33 Years Ago in Leafland; April 15, 1987

Spring of 1987. The Maple Leafs went on an improbable playoff run. They got to within a game of meeting the mighty Edmonton Oilers in the Campbell Conference Finals. I was a 15 year-old hockey mad kid enjoying the fortunes of my favourite team. What better time than now to look back at this memorable time of my youth and Leafs history.
"He'll be out for six weeks. That means the season," stated Leafs spokesman Bob Stellick. He was referring to 23 year-old Gary Leeman who broke his kneecap in the first period of Tuesday's Leafs victory. Leeman will be replaced by Ken Yaremchuk, who played game 4. Toronto is well aware that they should avoid a return trip to St. Louis for game 7 by winning tomorrow. Brophy said."It would be asking a lot to win three games down there."
Leaf tough guy Brad Smith was asked about his two fights with Blues goon Todd Ewen. "Obviously their coach is a pretty smart guy," Smith told a St. Louis reporter, "He wants to take one of the best players off the ice. He's not a dummy. He knows he can't afford to have me out there. I'm not joking. They don't want me out here. I make things happen baby." When Smith's comments were relayed to Brophy the coach smiled, about the only time he broke from his regular stern demeanour. 
Meanwhile in Vienna Austria, the 1987 World Hockey Championships begin tomorrow. The Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia are considered the favourites for gold, with Canada's squad just a notch behind. The Soviets are led by the Big Five - Fetisov, Kasatonov, Makarov, Larionov and Krutov as well as Valery Kamensky and goaltender Evgeny Belosheiken who's thought to be the best Soviet goalie since Tretiak. The Czechs are led by goalie Dominik Hasek, Petr Rosol, Jiri Hrdina and Vladimir Ruzicka.
As for Canada, although Penguins star Mario Lemieux declined the invitation, they still have a fair bit of firepower. Coached by Dave King, they have 52 goal scorer Dino Ciccarelli, 41 goal man Tony Tanti, Al Secord, Kirk Muller and goalies Bob Froese and Sean Burke. Burke has yet to play professionally but was the number one goalie for Dave King's Canadian National program, winning 27 of 42 international games played in 86/87 with a 3.05 goals against average.

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