gouche
Phil Esposito will always be linked to that September night in 1972, when dripping with sweat and wearing various battle scars, he poured his heart out on national television in what many hockey experts claim was the turning point in the historic Canada vs. Russia eight game Summit Series.
Minutes after dropping a 5-3 decision in game four and being booed off the ice by 15,570 fans in Vancouver, Esposito, never one to hide his emotions, sparked his team and Canadian hockey fans by expressing in detail on national television his disappointment to those Canadian fans who booed the team instead of supporting them. Esposito didn’t realize it at the time that what he said lit a fire under not only his team but also fans across Canada who after that speech turned those boos into cheers.
“When I’m in Canada, I still get people who want to talk about it and they tell me what they were doing at that moment,” said Esposito who collected 1,590 points over his illustrious 18 year NHL career. “We should have been called Team NHL and not team Canada since Bobby Hull couldn’t play because he was in the WHL.” Enjoying life in the comfort of Tampa Florida, Esposito spends his time playing golf and working on the radio for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Away from the rink, Espo as he is affectionately called made various television cameos in the past including promotional work for Steelback Beer Company along with making cameos appearances on television series such as Rent-A-Goalie and Rescue Me. Besides working with the Lightning, this Sault St. Marie native, elected to The Hockey Hall Of Fame in 1987, does other radio work in co- hosting a daily call in show on XM Satellite Radio’s Home Ice Channel.
Reflecting on his career, which began in 1963-64 with the Chicago Black Hawks, Espo recalled scoring his first of 717 goals against the legendary Terry Sawchuck he mentioned that a highlight of his career aside from winning cups with the Boston Bruins was the special friendships he made in the game. “I made a lot of great friends and still talk to guys like (Wayne) Cashman, (Dave) Hodge, (Bobby) Hull and Greshner,” said Esposito about his former teammates. “It (career) really goes by quickly and all I can say to the young players is to enjoy it.” Telling his favourite story recently, Espo who is very much in tune with this year’s playoffs and played for the Hawks until being traded to the Bruins in 1967, laughed when telling a favourite hockey story relating to his little brother Tony who at the time was breaking in with the legendary Montreal Canadiens. Debuting coincidently against the Bruins, Tony faced over thirty shots and according to Phil played “fabulous”, but that didn’t stop the elder Esposito from getting into trouble when talking to his mom and Tony’s wife on the telephone.
“I remember they were excited that Tony played well and they asked who scored the first goal and I said that I did,” laughed Esposito about the 2-2 contest. They asked who scored the second goal and I said I did and they were not happy.” Espo broke into the N.H.L. at a time when rookies weren’t welcomed by the established veterans who were afraid of losing their jobs at training camp. Entering his first year with the Blackhawks, Esposito got tested early first in camp by fellow forward Billy Hay who slashed him a few times with his stick. The rookie’s toughness was also tested during the season as Gordie Howe delivered an elbow to Esposito that cut him open for six stitches. Once this budding rookie passed these early tests with flying colours, he proved to be a force with the Hawks playing on a line with Bobby Hull. After four years, he was traded to the Boston Bruins where he became the first NHLer to register 100 points in a campaign. After his 126 point season, Espo continued to put up some lofty stats playing with Wayne Cashman and Dave Hodge. “I loved playing with Boston,” said Esposito. “With a little more discipline we could have won three or four more Stanley Cups.” In 1975/76 Esposito was traded to the New York Rangers where he played until retiring in 1981.
Esposito spent his first three post-retirement years as the General Manager of the New York Rangers before getting involved with the expansion Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992, where he served as President until ’98.
“Getting the Lightning was my biggest accomplishment,” said Esposito, whose only regret was not coaching them from day one.
No Comments Yet
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
