"Sweet Daddy Shackie"
He was an NHL player for 20 seasons with 6 different teams.
His playing style was simple. He was a bull who enjoyed creating chaos and could score the odd goal. The Leaf players christened him "Sweet Daddy Shackie" after a famous wrestler at the time, "Sweet Daddy Sikki"
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| "Sweetness" |
His most frequent opponent was Montreal's Henri Richard.
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| The "Pocket Rocket" was lightning on skates He was a handful ... even for #4 |
For some reason, it didn't take much for him to engage with Henri who was "Rocket" Richard's brother. Shack hounded the 5'9" 165 lbs. centreman who only wanted to score, win the game and get inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame for his 22 years of NHL service and 11 Stanley Cup rings.
The crazy part was that Henri had a "protector" ... the league's heavyweight champion, John Ferguson. Shackie should have stayed away because Fergie always showed up to the rink angry, he had crazy eyes and huge mitts. "Fergie's" rason d'être was simple ... mess with Henri and you'll answer to me".
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| Fergie could really throw them |
But, back to "The Entertainer".
The attached snap is one of hockey's greatest photos.
"Shackie" is a Sabre in a game against the Seals. Fabulous Buffalo-based hockey photographer, Robert Shaver was positioned at the end of the rink, behind the goalie shooting toward the south end. At the exact moment, he captures "Shackie" climbing over the back of Gerry Ehman but there are 8 other players on the ice ... where is everybody?
Fun Fact: at the end of their careers, "Eddie the Entertainer and his fighting opponent, Henri "Pocket Rocket" Richard stared in English/French TV commercials separately and together in both languages for "The Pop Shoppe".
Loved #23
ReplyDeleteHe played many games for the Chum Charitable Foundation
That's pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteEd was a proud Sudburian and could be seen roller skating on the Sudbury streets in the of season to stay in shape.
ReplyDeleteMy 2 Shack stories.
ReplyDelete1972, I’m working in the Soo and we went to an exhibition game between Pittsburg and I think Atlanta. Red Kelly is coaching the Penguins and Shack is on the end of the bench and not playing much. Only one coach in those days and Red is pacing back and forth behind the bench. The crowd came to be entertained and were chanting “We want Shack”. Red would come to Eddie’s end, make eye contact then make an about turn to head the other way. Eddie would stand up and throw one leg over the boards to the delight of the crowd and the chant would grow louder. I don’t think Red figured it out ?
1980, a friend and I went to the annual KW Big Brothers charity dinner. Among the celebrities were rookies Paul Reinhart, and Wayne Gretzky, Shack and Don Cherry. Cherry had the longest line in the autograph session, then Shack, then Gretz. Shack was blown away that a lady from Guelph was there with a scrap book full of pictures of him in his junior playing days with the Biltmores. He signed every page.
Best story I read about Shack, if memory serves me correctly.
Billy Reay of the Hawks was riding Shack about his lack of education, telling him how dumb he was and that he couldn’t even spell. Shack scores later in the game and comes by the Hawk bench and says Goal, G - O - A - L !
The entertainer.
B
Eddie was a Sudbury boy and lived a couple blocks from us. He used to roller blade in the summer to stay in shape. His Dad used to run the outdoor rink ( Riverside) for us as kids!
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