I remember when my father called me in to watch the game, I was playing road hockey with some buddies. We all collected hockey cards and knew lots of the players. Keon was my favorite, and any sport I played over the years I tried to get number 14. My Dad said “ that Keon skates more miles per goal than anyone else in the league “ . That didn’t sound like something the old man would come up with so all these years later I am guessing he heard a TV analyst say that and thought it was a fitting observation. Keon was a ferocious fore checker, a tireless task in hockey but not only does it create the all to rare turnover, more importantly it throws the other team off their game. After playing 1296 games and winning four cups for Toronto, Keon got screwed over by Ballard, just like so many other players did in those days. Back then it was a tough game run by thugs. But I digress.
Today there are 32 teams in the league but back in 1967 it was the last year of the original six (Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs) and 4 out of six teams made the playoffs. On the evening of May 2, 1967 the Leafs beat Montreal to win the cup and Keon was the playoff MVP (Conn Smythe trophy winner). Everyone at our place was happy. Not ecstatic or bouncing off the walls thrilled, just happy. It was expected. This was the fourth Stanley Cup they had won in the 60’s. So when I say “ party like it’s 67” that’s a bit misleading, because it wasn’t much of a party at our house, and being 8 years old at the time, a party for me was coke and chips.
Since that time I have seen the Raptors win the world championship and the Blue Jay’s win two years in a row, but the lowly buds have struggled to make the playoffs, and when they do the first round seems to stymie them no matter how good a team they have. A 50 plus year drought is a bitter pill to swallow for any fan in any sport. How many rebuilding years does it take to actually rebuild something? And yet they are the second most valuable franchise in the league with an estimated value of $1.8 billion US, coming in second only to the NY Rangers, who haven’t won a cup since 94. They couldn’t top that list either. At least the Rangers made it to the second round this year.
I am no hockey expert, I played a little as a kid, that’s it. I could never be an analyst, I am quite simply a Canadian (not Canadien) hockey fan. I cheer for the Leafs and still miss Don Cherry, no matter how many inappropriate things he said.
After a truly excellent Maple Leafs team lost last night’s first round game seven* I am now facing a depressing, dare I say sobering reality (a sobering reality that is enough to drive me to drink) that I may not live long enough to see the Leafs win the cup again. Fair enough, it is out of my hands.
So now I am cheering for the Oilers in the hope that a Canadian team may win at the Canadian game. And if they do win I will party like it’s 67, only I will be having an adult beverage this time with my chips.
*Editor’s Comment: As of May 4th, 2024 the Leafs have played 27 game 7s in their 100 year history and lost 15 of them including last night’s loss. The Bruins have played 31 game 7s, the most of any team, and have won 16 of them which is also the most game 7 wins all time in the NHL. It just so happens that the Leafs and the Bruins are tied for most game 7 losses.
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