1967–68, 1974–75).
• Led NHL in goals six consecutive seasons, 1969–70 through 1974–75.
• Led NHL in assists three times (1967–68, 1968–69, 1972–73).
• Is fifth on the NHL’S all-time goal-scoring list, behind Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Brett Hull, and Marcel Dionne.
• Captained the New York Rangers from 1975–78.
• Also played for Team Canada at 1976 Canada Cup and 1977 World Championships.
• Was head coach of New York Rangers in 1986–87 (43 games) and 1988–89 (2 games).
• Was general manager of New York Rangers (1986–89) and Tampa Bay Lightning (1991–98).
• Co-founded the Tampa Bay Lightning.
• Has also been a Ranger and Lightning broadcaster.
• Was made an officer of the Order of Canada, 1972.
• Was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984.
• Is currently the colour commentator for Tampa Bay Lightning radio broadcasts.
TONY ESPOSITO
Born: April 23, 1943, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
• Played in four games in the 1972 Summit Series and went 2–1–1 with a 3.25 goals-against average.
• Won the all-important game two at Maple Leaf Gardens and the crucial game seven in Moscow.
• Won an NCAA championship with Michigan Tech, 1964–65.
• Won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 1969–70. Won the Vezina Trophy the same season and was runner-up for the Hart Trophy. His 15 shutouts were the most by an NHL goaltender since 1928–29.
• Also won the Vezina Trophy in 1971–72 and 1973–74.
• Led NHL in wins, 1969–70 and 1970–71.
• Led NHL in goals-against average in 1971–72 (1.77).
• Led NHL in shutouts three times (1969–70, 1971–72, 1979–80).
• Played in six All-Star games (1970–74, 1980).
• Was First Team All-Star in goal (1969–70, 1971–72, 1979–80).
• Second Team All-Star in goal (1972–73, 1973–74).
• Played in 886 NHL games, with a record of 423–306–151, a 2.92 goals-against average, and 76 shutouts.
• Was third all-time in wins by a goaltender when he retired, trailing only Terry Sawchuk and Jacques Plante (is currently seventh).
• Also played for Team Canada at the 1977 World Championships, but played for Team USA at the 1981 Canada Cup.
• Retired from his NHL playing career in 1985, became general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1988–89.
• Was inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame, 1988.
• Was chief scout for the Tampa Bay Lighting from 1991–98.
• Became an official ambassador of the Chicago Blackhawks in March 2008.
JOHN FERGUSON
Born: September 5, 1938, Vancouver, British Columbia
Died: July 14, 2007 (age 68)
• Was invited to play for Team Canada 1972 (he had retired from the NHL after the 1970–71 season), but he declined, instead accepting the position of assistant coach.
• Played in 500 NHL games between 1963–64 and 1970–71, all with the Montreal Canadiens (145 goals, 158 assists, 303 points, 1,214 penalty minutes).
• Played for five Stanley Cup champions (1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71).
• Was a rare blend of toughness and skill; scored at least 20 goals twice, while leading the league in penalty minutes with 177 in 1966–67.
• Montreal linemates included Jean Beliveau and Claude Provost.
• Played in two All-Star games (1965, 1967); MVP of the 1967 game.
• Scored Stanley Cup–clinching goal in 1969.
• Was head coach of New York Rangers, 1976–77, and Winnipeg Jets, 1986.
• Was general manager of the Rangers, 1976–78, and Winnipeg Jets, 1978–88.
• Worked for the Ottawa Senators in the early 1990s.
• Was a special consultant to the general manager of the San Jose Sharks.
ROD GILBERT
Born: July 1, 1941, Montreal, Quebec
• Played six games in the 1972 Summit Series, scoring four points and collecting nine penalty minutes.
• Played in 1,065 NHL games between 1960–61 and 1977–78, all with New York Rangers (406 goals, 615 assists, 1,021 points).
• Played on the famous GAG (Goal-a-Game) Line with Vic Hadfield and Jean Ratelle.
• Set 20 team scoring records including career goals (406), career points (1021) and assists in one game (5, which he did 3 times).
• Played in eight All-Star games (1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977).
• Won the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance and sportsmanship, 1975–76.
• Was Second Team All-Star at right wing, 1967–68.
• Was First Team All-Star at right wing, 1971–72.
• Also played for Team Canada at 1977 World Championships.
• Became the first Ranger to have his number (7) retired by the club.
• Was Head coach of New Haven Nighthawks (AHL), 1980–81.
• Won the Lester Patrick Trop
hy for contributions to hockey in the United States, 1991.
• Was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982.
• Opened his own restaurant called “Gilbert’s” in Manhattan.
• Was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honour in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.
• Currently works as director of special projects and community relations representative for the New York Rangers.
BRIAN GLENNIE
Born: August 29, 1946, Toronto, Ontario
• Did not appear in the 1972 Summit Series.
• Was captain of the Memorial Cup champion Toronto Marlboros, 1966–67.
• Played for the Canadian National Team in 1967–68 and represented Canada at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France, winning a bronze medal.
• Played in 572 NHL games between 1969–70 and 1978–79 (14 goals, 100 assists, 114 points), primarily with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
• Was a solid defenceman known for his devastating bodychecks.
• Was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, 2005.
BILL GOLDSWORTHY
Born: August 24, 1944, Kitchener, Ontario
Died: March 29, 1996 (age 51)
• Played in three games in the 1972 Summit Series, scoring two points.
• Originally with the Boston Bruins, Bill became a star and fan favourite with the Minnesota North Stars beginning with the 1967–68 season.
• Played in 771 NHL games (283 goals, 258 assists, 541 points) with Boston, Minnesota, and the New York Rangers between 1964–65 and 1977–78.
• Played in 49 WHA games (12 goals, 12 assists, 24 points) with Indianapolis and Edmonton, 1977–78 and 1978–79.
• Played in four All-Star games (1970, 1972, 1974, 1976).
• Scored a career-high 48 goals in 1973–74.
• Coached the Indianapolis Racers (WHA), for 29 games in 1977–78 and the San Antonio Iguanas (CHL) in 1994–95.
JOCELYN GUEVREMONT
Born: March 1, 1951, Ste. Rose, Quebec
• Did not appear in the 1972 Summit Series.
• Was selected to the team after playing only 75 NHL games.
• Was selected third overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1971 Amateur Draft.
• Was a member of Memorial Cup–champion Montreal Junior Canadiens, 1969 and 1970.
• Played in 571 NHL games with Vancouver, Buffalo, and New York Rangers (84 goals, 223 assists, 307 points) between 1971–72 and 1979–80.
• Played in the 1974 All-Star Game.
• Retired from the NHL in 1980 due to chronic shoulder problems.
VIC HADFIELD
Born: October 4, 1940, Oakville, Ontario
• Played in two games of the 1972 Summit Series.
• Was captain of the New York Rangers, 1971–74.
• Was the first 50-goal scorer in New York Rangers history.
• Played on the Famous GAG (Goal-a-Game) Line with Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle.
• Played in 1,002 NHL games between 1961–62 and 1976–77 (323 goals, 389 assists, 712 points).
• Played in two All-Star games (1965, 1972).
• Owns the Vic Hadfield Golf & Learning Centre in Oakville, Ontario.
PAUL HENDERSON
Born: January 28, 1943, Kincardine, Ontario
• Scored 7 goals and 3 assists for 10 points in the 1972 Summit Series.
• Scored the winning goals in games six, seven, and eight.
• His goal in the eighth game with 34 seconds remaining is regarded as The Goal of The Century.
• The goal gave Canada the victory in the series over the Soviets.
• Made NHL debut in 1963 with the Detroit Red Wings.
• Was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1968 in a transaction that included two future Hall of Famers – Frank Mahovlich and Norm Ullman.
• Played in 707 NHL games (236 goals, 241 assists, 477 points).
• Played in 360 WHA games (140 goals, 143 assists, 283 points) with Toronto/Birmingham.
• Played in two All-Star games (1972, 1973).
DENNIS HULL
Born: November 19, 1944, Pointe-Anne, Ontario
• Played in four games in the Summit Series, scoring four points, including two goals.
• Played in 959 NHL games – 904 with Chicago, 55 with Detroit (303 goals, 351 assists, 654 points).
• Played in five All-Star games (1969, 1971–74).
• Was Second Team All-Star at left wing, 1972–73.
• Graduated from Brock University with a degree in history and physical education, taught at Ridley College, and became a broadcaster, all following his NHL career.
• Was athletic director at Illinois Institute of Technology after retirement.
• Wrote a book titled The Third Best Hull.
• Is a popular and entertaining public speaker/comedian. Among his many appearances has been the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, which he hosted.
• Operates a cattle farm in Northumberland County, Ontario, with his brother Gary.
ED JOHNSTON
Born: November 23, 1935, Montreal, Quebec
• Did not appear in 1972 Summit Series.
• Won two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins (1970, 1972).
• Was the last goaltender to play in every minute of every game for his team during a season, the Boston Bruins of 1962–63.
• Played in 592 NHL games with Boston, Toronto, St. Louis, and Chicago between 1962–63 and 1977–78, with a record of 234–257–80, a 3.25 goals-against average, and 32 shutouts.
• Coached Chicago Blackhawks (1979–80) and Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–83, 1993–97).
• Was general manager in Pittsburgh (1983–88) and Hartford (1989–92). Worked in Penguins front office, 1997–2009.
GUY LAPOINTE
Born: March 18, 1948, Montreal, Quebec
• Played in seven games of the 1972 Summit Series, recording one assist.
• Nicknamed “Pointu.”
• Played in 884 NHL games between 1968–69 and 1983–84 (171 goals, 451 assists, 622 points) for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, and Boston Bruins.
• Played on six Stanley Cup champions with Montreal (1971, 1973, 1976–79).
• Played in four All-Star Games (1973, 1975–77).
• Was First Team All-Star on defence, 1972–73.
• Was Second Team All-Star on defence, 1974–75 through 1976–77.
• Was part of Montreal’s Big Three on defence that included Serge Savard and Larry Robinson, both of whom are also Hall of Fame defencemen.
• Also played for Team Canada in 1976 Canada Cup.
• Was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993.
• Has worked for the Minnesota Wild as coordinator of amateur scouting since 1999.
FRANK MAHOVLICH
Born: January 10, 1938, Timmins, Ontario
• Played six games in the Summit Series, collecting two points.
• Nicknamed “The Big M.”
• Won Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, 1957–58, edging out Bobby Hull.
• Played in 1,181 NHL games between 1956–57 and 1973–74 (533 goals, 570 assists, 1,103 points) with Toronto, Detroit, and Montreal.
• Played in 237 WHA games between 1974–75 and 1977–78 (89 goals, 143 assists, 232 points), all with Toronto/Birmingham.
• Won four Stanley Cups with Toronto Maple Leafs (1962–64, 1967) and two more with Montreal (1971, 1973).
• Played in 15 All-Star games (1959–65, 1967–74).
• Was First Team All-Star at left wing (1960–61, 1962–63, 1972–73).
• Was Second Team All-Star at left wing (1961–62, 1963–64 through 1965–66, 1968–69, 1969–70).
• Also played for Team Canada in 1974 Summit Series.
• Was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981.
• Became a member of the Order of Canada, 1994.
• Appointed to the Ca
nadian Senate, 1998.
PETER MAHOVLICH
Born: October 10, 1946, Timmins, Ontario
• Played in seven games in the 1972 Summit Series, scoring a goal and adding an assist.
• The goal was scored in game two at Maple Leaf Gardens. The goal was scored shorthanded and secured the victory for Team Canada.
• Nicknamed “The Little M.”
• Was drafted second overall by Detroit in the 1963 Amateur Draft.
• Played in 884 NHL games with Detroit, Montreal, and Pittsburgh between 1965–66 and 1980–81 (288 goals, 485 assists, 773 points).
• Played in two All-Star games (1971, 1976).
• Was a member of four Stanley Cup–winning teams with Montreal (1971, 1973, 1976, 1977).
• Coached several minor-pro teams including the Toledo Goaldiggers, Colorado Rangers, Denver Rangers, Forth Worth Fire, and Cape Breton Oilers.
• Scouted for the Edmonton Oilers from 1995–97, then for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
• Is currently a pro scout with the Florida Panthers.
RICHARD MARTIN
Born: July 26, 1951, Verdun, Quebec
Died: March 13, 2011 (aged 59)
• Did not appear in the 1972 Summit Series.
• Was selected fifth overall by Buffalo in the 1971 Amateur Draft.
• Was named to Team Canada 1972 after appearing in only 73 NHL games.
• Set a rookie goal-scoring record (since broken) with 44 in 1971–72.
• Combined with Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert to form the feared French Connection for the Buffalo Sabres.
• Played in 685 NHL games between 1971–72 and 1981–82 (384 goals, 317 assists, 701 points) for the Sabres, including four games with the Los Angeles Kings.
• Suffered knee injury in November 1980 that effectively ended his career.
• Had back-to-back 52-goal seasons, 1973–74 and 1974–75.