The Boys Are Back In Hockey Town!

Reminiscing on what life was like during his playing days, former NHL star Ted Lindsay recalled that if he was coming out of let’s say Maple Leaf Gardens after a game, he would automatically cross the street if he saw a Leaf player walking on the same sidewalk. “In those days we never spoke to players on the other team,” said Lindsay who in the 1950’s when staring with the Detroit Red Wings started what was deemed at the time the controversial NHL Players Association. This attempt was frowned on by management around the league and led to the hall of famer being shipped to the Chicago Black hawks. “I had a Red Wing tattooed over my heart but I’d still do the same thing today as much as it changed my life.”

Lindsay, along with his long time Red Wings line mate and fellow hall of famer Gordie Howe were in attendance at Joe Louis Arena along with two other former Red Wings in Red Kelly and Alex Delvecchio who a day earlier at an NHL banquet were all reminiscing about the NHL in their era.

“Rocket Richard from the blue line in is still the greatest hockey player who has ever played in the world,” said the 82 year-old Lindsay who had many memorable battles through the years. “I don’t care if they play hockey for 100 years, nobody will ever be better then the Rocket.”

Delvecchio, who is a young 76 years-old, called today’s athletes better conditioned then in his playing days because unlike back then, these athletes get to scrimmage and train throughout the summer and arrive in shape at training camp. In the 1950’s, athletes had to get a second job and did not train during the summer months. “From the last game of the season, we never touched skates against until training camp in September,” he said. “The team kept all the skates and equipment.” In those days, athletes didn’t have the luxury of having the available funds to buy extra skates. 

Gordie Howe, who is now 80 years-old had some lavish praise for Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby who has been shutout in back to back games in the finals. Showing what kind of classy person he is and how much he cares for today’s stars, Howe also gave the star some advice. “I told him do me a favor and don’t change anything,” Howe said. “Just be the kid you are and the player you are.” “Unless you put two guys on him, he’ll kill you in a game.” Howe did level some criticism when it comes to the strict infractions that are being called in today’s game. “Just touching a guy with a stick, that’s ridiculous,” said Howe.

A former Toronto Maple Leaf, Kelly reminisced with a laugh about what happened when the Leafs won the cup in 1964. At that time, Leafs owner Harold Ballard took the Stanley Cup and bottles of champagne to Kelly’s house where they posed for pictures with the cup. According to Kelly, who also played for the Wings, Conn, who was Kelly’s newborn- son was sitting in the cup where he ended up to have a big movement. “When my kids see players drinking out of the cup, now they all roar,” Kelly said. “They all have a great laugh.”  

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