I have had a few beers but I will share a hockey story not about my playing but about, a decent story. (I will clarify that in 1988 I tried for select 17s at the olympic training center in colo. sprngs., played my jr hockey in BC.) So in Mid May of 1986 on Friday I came home (colorado) and was told to pack for a weekend we are driving to Calgary for game five of the cup finals. Bob Johnson was the flames coach that year and we knew him through the Bob Johnson hockey schools. Bob Johnson had left tickets for us at will call at the Saddledome.
It was a twenty plus hour drive, we arrived in Calgary in the afternoon and checked into the hotel. Then go to the Saddledome grab our tickets and head too our ....... suite. Not just a suite but a suite next to the Montreal Canadiens management. (Jon Bellevue, the rocket, etc.) A bunch of frenchies drinking cognac and smoking cigars. Patrick Roys rookie year. Chris chelious, claude lemeixe guy laflauer, etc were on that team. Yes, I got to see the cup parade that night whenn the Canadiens won in overtime.
We were invited to the Flames locker room by Bob. We decided not to, they just lost Stanley Cup. So the next day we met Bob Johnson at the Saddledome and he showed us around their locker room. During that time John Tonelli (I loved the islanders then, before the avs) and Nick Futiui (I hope I didn't butcher that) walked into the room. I am fifteen years old and an Islander fan at the time, I know Mr Tonelli. Super nice guy limping around. He gave me a sherwood 2070 personall stick (later on this) signed by him. How cool! So we leave the rink and go downtown Calgary to have lunch with Bob Johnson. Wow, you Calagary folks are hockey crazy and very respectful.
So what a weekend, right? The suite next to Montreal management, watching Roy win his first cup, etc.
I wanted to share this story and mention a bit of my hockey background because of the next little bit, and this ends where anger starts. So a few years later I am at Dobson arena in Vail in August (right after my select 17 tryout). I go in, I know the rink manager and he always let me have ice time. But I go to talk the manager and I look over by the vending machines (remember this is the eighties and pro hockey players besides gretsky can blend in) and there is this stout dude with a little moustache. Remember I was an Islander fan back then. I walk right to the guy and ask him if he is Brian Trottier. He says yes and what do I have to do get some ice time. Wow! I tell him about meeting Tonelli in Calgary and the stick, etc. He rents the ice for hour or so and we go get our skates etc. We get an hour to skate with Brian Trottier. When I went back to grab my gear I grabbed that sherwood Tonelli gave and Mr Trottier signed the other side. How cool!
Now for the anger. In the late nineties my dad and his new bride remodeled the house I grew up. His new bride threw that stick, all my china, sweden, finland and soviet "stuff" (yes all hockey stuff) into nthe garbage. Thats worth being angry.
I was super fortunate with the memories. Roy in his white mask and beating the hell out of the goal post like a bull elk (go watch what Roy did in early years), seeing the Stanley cup paraded, meeting John Tonelli, being fortunate to live where Brian trottier bought home, watching a game next to Montreal Canadien management, and honestly, knowing Bob Johnson.
It reminds of being thankful of where I grew up and the oppoprtunities afforded to me. Yes I still wish I had that 2070 black sherwood (I dont remeber if it was a right or left or the lie.) But all the experience I was fortunate to experience..... okay
