Ted Lindsay ... He was part of Hockey's Royal Family ...
Today would have been Ted Lindsay's 94 birthday.
Superstar, "Golden Jet" Bobby Hull, called Ted the best left winger to ever play the game.
High praise for a boy from
a little northern Ontario mining town.
He passed away on March 4, 2019
in his beloved second home, Detroit.
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| Captain Lindsay @ 29 (1955) Gentleman Ted @ 70 (1995) |
Superstar, "Golden Jet" Bobby Hull, called Ted the best left winger to ever play the game.
High praise for a boy from
a little northern Ontario mining town.
He passed away on March 4, 2019
in his beloved second home, Detroit.
PHOTO FOOTNOTE: I posed Ted with his playing days' captain photo and we used it as a fundraiser for Special Olympics Canada.
He signed 50 copies
and I had each beautifully framed.
This Lindsay photo sold for an average of $600.
A simple gesture and a wonderful gift on his part that provided $30,000 for what he called "my fellow athletes".
 |
| The Two Teds - "2 Lions at Dusk" All-Star Game, Toronto 2000 |
you may recall that when he was a teenager
in Kirkland Lake, his Holy Name Irish team
met another teenager's team in Port Colborne,
for the Ontario Juvenile Championship.
That other teen was Ted "Teeder" Kennedy.
The story of what became of the two teenage hockey opponents is legend.
The story of what became of the two teenage hockey opponents is legend.
They both became NHL superstars, and captains of their respective teams and were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the same year.
When "Teeder" earned his first of five Stanley Cups (he was the first NHL player to do so), he and his Maple Leaf teammates presented team owner, Conn Smythe with a replica Stanley Cup.
Since the 1960s, a copy of that replica has become the take-home prize of every player on every Stanley Cup-winning team.
Since the 1960s, a copy of that replica has become the take-home prize of every player on every Stanley Cup-winning team.
In this picture, I'm explaining the origin of Ted Lindsay's personal replica cup and its creator, his Leaf rival, Ted Kennedy.
Ted never knew the story
- he was hearing it for the first time.
Ted never knew the story
- he was hearing it for the first time.
The reason for my visit to his home a year ago was to present him with three gifts from his friends and neighbours from his hometown of Kirkland Lake.
Here's a greeting card signed
by many of the children
(who are now in their 70's and 80's) of KL that used to follow Ted through the town's streets every day during the summer when he went home following an NHL season.
by many of the children(who are now in their 70's and 80's) of KL that used to follow Ted through the town's streets every day during the summer when he went home following an NHL season.
There was a fabulous hard-cover book titled, "The Glory The Game" which features the remarkable stories of the 44 young men from that small mining town who made it to play in the NHL.
44 players. Remarkable.
And, a beautiful painting of the Kirkland Lake rink where Ted and the Hillman brothers and Dick Duff and Ralph Backstrom and all the others got their start in the game.
You know when you hear a song, inhale a wonderful aroma or gaze at a picture, your senses can act as a trigger for a bunch of emotions?
You may find yourself remembering special moments you haven't thought about for a while?
That's what happened when I presented the painting to Ted.
It was very, very special to him.
He stared at it and I could see that his stare was flush with memories.
As you may know, he was one of the toughest guys to ever play in the NHL. He probably wouldn't like me telling you that while he looked at the painting his eyes filled with tears - I could only imagine the wonderful memories of his youth in Kirkland Lake that were triggered and reappeared for him.
44 players. Remarkable.
And, a beautiful painting of the Kirkland Lake rink where Ted and the Hillman brothers and Dick Duff and Ralph Backstrom and all the others got their start in the game.
You know when you hear a song, inhale a wonderful aroma or gaze at a picture, your senses can act as a trigger for a bunch of emotions?
You may find yourself remembering special moments you haven't thought about for a while?
That's what happened when I presented the painting to Ted.
It was very, very special to him.
He stared at it and I could see that his stare was flush with memories.
As you may know, he was one of the toughest guys to ever play in the NHL. He probably wouldn't like me telling you that while he looked at the painting his eyes filled with tears - I could only imagine the wonderful memories of his youth in Kirkland Lake that were triggered and reappeared for him.
My granddaughter shares today's birthday with Ted.
He would have been 94 today and she’s 10.
When she was born, I told Ted that I tried to convince my son
to call his new baby girl, Teddy.
He didn't.
Following her birthday dinner each year, she and I will have our annual
"Shirley Temple" toast to Ted and her.
to call his new baby girl, Teddy.
He didn't.
Following her birthday dinner each year, she and I will have our annual
"Shirley Temple" toast to Ted and her.
Her name is Nea.
 |
| Who Was Your Hockey Idol When You Were a Kid? Dave Keon told me his was his cousin, Todd Sloan Henri Richard's was his brother, "Rocket" Johnny Bower's was Fred Brimsek Ted Lindsay's was Jimmy Orlando Mine were Ted Lindsay and his lifelong rival, Ted "Teeder" Kennedy "Teeder" passed away 10 years ago. His birthday was December 12 - the same as Sinatra's. I'd put a Sinatra song on and give him a call with birthday wishes. He always got a kick out of Sinatra playing in the background. |
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