Nitzy's Hockey Den

Harold Ballard and Mr. Allward, the architect, examine the model A while back I wrote about a plan by Harold Ballard in the mid 1960's to expand Maple Leaf Gardens:  http://nitzyshockeyden.blogspot.ca/2014/03/maple-leaf-gardens-1960s-expansion.html Recently I received an email from a reader/fellow collector who was interested in this article for one reason, he was the owner of the actual architectural model that Ballard had built in the 60's of the proposed expansion. Apparently Maclean acquired the model in 2000 just prior to the auction of many of Maple Leaf Gardens artifacts (I personally grabbed one of the Grey seats at this time). He tells me it was in relatively good condition but the Gardens "did not keep/store things well. It was very dusty and had the appearance of water damage." Maclean then proceeded to find an architectural model company to restore the model. It turned out that the owner of the company he chose was a huge Maple Leafs fan and was t...

I finally got a copy of the fantastic book pictured above. It's filled with never-before seen photos of life in Maple Leafs training camp which took place in Peterborough, Ontario in September of 1965. Stephen Brunt adds a great essay to introduce the book with the stories and details of the era. As a lover of all things Maple Leaf history, this book was nearly perfect. The only minor problem is the fact that there are two players pictured at Leafs camp who are unidentified by Brunt and the fine hockey historian, Paul Patskou who aided in the book. The first one is shown below and referred to merely as "unidentified Leaf prospect". To the Society for International Hockey Research photo database I went. Toronto's farm s ystem in 1965/66 included Rochester Americans of the AHL, Victoria Maple Leafs of the WHL and Tulsa Oilers of the CHL. It didn't take long to find a reasonable match for this un-named prospect. I am fairly certain it is Marty Desmarais ...

Sam Bennett of Calgary scored four goals on January 13 thus becoming the third youngest player to do so in the NHL. Only Bobby Carpenter in 1981/82 and Jack Hamilton in 1943/44 were younger.  Hamilton was the youngest at 18 years, 6 months, 3 days old when he scored his four goals on December 5, 1943. The Canadian Press story about the game published on Dec. 6 detailed Hamilton's feat; Youthful Jack Hamilton scored four goals and had one assist Saturday in the most successful performance of his short National Hockey League career as Toronto Maple Leafs defeated New York Rangers 11-4 before 9,359 fans. Hamilton, elevated from Toronto junior ranks in mid-season last year, obtained his four goals by finishing off ganging plays in which his linemates, Jack McLean and Windy O'Neill figured prominently. Before Saturday, the nine players who coach Happy Day had alternated on Toronto's third line had amassed only six goals in 14 games. The trio of Hamilton, McLean and ...

Bill Shvetz was a career minor league defenceman who's nickname was 'The Destroyer'. He played nearly 1,000 professional games in the Western, Quebec and American Hockey Leagues, and according to the official records he never played an NHL game. Recently however, a post on a hockey chat forum raised the question of whether he may have actually played a game. A mention was made of a Montreal Gazette article about the opening game of the 1954/55 NHL season when Chicago visited Montreal. In an addendum to the article about Montreal's 4-2 season-opening win in the Gazette, there was one line that stated,"Bill Shvetz made only one appearance for the Hawks and nearly scored. His shot hit the post." (see below from the Oct 7, 1954 Montreal Gazette). In addition, sports columnist 'Dink' Carroll made mention of Shvetz playing when he was promptly traded two days later.  One more mention of Shvetz in the October 7 opener is the boxscore from...

   "Probably the most important and far-reaching sporting contest ever held in this country." This is how Montreal Gazette writer Tim Burke described the New Years Eve 1975 game between Montreal Canadiens and the Soviet Central Army. He continued,"The Canadiens resurrected one of our proudest heritages and enshrined it with an un rivalled display of determination and sportsmanship." In Burke's analysis "the fact the Canadiens had to settle for the most lopsided tie in memory; 38-13 in shots on goal, takes nothing away from their stupendous effort against a great and dauntless opponent." He summarized that Montreal was, "supreme in all facets of the game, save goaltending and shooting." The Soviet Central Army team had just managed to tie the Montreal Canadiens 3-3 despite being outplayed by all accounts. In referring to the aforementioned goaltending of Ken Dryden, Bob Gainey offered, "Do you realize that it was more than an...

"That goal was one of the greatest moments of my life," declared Yvan Cournoyer about his 1972 Summit Series Game 8 tying goal in the third period. This statement was made mere days before he and his fellow Montreal Canadiens were to play the Soviet Union on New Years Eve 1975. As the 40th anniversary approaches of the game many call the greatest ever, let's look at the anticipation from players and media alike in the days before the historic match. Cournoyer's teammate on both the '75 Habs and '72 Team Canada, Pete Mahovlich said, "After Paul Henderson scored that winning goal, I wanted to cry. We had come so far to take victory away from the Soviets." In this updated version of the Russia/Canada matchup, the Central Army team and the Soviet Wings would play four games each against eight different NHL teams. "This series is very important to me, Cournoyer said, "because a lot of people are trying to say that the Russians are better tha...

Now, I'm about the farthest thing from a Boston Bruins fan. But this recent find, this right here, may be one of the cooler items in my den. A Bruins colo(u)ring book issued in about 1972. It's in pretty damn great shape too, no childish colouring attempts at all.  Behold the 1970's awesomeness below. If the name wasn't on the page, would you know this is Bobby? The greatest Bruin ever. This depiction of Derek Sanderson may be the most 1970's thing ever. Powerplay, showing players NOT on the first unit. Espo, Create your own background! Cheesey Pie, just terrific. Espo potting one against the New Jersey Generics  Sanderson attempting to fornicate with the net, no surprise.