All World Hockey by T. Michael Travers

For me, the  Four Nations Cup  was just about the inevitable game FINAL between the two hockey powers, Canada and the USA.  Would any fans show up if the FINAL had been Sweden vs Finland? Incidentally, 45% of today's NHL is made up of Canadians and 24% are US citizens. The following is just my opinion/thoughts regarding the tournament. If you'd like to offer yours, please do so at the end of this note. *Initially, I didn't want to watch because I just thought it was another take on an All-Star game ... no intensity ... no passion ... no body contact. I was very, very wrong. *I watched the games on US television with Mark Messier and PK Subban as pre and post-period commentators. Messier was OK. Subban is a clothes horse and featured a different spectacular outfit with each appearance. He also chose to attach a "Poppy", yes, in February, a poppy, to his ensemble as some sort of tribute to Don Cherry. I'm not poppy-wise but I think that displaying a poppy at an ...

  About 25 years ago, I hired legendary Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz to deliver the main address at my charity function. In his closing remarks, he said,   "Don't complain about your health issues because 95% of the people don't care, and the other 5% are glad it's you! Lou Holtz ... he was very good and very expensive The coach is right! The following is not complaining - it's just a head's up.  I was told my condition was rare, and it was ... until I got it. It's my story, and I hope it never happens to you. I joined my Florida neighbour (from Sudbury) for the Leaf game when, mid-game, I started to get chills. I thought he had the AC too high. He turned it off, and I got colder. My shivering got so bad that I had to return home and get into bed fully clothed with a winter blanket and a heating blanket -- the shivering wouldn’t stop.  This was really kicking my ass. Then, the real symptoms showed up. If you are of a certain age, you may have to get ...

In 1994, before his induction to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame at Toronto's famed Royal York Hotel, 14-year Montreal Canadien veteran, Bernie Geffrion and I sat in the lobby bar and ordered afternoon cocktails to celebrate the honour he was about to receive. " He played at only 5'9" but he was a bull ... scoring 50 goals in the 1960 season (the second player to 50 -- behind teammate, "Rocket" Richard). His scoring success had a lot to do with being credited with inventing the slap shot. On the ice, his opposition couldn't see his shot but they could hear it. His nickname was  "Boom Boom"   for a reason. FUN FACT:  If you were lucky enough to get an Original Six player to sign your gameday program or a BeeHive Corn Syrup collectible hockey picture, or OPCHEE hockey card that signature was always legible and the person who was giving it to you put a little effort into it ... some signatures like Howe and Hull and Orr and Rocket and Beliveau we...

I'M A LEAF! I became a fan in 1952 ... c'mon T E E D E R !!! St. Mike's David (don't call me "Davey") Keon. As a youngster, I saw many Leaf games in person at the Gardens plus the Sunday afternoon doubleheader Jr. "A" games that featured Mahovlich and Keon and all the junior hopefuls looking for a spot on the big club. Frank before he became the Big "M" In the 1960s Carl Brewer was my favourite Leaf and I attended all four Stanley Cup parades up Bay Street to City Hall -- how many fans can say that? In one such parade, a photo hung on the Gardens mezzanine floor next to the hot dog stand featuring me, as the kid hanging from the lampost watching my heroes being driven to city hall in convertible cars. The 1960s ... the city showing some love for our boys. Can you imagine what this parade would look like if the Leafs were able to bring the Cup home this year? From 1981 to 1985, my son would perform the job that I (and maybe you) always wante...