Sports Central Message Boards - View Single Post - off-beat hockey players and personalities

wingoilerfan · 02-10-2003, 04:28 PM

#14. VALERI KHARLAMOV
Harold Ballard was so impressed by this Soviet winger during the 1972 Summit Series that he offered $1 million to the Soviets to release Kharlamov. One million would probably be a bargain compared to the salaries these days. If I'm right, Kharlamov was also famous for serving as the Flyers' punching bag when the Soviet team played the Flyers, taking a nasty slash from Bobby Clarke.

#15. HAROLD BALLARD
Lo and behold ... Ballard happens to be the next subject. Described in THN as a "mean-spirited Leafs' owner", he made then-Leafs coach Roger Nielson coach with a paper bag over his head. The Ballard era (error?) was a forgettable one for Maple Leaf fans.

#16. BOBBY "Golden Jet" HULL
Hull was mostly known for a slapshot that could break the sound barrier. He had signed a then-record $1 million contract with the WHA, which gave that league credibility. He and Stan Mikita, when they were playing for the Blackhawks, made a habit out of tormenting opposing goalies with their shots.

#17. DENNIS HULL
What would a review on the 100 most colorful and off-beat hockey players and personalities be without Dennis Hull? Dennis was Bobby's kid brother, known for his practical jokes. He once took a rosin bag and when a teammate walked by in a brand new suitcoat or tux, he whacked his teammate with the rosin bag so chalky rosin spilled all over the suit! He'd tell jokes at the expense of brotehr Bobby. An example ... "My wife made me a millionaire. Of course, I used to have $3 million.". Other practical jokes including ripping the last page out of novels.

#18. DEREK SANDERSON
Sanderson was known for his wild lifestyle. He once signed with the WHA for 5 years for $2.5 million, which at that time was ground-breaking. I don't have too many details about his life ... but perhaps THN believes that we're better off not knowing?

#19. LORNE "Gump" WORSLEY
Worsley, when he toiled for the Newe York Rangers, was asked which team gave him the most trouble. His answer? "New York".

#20. "One-Eyed" FRANK McGEE
McGee was one of the Ottawa "Silver Seven", and scored 14 goals in a Stabley Cup game. If his scoring touch was sharp, his humor was even sharper. Once, he and his teammates were invited to dinner with the governor general and gave his teammates this advice ... "Just do what I do. Don't worry about your forks. Just use your fingers.".

#21. AL "Planet" IAFRATE
Having ended his playing career in 1998, Iafrate has to be the most recent off-beat hockey player IMO. Besides that killer slapshot, he was also known for his biker image ... he had body tattoos and a Harley Davidson. During intermissions, he would light a cigar using the blowtorch that was used for working on stick blades. He once turned down a chance at an empty-net goal, saying that empty net goals were for wimps.

#22. MIKE "Shakey" WALTON
This 1967 Leafs bad boy once wore a Beatles wig to practice even though then-Leaf coach Punch Imlach banned long hair and mustaches. He also played in the WHA and ended his career in the WHA by walking from the arena to a nearby pub while still in full uniform. He watched the final minutes of the game with his uniform on in that bar, chugging a brew.

#23. RED STOREY
Storey was a famed referee who had the inside edge on the players in the game. He always advised players on who was gmae for a fight and which players should not be messed with.

#24. HARRY NEALE
As a coach, Neale had one of the best quotes, "We can't win at home and we can't win on the road. My only failing as a coach is finding some place to play.". I only wonder if he said that when he coached the Wings during the 1985-86 season, which was a total disaster in which the Wings won only 17 games that season. Neale is also known as a CBC broadcaster with alledged pro-Leafs sentiments.

#25. "Terrible" TED LINDSAY
Lindsay played on two Wings Cup-winning teams and also played for the Blackhawks, who had a fierce rivalry with the Wings back then. Lindsay was one mean player ... during a "friendly" old-timers game, he and Dickie Moore got into a stick-swinging match, and as a Blackhawk, Lindsay even swung his stick at former teammate Gordie Howe.

(To be continued later ...)

02-10-2003, 04:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
wingoilerfan Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 113	#14. VALERI KHARLAMOV Harold Ballard was so impressed by this Soviet winger during the 1972 Summit Series that he offered $1 million to the Soviets to release Kharlamov. One million would probably be a bargain compared to the salaries these days. If I'm right, Kharlamov was also famous for serving as the Flyers' punching bag when the Soviet team played the Flyers, taking a nasty slash from Bobby Clarke. #15. HAROLD BALLARD Lo and behold ... Ballard happens to be the next subject. Described in THN as a "mean-spirited Leafs' owner", he made then-Leafs coach Roger Nielson coach with a paper bag over his head. The Ballard era (error?) was a forgettable one for Maple Leaf fans. #16. BOBBY "Golden Jet" HULL Hull was mostly known for a slapshot that could break the sound barrier. He had signed a then-record $1 million contract with the WHA, which gave that league credibility. He and Stan Mikita, when they were playing for the Blackhawks, made a habit out of tormenting opposing goalies with their shots. #17. DENNIS HULL What would a review on the 100 most colorful and off-beat hockey players and personalities be without Dennis Hull? Dennis was Bobby's kid brother, known for his practical jokes. He once took a rosin bag and when a teammate walked by in a brand new suitcoat or tux, he whacked his teammate with the rosin bag so chalky rosin spilled all over the suit! He'd tell jokes at the expense of brotehr Bobby. An example ... "My wife made me a millionaire. Of course, I used to have $3 million.". Other practical jokes including ripping the last page out of novels. #18. DEREK SANDERSON Sanderson was known for his wild lifestyle. He once signed with the WHA for 5 years for $2.5 million, which at that time was ground-breaking. I don't have too many details about his life ... but perhaps THN believes that we're better off not knowing? #19. LORNE "Gump" WORSLEY Worsley, when he toiled for the Newe York Rangers, was asked which team gave him the most trouble. His answer? "New York". #20. "One-Eyed" FRANK McGEE McGee was one of the Ottawa "Silver Seven", and scored 14 goals in a Stabley Cup game. If his scoring touch was sharp, his humor was even sharper. Once, he and his teammates were invited to dinner with the governor general and gave his teammates this advice ... "Just do what I do. Don't worry about your forks. Just use your fingers.". #21. AL "Planet" IAFRATE Having ended his playing career in 1998, Iafrate has to be the most recent off-beat hockey player IMO. Besides that killer slapshot, he was also known for his biker image ... he had body tattoos and a Harley Davidson. During intermissions, he would light a cigar using the blowtorch that was used for working on stick blades. He once turned down a chance at an empty-net goal, saying that empty net goals were for wimps. #22. MIKE "Shakey" WALTON This 1967 Leafs bad boy once wore a Beatles wig to practice even though then-Leaf coach Punch Imlach banned long hair and mustaches. He also played in the WHA and ended his career in the WHA by walking from the arena to a nearby pub while still in full uniform. He watched the final minutes of the game with his uniform on in that bar, chugging a brew. #23. RED STOREY Storey was a famed referee who had the inside edge on the players in the game. He always advised players on who was gmae for a fight and which players should not be messed with. #24. HARRY NEALE As a coach, Neale had one of the best quotes, "We can't win at home and we can't win on the road. My only failing as a coach is finding some place to play.". I only wonder if he said that when he coached the Wings during the 1985-86 season, which was a total disaster in which the Wings won only 17 games that season. Neale is also known as a CBC broadcaster with alledged pro-Leafs sentiments. #25. "Terrible" TED LINDSAY Lindsay played on two Wings Cup-winning teams and also played for the Blackhawks, who had a fierce rivalry with the Wings back then. Lindsay was one mean player ... during a "friendly" old-timers game, he and Dickie Moore got into a stick-swinging match, and as a Blackhawk, Lindsay even swung his stick at former teammate Gordie Howe. (To be continued later ...) __________________ Let's go Red Wings! Long live the Oilers!