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Old 02-07-2003, 04:49 PM   #2 (permalink)
wingoilerfan
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#3. EDDIE "Edmonton Express" SHORE
The "Edmonton Express" would assume his defense position at the beginning of a game by skating out to the tune of "Hail to the Chief" wearing a matador's cape. A valet would then remove the cape and fold it neatly. In 1933, Shore nearly killed Ace Bailey by slewfooting him. Bailey hit his head on the ice. Shore ended up with nearly 1,000 stitches over his career and broke his nose 14 times. Once, his ear was nearly severed by a skate. As a doctor was trying to reattach Shore's ear, Shore demanded a mirror, saying that "I want to make sure you sew it on right". They say hockey players are crazy, but Shore pretty much confirmed it by saying, "Most hockey players are crazy. Some of us admit it.".

#4. GILES "Grattoony the Looney" GRATTON
This well-traveled goalie played in the WHA and NHL, believed that he was a 12th century sailor, a 14th century Indian hobo, a 17th century Spanish nobleman, an 18th century Spanish priest, and a 19th century British surgeon. Well travelled, indeed! This goalie, who believed in astrology and reincarnation, had a large lion head painted on his goalie mask because Leo was his astrological sign. Once, Gratton refused to start a game for the Rangers, who were struggling at that time, because he claimed that his stars weren't aligned properly.

#5. DAVE "Tiger" WILLIAMS
Williams was known for speaking his mind. He gave his typically blunt prediction on his Maple Leafs' playoff series with the Pittsburgh Penguins (in Williams' first full season) -- "Stick a fork in them. Them Penguins is done like dinner.". One of Williams' most memorable goals was scored at Maple Leaf Gardens, as Williams returned to face his former team after being traded to the Vancouver Canucks. After he scored the winning goal in that game, Williams rode his stick like a broom down the length of the ice. He must've looked like a cowboy in the Calgary Stampedes at that moment! Williams was often at odds with the NHL front office. Once, he arrived late due to a flight delay, and explained to chief referee Scotty Morrison that "we would have been here sooner, but we couldn't find a kangaroo at the airport to bring us to this court.".

Enjoy these stories, folks!
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