Wendel Clark Day Is Here

I love that photo.

It’s the look on the faces of the linesmen. That one guy looks like he’s thinking “Oh god, so much blood, where is it all coming from?”

i have a bazillion word post up….

The much-hyped DGB guest post is now up.

My mom (or “mommy” as I call her) is coming over to watch the game and Wendel ceremony. She’s the reason I watch hockey, so I thought it only fitting that we watch the game together.

Her favorites were always Gilmour and Clark. She still loves Joe Carter from the good ol’ Jays days as well. Let’s be honest, that time frame, in Toronto sports, is an example of a city riding high. I still remember the second World Series win, and they had the GO trains running for free, and all the schools in the golden horseshoe closed for the day so we could head in to Toronto (at least they were in my small town of Milton.)

I can’t imagine what will happen when the Leafs win the cup…

Anywho, today has a very festive, holiday feeling, and I couldn’t think of anyone I’d like to share it with more than my moms! Happy Wendel Day all!

I sent this comment via email to DGB about half-way through his tremendous series on #17…

My clearest memory of Wendel doesn’t come from something he did on the ice or in a Leafs jersey.

I grew up across the street from Peter Zezel’s family and Wendel Clark billeted with the Zezels during his rookie year. Throughout his rookie season, Wendel would occasionally come down to watch the kids on my street play road hockey.

All of us were absolutely paralyzed by him. We desperately wanted him to join our game, but some combination of fear and awe prevented us from ever asking him to pick-up a stick.

One of our neighbours had a low-walled yard and Wendel would just sit on the wall and watch us play. He never said much. When one of us would work up the guts to talk to him, he would talk softly. He was a really shy, quiet guy.

Looking back now, I can see that he actually seemed sort of lonely. Eighteen years old and 3,000 kilometers from home. I can’t imagine the pressure he was under nor the expectations he would carry.

I’ve often thought that if I had a time machine, one of the first stops I’d make is Scarborough in 1985 and I’d like to think I’d work up the nerve to ask him to grab a stick and join in the game.

Not enough of these in the world…

Excellent work by DGB.

I’ve got my own contribution to the memorial here.

He (Wendel) skated up to Bure and said: “I’ve seen enough. If Odjick touches Gilmour one more time, I’ll take YOUR head off!”

Bure must have passed on the message. Odjick never touched me he(sic) rest of the game.

— Doug Gilmour

I’m sure the above quote was modified to a more family-friendly affair, but nonetheless, what I wouldn’t give to see the moment when it dawned on Pavel Bure that he was that close to dying.

So Carlo’s out tonight with bruised foot or something and Frogren is in. If you don’t like Frogren already here’s a good reason to start (from the Globe & Mail).

"Spending more time in the press box watching rather than playing hasn’t soured Frogren on his first foray into the NHL.

“No, no,” he said, when asked if he regretted his decision to move to the Leafs. “I had no expectations. I look at his as an adventure. I played on the same team for 10 years and it took this long to get here. I didn’t expect to play in all 82 games.”"

I like that attitude. Hopefully he can keep it level and improve his positioning. I love the punishing physical game he brings, and what better night to bring it than Wendel Eve.

they should play that all heart vid at the ACC to night for the crowd

http://www.coxbloc.com/2008/11/happy_wendel_day.html

so left out on all this Wendel Day stuff. I wasn’t a Leafs fan during his time, and so I don’t have the same memories as you guys.

does this mean I fail as a member of the Barilkosphere?

does the ceremony actually start??