I finally picked up a copy of Theo Fleury's book, Playing With Fire, last week, and have been devouring it at a rapid pace. The start of Chapter 2, he describes a horrific injury he sustained as a child playing hockey with his hometown team, the Russell Rams. The injury happened in a rink I have very emotional ties to, and as he goes on to describe the trip to the local hospital and then to the hospital in Winnipeg (50 miles west of Winnipeg near the junction of the two main Highways in Manitoba, Hwy 1 and Hwy 16) I couldn't help but picturing all these things in my mind.
I've read a lot of hockey books -- in fact, I intentionally go looking for them whenever I'm visiting a second-hand book store or thrift shop. I've picked up some real gems over the years, and I would have to say my favourite writer of them is Roy MacGregor. In one of the stories in "The Home Team" he wrote, "The dream never dies, it simply begins again each winter." I used to keep this posted on the bulletin board in my old newsroom.
One of the books I've read a million times is called "Crossing The Line" which is about sexual violence in Junior hockey, and talks in great depth about the Graham James/Sheldon Kennedy scenario. I have had Kennedy's book, Why I Didn't Say Anything, on my reading list for a while and hope to get to it soon. Fleury's book details his experiences with Kennedy and James, and proclaims he had his first drink at Sheldon's house. Sheldon comes from the small town of Elkhorn, Manitoba, close to the Saskatchewan border, some hour or so south of where Fleury is from. One of my kids last season was from Elkhorn.
Another one I've read a few times is Eric Lindros's autobiography, which he wrote at the tender age of 18 or so. I read it in high school, when I was fascinated with the Big E, and re-read it again last year and had a good laugh because it reminded me of my junior kids.
A Season of Loss by John Manasso is also an amazing book -- It's the story of Dany Heatley and Danny Snyder. When I was a young pup, the first team I ever cheered for was the Owen Sound Platers, because a kid from my hometown was on the team. He was a rookie, drafted straight out of Midget and played as a 16-year-old in the Ontario Hockey League. His roommate was the team's captain, Snyder. The team went to the final four that year. When Danny passed away, it hit me pretty hard. For Leafs fans, that would be like Mats Sundin dying ... it was a sad time for me. I also still love Heatley -- he was on the first edition of Team Canada I ever watched at the World Juniors. Manasso was the beat reporter at the Atlanta newspaper and had wonderful insight and did a beautiful job telling the story of two best friends named Dan.
Zamboni Rodeo is another beauty -- it's the story of a reporter who follows a Central League team on the road. A lot of my buddies have played in that league, or similar ones, like the new incarnation of the IHL, or the UHL or the SPHL. It's a real eye-opener. Guys riding a bus all over the mid- and south-west US making 500 bucks a week.
I also picked up "Hockey for Dummies" last year, just to see what it was written like. If you're at all interested in learning more about the game, this book is epically useless. It's written by an American, for Americans. But Canadians know everything there is to know about hockey, already, so we clearly don't need an instruction manual anyway, right? ;)
While my technical knowledge is good, and I could easily explain the rule for charging or what a drop-pass is, I'm always a sponge for old hockey stories about the greats and players who were way before my time.
For many of us, this is our off-season and a great time to do some reading. Otherwise, if you're still keeping up with the National Hockey League playoffs, here's to hoping Bobby Lu and the Canucks can get it together.
Tuesday 26 April 2011
Monday 18 April 2011
Sin City North
Reader beware, this is very biassed!
I have had the privilege and wonderful opportunity to live all over this beautiful country we call the Great White North. I've been to all the provinces except Newfoundland, been to all those provinces' capital cities and been as far north as Fort McMurray, as far south as Windsor, to both oceans, the mountains, the prairies and everything in between. By far and away, without question, the best city in this glorious country is not my hometown of Toronto, but our neighbours about 500 km to the north-east, Montreal!
Earlier tonight, I got into a bit of a war of words with some of my Facebook buddies about my utter detest and loathing for the city of Winnipeg. I will publically proclaim without hesitation Manitoba is easily by far and away the WORST province I have lived in, and I have little nice to say about it. But this post isn't about trashing Winnipeg (that's pretty easy. Cold, bleak, desolate and full of criminals and hicks. Ugh.) this post is about how wonderful Montreal is!
During my years in Montreal, I was exposed to a large array of wonderful restaurants, shopping, nightlife and cool culture. The permanant exhibits at the Musée des Beaux Arts used to be free, I'm not sure if they still are, but they're worth a look. I also checked out the McCord and the gallery at our school constantly had new installations -- and is located in an old building the school built around and incorporated into the library.
Window shopping along Ste. Cat's is always fun -- and in winter, can be taken indoors if you follow the shops through the underground. I stumbled upon a map of the underground recently and looked longingly at all the kilometres you can walk under the streets, finding all the goodies you need. (Including my favourite boulingerie, Premiere Moisson. Hello, baguette!)
Weekends start on Thursdays, drinking beer or coffee on a terrasse is permissible any time after easter (no matter how cold and/or snowy it is) -- and it's also allowed to live in some run-down, ramshackle apartment so long as you're nicely dressed and out at social functions. The place oozes with live music, great food, and for Ontarians who probably don't know the meaning of the words "happy hour" there's nothing more fun than hitting what les Montrealais call 'cinq-a-sept' after a long day at the office.
And the hockey? Anywhere with cold beer and good food is a good choice, but the most fun I ever had at a bar in Montreal watching hockey was in the Cage-aux-Sports in the basement of the Bell Centre. Michael Landsberg tweeted the other day that Boston Pizza restos in Montreal have changed their name for the playoffs to "Montreal Pizza" -- they're pretty serious about their hockey. I remember seeing a riot break out on Ste-Cat's the night Canada won the World Cup in 2004.
I'd move back in a heartbeat if I could.
And in case you were wondering (because I know you were) the best poutine in the city is at the Lachine Arena. In case that's a little too off your beaten path, I recommend the peppercorn poutine at Café L'Etranger (south side Ste-cat's near university-ish) or the chicken poutine at Moe's Diner (hole in the wall beside the Old Forum on Lambert Closse).
I have had the privilege and wonderful opportunity to live all over this beautiful country we call the Great White North. I've been to all the provinces except Newfoundland, been to all those provinces' capital cities and been as far north as Fort McMurray, as far south as Windsor, to both oceans, the mountains, the prairies and everything in between. By far and away, without question, the best city in this glorious country is not my hometown of Toronto, but our neighbours about 500 km to the north-east, Montreal!
Earlier tonight, I got into a bit of a war of words with some of my Facebook buddies about my utter detest and loathing for the city of Winnipeg. I will publically proclaim without hesitation Manitoba is easily by far and away the WORST province I have lived in, and I have little nice to say about it. But this post isn't about trashing Winnipeg (that's pretty easy. Cold, bleak, desolate and full of criminals and hicks. Ugh.) this post is about how wonderful Montreal is!
During my years in Montreal, I was exposed to a large array of wonderful restaurants, shopping, nightlife and cool culture. The permanant exhibits at the Musée des Beaux Arts used to be free, I'm not sure if they still are, but they're worth a look. I also checked out the McCord and the gallery at our school constantly had new installations -- and is located in an old building the school built around and incorporated into the library.
Window shopping along Ste. Cat's is always fun -- and in winter, can be taken indoors if you follow the shops through the underground. I stumbled upon a map of the underground recently and looked longingly at all the kilometres you can walk under the streets, finding all the goodies you need. (Including my favourite boulingerie, Premiere Moisson. Hello, baguette!)
Weekends start on Thursdays, drinking beer or coffee on a terrasse is permissible any time after easter (no matter how cold and/or snowy it is) -- and it's also allowed to live in some run-down, ramshackle apartment so long as you're nicely dressed and out at social functions. The place oozes with live music, great food, and for Ontarians who probably don't know the meaning of the words "happy hour" there's nothing more fun than hitting what les Montrealais call 'cinq-a-sept' after a long day at the office.
And the hockey? Anywhere with cold beer and good food is a good choice, but the most fun I ever had at a bar in Montreal watching hockey was in the Cage-aux-Sports in the basement of the Bell Centre. Michael Landsberg tweeted the other day that Boston Pizza restos in Montreal have changed their name for the playoffs to "Montreal Pizza" -- they're pretty serious about their hockey. I remember seeing a riot break out on Ste-Cat's the night Canada won the World Cup in 2004.
I'd move back in a heartbeat if I could.
And in case you were wondering (because I know you were) the best poutine in the city is at the Lachine Arena. In case that's a little too off your beaten path, I recommend the peppercorn poutine at Café L'Etranger (south side Ste-cat's near university-ish) or the chicken poutine at Moe's Diner (hole in the wall beside the Old Forum on Lambert Closse).
Tuesday 12 April 2011
Shinny ... no $h!t?
Last spring, I was covering the two national junior hockey chapmionships (Royal Bank Cup and Memorial Cup) aka hanging out with people from CTV, Hockey Canada, TSN2, Sportsnet and creeping on the likes of Taylor Hall, Brayden Schenn, Travis Hamonic and Ryan Ellis (squee. Captain Canada!) ... and this spring, I am at frickin' shinny?
Not that I'm overly rattled about it -- I got to check out a new rink, shoot under some different lighting conditions (mid-day sun pouring through numerous windows out onto the ice surface) and got a couple winks from the goaltender.
When I first arrived at my first-ever shinny experience, I was a little awkward ... I mean, am I supposed to sit in the stands (which I never do) or up in the warm part (also never do that) but I eventually settled in at my usual post in an arena, which is somewhere near the goal line in the corner by the end boards.
Being that it is now spring (hello playoff hockey!) I rocked a thin cream-coloured sweater (scored this last spring, end-of-season sale .. $4) with grey dress pants, pale pink Ocean Pacific moccassins, pink Eddie Bauer down-filled vest, aviators, and Gongshow "Shamrock" hat (in white), black purse and of course, my camera.
While it definitely wasn't the most thrilling hockey experience of my life, I will definitely admit I did have a least a little bit of fun. I brought along my mp3 player and rocked out to some Whitesnake and assorted other hair metal and snapped away.
Not that I'm overly rattled about it -- I got to check out a new rink, shoot under some different lighting conditions (mid-day sun pouring through numerous windows out onto the ice surface) and got a couple winks from the goaltender.
When I first arrived at my first-ever shinny experience, I was a little awkward ... I mean, am I supposed to sit in the stands (which I never do) or up in the warm part (also never do that) but I eventually settled in at my usual post in an arena, which is somewhere near the goal line in the corner by the end boards.
Being that it is now spring (hello playoff hockey!) I rocked a thin cream-coloured sweater (scored this last spring, end-of-season sale .. $4) with grey dress pants, pale pink Ocean Pacific moccassins, pink Eddie Bauer down-filled vest, aviators, and Gongshow "Shamrock" hat (in white), black purse and of course, my camera.
While it definitely wasn't the most thrilling hockey experience of my life, I will definitely admit I did have a least a little bit of fun. I brought along my mp3 player and rocked out to some Whitesnake and assorted other hair metal and snapped away.
Saturday 9 April 2011
Hockey Night in Canada
In honour of today being the last Saturday night of the regular season (and the last Saturday night for a long long time for Leafs fans, teehee!) I thought I'd blog a little about my time in Montreal, and what we used to do on nights like these.
Whenever the Leafs would play the Habs, I'd invite over a bunch of my friends for a night of greasy appetizers, beers and laughs. Sometimes, if the Leafs were playing in Montreal, I liked to go down the five or six blocks from my house to the Leafs' hotel, and wish the boys good luck before the game (no big, no big .. I love Matty Stajan & Ian White .. just sayin! And Welly .. well, he's a snake!)
Parties usually began some time between 6:30 and 7, when the pre-game show was on, and I'd be in the kitchen whipping up goodies -- these photos here are of some veggies & roasted red pepper dip, and taco dip.
I also often had hot appies, usually chicken wings and egg rolls. I have been looking for a good receipe for warm dip. Spinach dip is good, and most people seem to like it. Shrimp rings were usually a big hit, and little appetizers from Presidents Choice -- the cheesy ones, or the greek phyllo pastry ones are good as well.
After coach's corner, I'd usually go grab some lighter munchies ... pretzels and chips are good, and sometimes we'd have olives, pickles and such.
Most of the time, the intent was to go out to the bar afterwards, but we'd usually end up running out of beer by the first intermission of the late game, and going to get another case usually resulted in aborting the bar missions.
If it's winter, make your back patio accessible for beer ... this is easier than trying to fit everyone's suds into the fridge. If you're not somewhere that this is an option, a bath tub or laundry tub full of ice will do. Or if you're really lazy, a cooler on the living room floor, which doubles as a foot stool and/or extra seat will do in a pinch.
The Habs and Canucks will have to carry Canada's playoff hopes this year, and as the season windows down for many of us (Oilers, Leafs, Sens and Flames) the real season is set to begin soon!
Whenever the Leafs would play the Habs, I'd invite over a bunch of my friends for a night of greasy appetizers, beers and laughs. Sometimes, if the Leafs were playing in Montreal, I liked to go down the five or six blocks from my house to the Leafs' hotel, and wish the boys good luck before the game (no big, no big .. I love Matty Stajan & Ian White .. just sayin! And Welly .. well, he's a snake!)
I also often had hot appies, usually chicken wings and egg rolls. I have been looking for a good receipe for warm dip. Spinach dip is good, and most people seem to like it. Shrimp rings were usually a big hit, and little appetizers from Presidents Choice -- the cheesy ones, or the greek phyllo pastry ones are good as well.
After coach's corner, I'd usually go grab some lighter munchies ... pretzels and chips are good, and sometimes we'd have olives, pickles and such.
Most of the time, the intent was to go out to the bar afterwards, but we'd usually end up running out of beer by the first intermission of the late game, and going to get another case usually resulted in aborting the bar missions.
If it's winter, make your back patio accessible for beer ... this is easier than trying to fit everyone's suds into the fridge. If you're not somewhere that this is an option, a bath tub or laundry tub full of ice will do. Or if you're really lazy, a cooler on the living room floor, which doubles as a foot stool and/or extra seat will do in a pinch.
The Habs and Canucks will have to carry Canada's playoff hopes this year, and as the season windows down for many of us (Oilers, Leafs, Sens and Flames) the real season is set to begin soon!
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