A Leafs Hat

Just outside Hartford? Whereabouts?

I’m working at the Newington VA and living in Farmington. Aside from all the Bruins fans, it’s a decent area. I’ll be sure not to wear any Leafs hats near any elementary schools now that I know the bullies target them…

I always wondered how you became a Leafs fan growing up in the States and all.

Wow. Very coincidental.

When I was probably around 9 or 10 a kid stole my Leafs hat (It was blue with a black brim, as opposed to grey) at recess and proceeded to run around with it and throw it in a muddy puddle. I freaked out (basically went Ralphie) and punched him right in the nose, which started bleeding, the kid turned red and started crying and ran inside. This was one of my successful attempts at vigilante justice as a kid, as opposed to the time I tried to fight someone a year older than me while playing Mini-sticks and ended up looking like Eric Cole vs. Ian White.

I had always blithely assumed that Leafs fans could only ever come from Canadian cities that didn’t have teams, people that had spent time in/around Toronto, or people whose families had rightly ensured they became Leafs fans and began the program early! I suppose Coaches can fall into that category of influence.

Are you saying you’re a goalie? Frequent reader but have never seen you state your position.

this place is great for all sorts of advanced statistical analysis, in-depth player features, and mockery of the MSM, but a little more narrative and storytelling around here will be good to switch things up.

you were the short kid growing up? it all makes sense now.

also, ‘a christmas story’, while a glimpse of Americana, was actually filmed in my hometown of St Catharines.

This warms the cockles of my heart.

So you became a Leafs fan because of Felix Potvin? Cool.

Pretty Interesting story. Did the kid leave you alone after that one day that you fattened his lip & Blooded his nose ?

I started getting interested in the Leafs when I was still living in Southern Cal. It was 2004, and I wanted to choose a hockey team in case I got interested in hockey for the future. In that case, I chose the Maple Leafs because I loved the blue and white colour scheme. My love for hockey grew very slowly initially. It wouldn’t be until 2007, when a friend convinced me to watch the team play in the final game of the season against the Habs, that my love for the game would truly begin to rise. I was mostly a baseball (Jays) fan beforehand, but hockey overtook American football as my second favorite sport (the two are very close, now).

I can’t even. Sigh.

(Lawn, cane, you kids and your hippity hoppity music, etc.)

-looking forward to more entries in the series

I was in grade 3 in 1993 and my memories surrounding the playoff run are fuzzy at best. What I do recall is the way it made me feel; it was probably one of the most exciting times in my life. We had massive basement viewing parties on what I recall was the smallest TV ever made. Anyway, I hope you always have an endless supply of hats – you never know when you’re going to run into a jerk.

1993 I didn’t care much about hockey. i think I may have been cheering for the Habs.

Oh you’re all going to not like me more than the whole “not seen any movies/not liking dogs” fiasco if I write one.

Couldn’t have made that picture a Fifty Mission Cap eh?

I don’t know why. I didn’t even like them. Kinda weird. Only other team I liked growing up was Colorado because of Sakic and Forsberg.

I was born in 89 so I definitely don’t remember the 1993 run, although I’ve heard the stories, and the kerry fraser hate from my dad enough times that I feel like I do.

The Back plastic strap that adjusts actually has Duct Tape on it (Only its dark Midnight Green like because its Army Tape)

Its all faded and it sits on the dash of my car and I occasionally wear it.

Its been to Germany, Newfoundland, Ireland, Kuwait, Canada, Iraq, Barbados – British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, & Mexico.

I refuse to throw it out.

Man I love that hat

Great story, I enjoyed this.

my first leaf game was sittler’s 10 pointer vs boston.
been hooked ever since – was like 4 or 5 at the time – what an introduction

the Americana that is “A Christmas Story” was filmed partially at Victoria School in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Apparently most of it was shot in Cleveland otherwise though.

…and when I joined the Leafs’ fan club in perhaps 95 or 96 I got a signed card, a letter from the “Leafs”, a sticker, and a button. The letter, sticker, and button no longer exist, but I’ve always held onto the card. It’s battered and wrinkled from taking to school to show my friends, and holding tightly every Saturday night watching the Leafs play as a kid, but at least it’s still in one piece!