...smokin' in the boys room...smokin' in the boys room...
I've found a piece of paper or two, a pen, sitting here at the lake shore, crack a pint and gaze at the silhouette of the shoreline across the water. Dusk is such a sore looking shade in November. Pastel blue gray sky and water pinching out that shifting shadow, now dark, and darker.
I gotta ask, whats more Canadian then camp in November?
Rabbit ears and 'Hockey Night in Canada' that's what! Hold It, one more, rabbit ears, Saturday Night and Montreal at Toronto. Well I must have died and gone to heaven!
So much of who I am started here, at the cottage or as we northerners like to say, the camp. Spending virtually the first 16 years of my life 'at camp' every weekend or more this place is magic to me now. Every moment a picture , every picture a memory. Since our return home this place is my oasis, escape from the panic of the city, journey back to that inner place we all seek.
Enough head, lets talk heart and soul. No I'm not writing in the rain, the wood stove snaps warmth by the table sitting square to windows that front our building. Yes pen and paper, no Hal here. No master either, not a one, not wife, not daughter, not even that little cat that barks like a dog. The place is all mine this visit. A family place by design, lost is its current relevance to my folks for one reason or another. Justifiable yet unfortunate. Anyway on with this celebratory entry.
I've decided to write out by hand my thoughts, my trusty Bic Atlantis #12 will log events as they unfold.What you are reading now, transpired on Saturday night.
There are two or three if one counts the french speaking channel. CBC is a public broadcasting network that has and continues to produce the best hockey coverage in the form of 'Hockey Night in Canada'. IMO. This channel can be captured as it has for decades, free air. At least till' the year 2011 when I understand Canadian broadcasters will switch to digital leaving behind analog encryption. After that a box will be needed to descramble for older TV's. I don't know about you but if this world changes any more I'm going to need an technician just to watch the hockey game. Suffice to say my trusty ears are on and ready to roll, tin foil and all.
And still the music from the back as I await 6:30pm eastern...
...and the cradle will rock...and the cradle will rock...
...rock on.... ...hey...rock on...
OK. How do you know you should have had more than just beer for supper? When your anxiously awaiting hockey at 6:30 and than realize the clocks have not yet been changed to fall back! More time for another before the pregame show I guess. Its not all bad.
Here we go. Keep in mind that things may seem all over all over the map while in fact I'm talking through what I see.
A minor league hockey team of young boys, on a ice surface, dressed in gear, open the program with the traditional welcome.
Its 'Hall of Fame Weekend'. Bonus!
Panel discussion with Ron Mclean, Mike Milbury and Kelly Hrudy. Milbury talks about how Grebowski reminds him of Mark Napier with his style of play.
Wow, Bob Cole is doing the update game in Calgary, what a shame! Whats the worst thing about it? He's working with Greg Millen...what a shame!...
More intro work.There is a glaring hole in energy, it's this new theme song, elevator music the network picked from a contest...this whole music debacle could well spell a greater core departure than the CBC bargained for.
Glen Anderson says he emulated the Russian players. I'm not sure if he means it yet He did like to play on the larger ice surfaces. Larionov claims the Canada Cup series was his favorite hockey, all time. Ray Scapinello tells us the most difficult coach he faced was Pat Quinn and he had the toughest time with Darren McCarthy. That's saying a lot considering the amount of work he got over such a long career. Ray told a story, as a guy who traveled a lot he spent much time living at home. Collecting autographed sticks had become a passion. One return visit home he looked in the yard and here most of these collectibles are cut off at the blade and driven in the ground. His Dad was using them to run his tomato plants up. Ron says did you say anything...Ray goes, nothing I can say to Canada!
Don Lester Cherry joins Ron at rink side. He is wearing an uncharacteristically conservative jacket. Oh, now I realize it is a legion garb.Talks about how Komisarek is his favorite player on the Hab's team. We all know hes pulling for T.O. He also says something about Montreal has never lost one of these road trips to Toronto. I think he means... I'm not sure what he means. There are times when, short of Ron interpreting, he loses me.
Big ceremony before the puck drops...combination of Hall members and War Veterans...Vets get much warmer reception...actually I am impressed, good on Toronto for showing a lot of class separating the truly important from the game. Although, when calling out Andersons name he uses the phrase 'at last' and the crowd roared.
Vets and inductees drop the ceremonial puck. Again, class act.
Ex Leaf Gaye Stewart who played and than served his country reads 'in Flanders Field...absolute quiet...bagpipes...tear in my eye....O Canada song by enlisted man...Honor Guard...man, how I get it!...such a current relevance attached to remembrance...
Game on! There at it early...Leafs storm the net...Canadiens seem to most affected by the long pre game...
Greg Simpson on color...solid game knowlege...Price fighting the puck...no shots on goal Hab's... first seven minutes...
fight!...Van Ryn has his bell wrung...hit from behind...blood on the ice...can't do this, must watch...Beauty goal!...Grabowski highlite move and pass to Hagman...Finger assist...
...Toskala handles the puck very well...this is good hockey both ways...oh...Schenn hits the boards hard...replay shows A. Kostitsyn trips him...actually closer to a slew foot...Schenn alright...penalty...Toronto evens it up with a too many men...first period over 1-0 T.O....shots 13 to 3...
...Coaches corner with Ron and Don...I've been in rooms where the entire bar stops and listens to this segment and than goes on during the game to make so much noise you can't hear the play by play...tonight is no different, Don is continuing with the traditional Remembrance Day show...Cherry's grandfather fought at Vimy...he talks with pride and a lump in his throat, he can barely hold it together...its genuine folks...then comes the naming of soldiers lost this year accompanied by pictures ...this goes on for the rest of his segment...again...tear in my eye...
There has been much controversy whether it is appropriate to mix this kind of reverent honoring during a sporting event. I for one endorse it completely. Our hockey culture is heavy with people who have served their country and vise versa.
...second period...wow! Grabowski is hot...1:48 in...Kulemin assists...Toroto is all over them...
...Montreals Robert Lang finishes a very active P.P. that draws the penalty killers high and than works it quickly down low to fill the seam...2-1...
...Hab's are roughing up Grabowski...three straight goaltending interference penalty's by Toronto....P.P. goal by Plekanec from S. Kostitsyn!...2-2...
...P.P. score...Kubina to Hagman (tip)...sweet...3-2...
Tanguey SLEW FOOTS Schenn opening a lane for Koivo to score...3-3!!!!
Well folks that is as far as I was able to continue with the play by play. After the transgression by Tanguay and the continued dirty play by both teams I was to caught up in the game to sit still! I swore and I howled and just had a great time finishing this out to its just conclusion. My opinion, Toronto deserved to win that game 6-3.
My hat is off to both teams as the game lived up to the hype. Lookin' forward to the next Tier 1 battle between these storied teams. I can only hope that I can be so lucky as to catch it at the camp once again.
Peace, out.
This piece originally entered November 10th 2008.
Re posted in honor remembrance. Please thank a Veteran today, yesterday is why we have tomorrow.
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