Brushes With Greatness

I approve of the Toskala Saves banner.

One time I told Claude Lemieux to his face that it’s too bad he wasn’t as good as Mario. I was six.

Also, Luke Schenn is cheating on me?

I was out west following the Leafs around Calgary and Edmonton a few years back. Was in Edmonton the night Sundin got point 1000. Followed the boys to Calgary, and was outside their hotel as they left for practice.

One by one they came out, heading for the bus. Mogilny, Belfour, Domi and Nolan all refused to sign autographs. A small part of me died that day.

I did, however, meet Tomas Kaberle, and get his autograph. As well as some guy named Mats Sundin. He signed my booklet, dropped my pen to the ground, and headed for a cab that Kaberle, and one other guy was in (can’t remember who). Then Nik Antropov bolted through the doors yelling “wait!!!1” at the cab. He made it in time. It was jokes.

I got some other autographs that day as well: Robert Svehla, Tom Fitzgerald … others escape me.

As for my youth, I used to go to autograph signings with my brother. Many of them. Hours in line waiting to get autographs of players like Jamie Macoun, Randy Wood, Kenny Jonsson, Ken Baumgartner, Dave Andreychuk, Dougie Gilmour, Garth Butcher, Darcy Tucker. I just loved meeting the guys, and shaking their hands. As a kid, you don’t know any better but to look up to them and treat them as heroes.

I would definitely bother Luke Schenn if I had the chance.

I actually am not under an avalanche of work today.

Anyway, when I was in grade 8, we did, as a school, a 2-week unit on hockey. It was heaven. At the end of the 2 weeks, two kids from each class were selected by the teacher to go for a tour at Maple Leaf Gardens. Since I was already shouting “playoffs!!!!1” on a regular basis back then, my teacher picked me as one of the lucky few.

The day came, and the Leafs were playing Paul Kariya and the Mighty Ducks that night. I was listening to the radio that morning as i was getting dressed, and out came the news that “the Leafs won’t be taking the ice this morning, in preparation for their game against the Ducks.” Well, I figured, that saved tiny little me from having to carry my autograph book around, and having my brother worry about the fact that I’d lose it. So at home it remained.

We hit up the tour. Got to sit on the Leafs’ bench, and sit in the Coach’s Corner studio, it was dope. Everything I thought it would be. After the tour, we’re waiting in the lobby of the Gardens, and in walks Mike Craig. He’s a jobber, I didn’t give a shit about him, but my teacher brought a hockey stick and had him sign it. So, we continue to wait.

And in walks Mats Sundin. I froze. My teacher stopped him just before he went inside through an authorized entrance, and he walked over to all of us. I was star-struck. He was fucking huge. Towering over me, and all of us. All I could do was shake his hand. My buddy had a receipt of some sort, and actually got Mats to sign it. I couldn’t even think that far ahead. I just shook his hand, and stared up at him while he signed other things for other people. A few minutes later, he was gone.

It was the longest ride home from downtown Toronto. Ever. I never forgave myself for not taking my autograph book with me that day, until years later in Calgary, when I finally got the autograph that I was due more than 10 years later.

And that’s my story.

Mats Sundin: GREATEST MAPLE LEAF OF ALL TIME.

The Time Mark Messier Nearly Ran Me Over

In the late 1980’s, Wayne Gretzky would run a celebrity tennis tournament in Brantford for the CNIB (the charitable organization his sister worked for). The tournament would often feature several high-profile sports celebrities, and the organizer would typically have a little barbeque at his house for all the participants. As it happened, the organizer happened to live a few doors down from me.

One summer, I was playing in our family’s backyard while my dad got our bbq ready to make dinner, when a football came flying out of the forest beside the back of our property and into our backyard. I ambled off into the direction of the football (I was 4 at the time), when who should come flying out of the forest but Mark Messier. Messier, a guest at the party, was retrieving the football and he and I nearly had a collision that would have ended terribly for me.

Messier picked up the football, picked up me, and invited my dad back to the party for a beer. I sadly don’t have a picture of this event, or much recollection (since I was 4) but my dad tells a great story about Rocket Ismail passing out (and falling out of) a hammock.

The Time Wayne Gretzky Deked Me Out of My Jock

Everyone knows that shortly after Wayne was traded to LA, his father Walter had some health problems. After he started to recover, his son-in-law suggested that walter should try a little bit of coaching to help him with his memory. It just so happened that his son-in-law was the trainer that year for Brantford’s Major Novice AAA team. I was 7 years old, and played on that team.

This also happened to be the year Gretzky was out for an extended period of time with that back injury (before he broke our hearts in the playoffs). Near the Holidays, Wally gave our team one of the biggest Christmas presents ever; Wayne Gretzky was going to come to one of our practice! Needless to say this was a huge deal. I still remember the arena being packed, as parents, family, friends and pretty much anybody who happened to pass through the rink that day was watching our practice, as the Great One skated around with a bunch of 7 and 8 year olds.

He didn’t really do much with us, mostly just skating around, passing a puck back and forth with his dad, and taking some shots on the goalies. (One of our goalies actually saved a deke that he made and grinned ear-to-ear about it for a week). While our coach tried to keep our attention to go through drills, Wayne just kind of skated around the corners, stickhandling and passing. We were skating towards our lines for the next drill, when Wayne happened to be skating towards where our line was, going towards the net. He’d mainly ignored us for the whole practice, probably out of respect for the coach’s effrots to get something done, but this time he made eye contact with me, so I did what any kid would do: I turned backwards, and tried to play him 1 on 1.

Didn’t work out so well. Wayne turned me inside-out, and I went down in a heap. Wayne carried on towards the net as if I’d been a pylon, (techincally I had been) and scored on our goalie. After the practice, he signed a bunch of stuff for us (I got my stick signed, and Walter signed it too). We got in the car, and my dad took me right to the sports store to get me a new stick, because he said I wasn’t using that one anymore.

Used to see the odd player outside when I worked downtown. Derek King was one, plus I saw Norm Ullman at Union Station. Didn’t say anything to either.

I met Drake Berehowsky and Dave Ellett at Albion Mall in Rexdale in when I was like 6.

Also, good ole Saskatchewan boy being gracious. Atta boy Luke

I was at an auction in Pickering about 10 years ago and kept trying to figure out how I knew the guy I was standing next to. Kept eyeballing him and crinkling my brow.

Did I work with him? Go to school with him? Was he a buddy’s dad? How did I know this dude?

He finally got tired of me staring at him and pointed toan 8×10 autographed photo on the wall. I took one look at the picture and realized it was Glenn Healy.

PPP and I got drunk at a bar in Montreal with Phil the Cup Guy and Alyn McCauley. That’s the only experience I have with a Maple Leaf player :(

 Dave Reid’s wife was a teacher at my public school and he used to pop by from time to time so I got to meet him. Also Mike Johnson’s sister was a teacher at my high school, He showed up once I heard but I didn’t see him. BTW his sister was smoking hot. wawawewa

One day at Wonderland on a class trip my buddies and I were playing laser tag and running despite the warning not too.

I rounded the corner, hell bent on getting behind the other team when I ran straight into a brick wall. Turns out Kris King was playing with us and was as close to a brick wall as possible

After the charity game in the Varsity Arena during the 94 lockout, I met Domi, who was nice. Todd Gill (TODD GILL) locked us out of his SUV and we yelled that he sucked.

Then we were invited into the back of a limo by Adam Foote and a couple of other Nords who were really nice.

Years later I met Gilmour when he came in for lunch at the MTL restaurant I was working at. Even as a 21 year old hipster I had to go over and tell him I was a huge fan and how much 93 meant to me, and got an autograph. He’s really short.

Not sure if this counts, but Ron McLean sat in front of me at a Wilco concert at Massey Hall (AGIB tour).

He did this very awkward dad dance/ headbaning thing to “I am a Wheel”

I want to meet one, eventually. I just dunno where they hang out and such.

My second year of university. Clarkie is new to Toronto and (much as he is now) all that and a bag of chips. I was then, as I am now, a huge fan.

I am at the Madison Ave. pub with a bunch of friends, experimenting with new stages of hosed-ness heretofore unknown to mankind. Through the gathering haze in my brain, I perceive that Wendel is seated at a table not forty feet from where my buddies and I are earnestly poisoning ourselves. At some point, I stagger over and approach him, no doubt slurring incomprehensibly, but attempt to detail for him the depth and degree of my affection for him, his style of play, and the Toronto Maple Leafs in general. I sense at some point that I am rambling somewhat and attempt to save the day by wrapping up my monologue by expressing my wish to buy him a beer. He responds, “Beat it, kid.”

The best part? I was older than him.

Steve Stamkos once. It was prior to the draft in ’08, and just happened upon him at Markville Mall.

I stood in line for a Gilmour autograph signing with my younger brother but got there way too late. My dad and my uncle came to pick us up and my uncle happened to see Gilmour walking back to his ride. He yelled out “Hey Dougie!” or something like that (my uncle is loud and can be obnoxious). Dougie turned and gave him a real funny look, like “what the hell do you want?” and my uncle took a picture of him like that. I think my brother kept that pic for a while… I wonder where it is now.

Also, a few years back when I saw the Leafs play the Habs in Montreal, I was at one of those delis having one of those Montreal style smoked meat sandwiches (damn those things are good!) when Pat Quinn and a couple other people came in (probably his assistants though I didn’t really notice because it was freaking Pat Quinn and he dominates the room). After finishing his lunch the waiter asks him how the game that night will go and Pat says in his typical Irish bluster “Well we’re gonna win!” And, sweet mother of god, they did! So in summary, Pat Quinn is awesome.

I went to elementary and high school with a former leaf, he is a year older than me

I was working as a waiter at a golf course, and we see this guy sitting there. My buddies are like thats Gary Roberts! No one would ask him, so I was like fuck this. So I start talking, and I’m like, "you look familiar" and he says to me, "Do I look like a hockey player" and I said yes. He then tells me he used to play for Colorado and said some name. So I was like ok.
As I’m walking out of the place, I see this blue truck drive by, and gives me a little honk, the type of honk you do when you say goodbye, I look over and its the guy and he has this huge grin and gives me a wave good bye.
The guy who works at the security gate runs out of the little booth and turns to me and says, that was Gary Roberts! He told me he went to the parking lot and saw a bunch of leaf stuff in his car

I went to high school with Matt Stajan, Iona represent!

I met Luke Schenn during pre season at a car dealership in mississauga, I asked him to kill Alfredsson for me, he said he’d try to fit it in after Spezza. he was driving a Kia….

I met Wendel Clark last year in one of the boxes at the ACC, i got a picture with him and my uncle plus an autograph. I was amazed at how short wendel was, i was at least a foot and a half taller than him.

I also met Todd Gill and Ken Baumgartner wayyy back in the day, like 93… i was about 8.

My dad used to slice up Andreychuck and Potvins meat orders at A&P back in the 90’s as well, he would show them around the store than do up a custom order for them.

Last year was amazing for me in terms of meeting people, I managed to meet Clark, Schenn, Bret Hitman Hart and Ric Flair. 4 of my all time heros.

It was a few seasons ago when he was here for the last time. Then my buddy from India saw McCabe in Tim Hortons (the season we missed the playoffs by 1 point due to Doobie) and he said to McCabe that he loves hockey and thinks the Leafs should go to India to play and that since it was Easter he was going to go to Church and pray that the Leafs got their last point. McCabe bought him Timmies.

Green didn’t buy me Timmies. He just had a gawdy wife with too much makeup who may have been hot years ago, but now looks like she belongs on The Real Housewives of Burlington.

Kyle Wellwood ate my brother

For my eighth birthday, my dad managed to get us good seats at the Gardens, about 12 rows up in the first bowl in the neutral zone. I can still remember that they cost $50 (a FORTUNE!) and I felt so lucky just to go. It was Mike Gartner’s first game in a Leaf uniform, Dave Andreychuk scored his 50th goal of the year, and we played Arturs Urbe and the Sharks. We lost 2 -1, which at the time I attributed to the fact that we had Damian Rhodes in net. We didn’t have a lot of money when I was younger, so I was even more surprised when my dad sprung for the extra $5 to pick up a program. Once we got to our seats, I noticed that someone had scribbled in mine.

“Dad, should we go get a new one?”

“Uhhh… let me see… Oh MY GOD, WENDEL CLARK SIGNED YOUR PROGRAM!”

It was one of those contests where if Wendel graced your booklet, you got to go down to centre ice at the first intermission, to shoot for $500 and a Jeep and other swag. Naturally, I missed the tiny hole in the giant plywood net cover, but at least I hit the net – not bad for a kid shooting at an 8-inch goal, 100 feet away.

But the real thrill came when I was waiting for the first period to end right by the players’ gate. ALL the Leafs walked right by me off the ice, and Ken Baumgartner, either a healthy scratch or injured, came by in a suit to shake our hands to say good luck. Nice guy.

And I saw Raycroft and his Boston-chic wife a few days before he was bought out. They were at the Scotiabank theater trying to find a movie to go to. He looked tired. She kept suggesting movies, but the suggestions were flying right by him (glove side).

Oh man, how could I forget this one.

About 2 years ago I was in Pure Gold (A strip joint in misssissauga) and me and a couple buddies are sitting there having a beer when guess who walks in; Ron MacLean. I immediatley check the door behind him to see if Don was with him, but sadly, he was not.

I still had a good chuckle at the sight of good ol ‘aw shucks’ Ron MacLean is this sleazy establishment (but I guess i shouldnt have been, he is a dude afterall), but I really had a laugh when he picks 2 ladies to go into the VIP area with him, only to come out about an hour later and then have the girls escort him to the ATM. I wanted to have a beer with him but a few people were already bugging him and i could tell he just wanted to be left alone

A buddy of mine saw Tie Domi having sex with some chick on a pool table in a bar. I can only assume it was Belinda.

This is a bit of a read. But since no one here has claimed to have seen the Leafs win a Cup, I’m pretty sure you’ve all acquired the virtue of patience.

Back in 2005 to 2007, I was working as a Sous Chef in a hockey bar downtown (No, not Wayne Gretzky’s). Part of my job was to mingle with the crowd and take care of any immediate concerns regarding the event, the menu, or logistical concerns. While there, I’ve met my fair share of hockey celebrities. Most of them were of little consequence to begin with; you know Larry Murphy, Marty McSorley, Kerry F***Ing Fraser; you know, guys who choke. Back in 2006, the 1993 team was being celebrated in a March game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. I recall we won that game, but I don’t remember if it was in regulation or over-time. About 10 minutes after the game ended, the Executive Chef claimed that an emergency came up and that he had to go home. A few minutes after that, the owner, Wayne Cowley, comes to me and tells me that I had about 20 minutes to prepare a full-course meal for 20 members of the 1993 Leafs team before they came in.

I nearly died and went to heaven. After going completely crazy trying to get the plates up and prepare pasta, steaks, and some finger food, Doug Gilmour walked into the kitchen.

“Hey bud!”

I just stood there pissing my pants. Well, stood there. Pretty sure I lost all control of my jaw as it gaped open in surprise. Then Andreychuk walked by. Then Gill. Then Osbourne. Then Potvin. Then, I came in my pants. Wendel-Jesus-Clark. Gilmour and Co. were going to the office in the back to see the owner. Let him know there were there. While cleaning up, a couple of douchebags came into the kitchen as Gilmour was coming out and started singing his praises. Then asked if they could get a picture of themselves with him. I watched the entire thing and took a picture myself.

http://i48.tinypic.com/dfetmw.jpg

The Executive Chef came back and told me to just go home. More specifically, he wanted me to just get the hell out of there and enjoy the rest of my night. For 4 hours, I partied with the guys. Got to meet Burns as well. I’ve never met a man more gracious in my life. While excitedly telling my friends what was unfolding before me, Gill came up behind me and slurred, “You’re the Chef right? That was the best steak. EVER dude!” Then the owner motioned at me and waved me over. Doug, him, and I were going to the back and have a smoke and a pint.

I stayed back there talking to Dougie for about 30 minutes. We didn’t even talk about hockey. He wanted to know how long I’ve been working there, what I planned on doing with myself, and made some jokes about Gill not being able to handle his liquor. The entire time, I was just incredibly happy. I was getting hammered. Then Potvin came into the back and I stupidly asked why the hell he’d think of getting into a fight with Hextall. The guys burst out laughing and yelled out, “Mannnnnn, you’re hammered!” Potvin, of course, didn’t look too impressed lol

After a week or so, I went to play some of my weekly hockey with the owner and his hockey buddies. Played with Healey, Probert, Anderson, etc. But that week, Dougie came by. It was just an amazing experience to be a part of. I have pictures of them all, but I’m not inclined to post my face here.

All in all, just amazing to be in intimate company with the 1993 team. Just awesome.

Way back when only the residents of a trashy little town called Cardinal, Ontario knew that Todd Gill was going to be awesome, we played town league soccer together with his brothers and two of mine.
In Perth, I served a couple of guys from the Sharks a bunch of times in the off-season at the Good Wood Oven while they were at their cottages. Also, Ian Millar was a regular there and is truly a drunken douchebag in person.

We go to Riverdale farm in Toronto all the time. Two summers ago, my kids were playing with another little girl when her dad came over to get her – and it’s none other than Wade Belak. He very kindly said hello to both of my kids, my daughter was thrilled that she got to meet a real live Leaf.

At one of the games in 92/93 my dad came back from getting concessions and told me to grab my program and started dragging me down the stairs.

The cover was Peter Zezel but he was playing. Luckily, the healthy scratch was willing to sign it with a smile.

Can’t remember why Krushelnyski wasn’t playing but what a nice guy.

durning university i was in a coop job downtown, and one day John MacDonald was having a 12-1pm signing up at the Eatons Centre, so my buddy and I took it in and were just going nuts. For us, its not every day you get to meet a backup short stop who complements his defencive mastery with a .190 batting average, and this was opportunity was not to be wasted. Most of the people in line were just passers by who got in line just because the sign said ‘blue jays autograph signing’ and at best watched 2 games a year on TV. My buddy and I were the last people to get in line, which at that point was about 30 deep, we were loud, we were obnoxious, and generally we had the whole back of the line just pumped up to meet this beast of the bench. being last in line, and generally awesome, we talked shop with him for a few mins, good guy, he seemed overwhelmed by our enthusiasm. the staff looked at us like we were complete idiots. we laughed so hard as we were leaving, that we forgot the posters we had him sign.

comes from Norte, courtesy of He Scroe, HeShoot! I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing it:

I saw Gary Roberts play live 3 times. Against Edmonton, Tampa Bay and Carolina and he was amazing in all 3 games. The first time I met him was in a Blockbuster on the Queensway in Toronto. It was during the lockout and I was so desperate for hockey that I had been reduced to renting Don Cherry Rock ’Em, Sock ’Em videos.

Let’s Go.

I wasn’t all annoying fan, all interrupting him during his dinner or like Wayne and Garth meeting Alice Cooper… but we interacted. He asked me if I had seen the movie he was going to rent and if it was any good (it was). I made him laugh by asking him if I could take a photo with him and then shook his hand and froze as I pretended someone took our photo.


The very next day while shopping at the very excellent Sherway Gardens mall, I ran into him again. This time he approached me and hand on a stack of bibles when he shook my hand he froze and pretended to have his photo taken.
And you know what I said to him? I said, “It’s really hack to steal another dude’s material Gary.”
And now all these years later, even though I still think it’s hack to steal someones jokes, I will never forget our time together. Nor will I ever forget what I now refer to as my Summer of Gary.

I have a couple stories of my own but nothing that beats that.

I got to play a minor hockey game at maple leaf gardens when i was about 12. It was amazing the get dressed in the leafs changeroom, sit on the bench and skate through centre ice with the puck thinking to my self (jesus, stanley cups were lifted at this very spot once)

Back in ‘97, I was taking part in my usual summer Sunday afternoon activity as a 12 year old: keeping score at my Dad’s softball game. No one else on the team wanted to do it, and since I wasn’t actually playing they gave the job to me. This particular game, the game was against a team that Tom Fergus played on. Back then I barely knew who he was, but I knew he used to be in the NHL, and he played for the Leafs.

The game goes on, and out of the corner of my eye, I see two figures approach the bleachers next to me and grab a seat. Tom’s up to bat, waves at the guys, then hits a lazy fly out. The two men rip on him. Everyone has a laugh.

It wasn’t until the last inning that I noticed the two figures happened to be Wendel and Tie. Sitting not 10 feet away from me, and I had been too into the scoring to notice. They, and Tom, left soon after the game ended. Somehow I hadn’t approached them for an autograph, but neither did anyone else. The next time my Dad’s team played Tom’s team, Fergus hit a moonshot home run (off of my Dad, no less). I fetched the ball out of the parking lot and got him to sign it. It’s still in my room at home.

Obviously I live in Kingston, and we get our share of hockey celebs here from time to time. I’ve also stated before that my wife’s best frined since high school, and her Maid of Honour at our wedding is Kirk Muller’s youngest sister, Kelly. As a result I’ve met Kirk a few times. A couple of my favourites were at his house on Loughborough Lake just outside Kingston where he has a big Canada Day bash every summer. Of course, Wendel, Dougie, Tie, and a few other hockey players usually show up. It’s pretty cool to hang out and drink with these guys – they’re really nice people. Another time my wife took me to a Leafs-Dallas game on my birthday a few years ago, and Kelly Muller came with us to meet the rest of her family at the ACC. They sat in Platinums supplied by Kirk (he was with Dallas then, not Toronto), my wife and I were in Greens. Before the game we got to go to the morning skate to watch Dallas practice, then we went to HHOF to see the cup and of course Kelly had to find her brother’s name from 1993 and rub that in my face. After the game my wife and I went with the rest of the Muller clan down to the player’s section near the dressing rooms and met up with Kirk. While we were chatting, Mike Modano walked over and said hello (this was the game that he wiped out on the way to center ice during the pre-game ceremony and we all joke about that). Then Tie Domi came over because he wanted to say hello to Kirk before he took off. My wife also has a picture of herself drinking out of the Stanley Cup at a bar in Kingston from 1993 when Kirk brought it home.

I’ve seen a lot of other hockey players around Kingston, particularly during the winter festival in February called Feb-Fest, when they hold a charity hockey tournament outside with a lot of former NHL’ers (ref’d by Leaf Alumn John Dorey). Don Cherry is usually there, and Gordie Howe was last year which was pretty cool.

As for other celebs in Kingston, I had breakfast one morning at Morrison’s (PPP might know where that is) and a few seats away was Dan Akroyd. I also met Rob Baker (Hip guitarist) one day while walking my dog on Brock St. – he was doing the same, and of course the dogs wanted to say hello to each other, so I chatted a bit with Rob, nice guy.

Saw Tie Domi walking around at the ex when I was 6 once. I know I’ve met others though but I can’t remember them. My dad has an autographed stick at the cottage with everyone from the 76/77 team on it.

I also had Don Cherry sit down beside my family at one of his restruants for a short meal. That was epic for a 10 year old. Don’t think I managed a word the whole time.

I met Wendel Clark at a softball game in St. Thomas in 1987.

I was like 8 or 9 years old. I got his autograph and then asked if he wanted play catch.

He said he had to get going.

Best brushoff of my life.

I have a picture of the exchange somewhere…I think my mom took it.

Same event Steve Yzerman almost plowed through like ten of us kids to avoid signing autographs…he was a total prick.

Has already been documented.

I mean, he is not a Leaf YET, but he his making his debut against them tonight.

Back in the day my dad used to work for Air Canada (I was barely a couple of months old) and he got “stuck” (he really just rode up to whatever floor they were on with them) in an elevator with a bunch of Leafs…I remember him mentioning Darryl Sittler, Borje Salming, and I think Wendel Clark. When I asked him what he did, he said nothing because he was (and still is) a Bruins fan.

One of my best friends also almost got run over by Darryl Sittler outside of our high school because his step-daughter goes there. Darryl also appeared at this charity hockey game my school hosted last year, coaching our teacher’s team, which I thought was pretty cool for him to do. I waved frantically at him once and I think he saw me and got scared because he never looked my way again…..

I wish I could, but I’d be worried that I’d freeze and end up saying stuff like “So….do you….like…stuff?”

I almost met Bobby Orr this summer. Apparently he has investments in some company a few towns over from where I worked, and one of my coworkers (and the only hockey fan) almost went. However, he ended up missing quite a bit of the day because of taking his son somewhere (doctor’s appointment or something like that.)

Thing is, this was while polishing instruments, so we had a plan to get Bobby Orr to sign a broken trumpet case or something. It’s a good thing I didn’t go, because I happened to be wearing my Leafs shirt that day

in the airport in Maui when the hubby and I were waiting for our plane to come back to Vancouver from our Honeymoon, Mattias Ohlund got off the plane we were getting on to. My husband, me, and the lady sitting next to me all watched him walk by, and then looked at eachother and said “Was that Mattias Ohlund”??

He was hooooooooooooot.

I’m decent friends with Phil Oreskovic and his family.

I’ll start with the non-Leaf encounters and build up to the main event.

I was briefly related by marriage to Fred Stanfield. He was nice to me (though I was just a kid at the time), but I’ve heard he’s kind of a jerk (specifically from his ex-wife). There was a picture taken at some point of me wearing his Cup ring.

I went to high school for a year and a bit with David Shantz. Surprisingly good and grounded guy, considering the scout hard-ons he was inspiring at the time.

Nathan Horton played Jr. B in my hometown. I went to the same post-game stuff as the team a bunch of times, but I can’t recall ever having a conversation with him. I may have just been drunk.

I met Bobby Orr when he was visiting my local rink as a player agent once. (I think he was going to represent one of the guys from the junior team if they got drafted or something… long time ago, tough to remember). He was a prick (got animated in his anger over people wanting pictures, which I would have thought he’d be used to), but everyone else who’s met him tells me he’s great, so maybe he was having a bad day or something.

I’ve had dinner “with” Zenon Konopka’s parents (they used to own a pub I went to a lot), but never met him. They’re nice, and very enthusiastic about their son’s career.

Main event: Wendel Clark

This was such a crazy event that I’ve actually been working on a really long blog post about it since it happened, tweaking it until it’s suitably great to represent the sheer awesomeness of the occasion. I’ll give a briefer run-down here.

On the night of this season’s game against the Hawks, I went up to finally check out Wendel’s bar in Vaughan. I wore my Clark jersey. My friend and I sat at the bar for the best available TV view at the time. Shortly after the game started, somebody taps me on the shoulder. I turn around, and WENDEL CLARK IS STANDING BEHIND MY STOOL. He shook my hand, said hello, and signed the jersey while it was on my back. I tried to say so many things to the man whose career gave definition to my childhood, but I was so shocked I just became a stuttering idiot.

He was kind of hammered and with his family, so he left shortly thereafter (I like to imagine he went to his home in King City and engaged in unarmed combat with a series of progressively larger and angrier bears), but the stun still hasn’t totally worn off. I work in the entertainment industry, and deal with varying degrees of fame on a frequent enough basis that I don’t really get star-struck. I’ve recorded Queen Latifah, and been the picture of professionalism. I once had beers with Bruce Dickinson, and was totally cool with it. But when I met Wendel Clark, I became a teenage girl. It was amazing.

My Wendel Clark Story

What a great, great thread, despite being partly inspired by a few slices of fairly mediocre pizza.