Edmonton Sun Special Report: When Glory Was Born

It was fourteen years after the fact, when the old war horse on defence retired, after a 19-year career which included six Stanley Cups.

Somebody asked what was his greatest thrill.

“May 19, 1984,” responded Kevin Lowe.

And then the tears came. In a flood. He looked at his wife Karen – the double bronze medal-winning downhill skier from the 1988 Olympic Winter Games – while his brother Ken, the trainer, brought him a bottle of water before he was able to go on.

“When Dave Lumley scored the empty-net goal …,” Lowe said, his voice breaking. “It was pretty unbelievable. When the puck went in the net – that moment will forever be in my mind.”

That’s now 25 years ago.

Kevin Lowe just turned 50.

Jari Kurri turns 49 the day before the anniversary.

Grant Fuhr and Kevin McClelland are 46. Paul Coffey is 47. Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Glenn Anderson are 48.

Charlie Huddy and Andy Moog are 49. Ken Linseman and Pat Conacher are 50.

Dave Semenko and Dave Hunter are 51. Don Jackson is 52. Randy Gregg is 53. Dave Lumley and Pat Hughes are 54. Lee Fogolin is 55. Jaroslav Pouzar is 57. And Willy Lidstrom is 58.

Most of them were barely old enough to grow playoff beards back then. And now they’re celebrating the silver anniversary of winning the big silver trophy.

Funny what you remember about May 19, 1984.

I remember driving home from the Coliseum that night and getting pulled over by the cops in a checkstop. When I rolled the window down, the police officer was knocked back by the reek of champagne.

I hadn’t had a sip.

I was headed home to change clothes and drive back to the NHL’s post-series party.

Owner Peter Pocklington, with whom my popularity was not particularly high at that precise point, had taken the trouble to write my name on a bottle of champagne then proceeding to see that I wear the entire bottle.

Pocklington – who would later have his father Basil’s name engraved on the Stanley Cup only to have it XXXXXed out by the NHL – then proceeded to provide a quote to the drenched scribe.

“This is the most incredible high I’ve ever had in my life,” said the owner, who will be celebrating Tuesday’s silver anniversary under house arrest in California on million dollar bail provided by coach Glen Sather prior to going to trial on tax fraud.

“When I said we’d win the Stanley Cup in five years the day we got into the league, I said it because I was a naive fool. But that’s what I believed. And then that’s what we all believed,” said Pocklington.

To see Gretzky carry the Stanley Cup around the ice in front of a gone-mad Coliseum crowd after only five years of the team being in the NHL following the WHA merger was one thing. But to see what the Oilers had done to a dynasty in their first step toward becoming the league’s last dynasty, was something else again.

It wasn’t that long before that the NHL was a million miles away for Edmonton, the voice of Foster Hewitt on radio and then TV with the game coming on midway in the second period.

The closest it came was when the Detroit Red Wings held training camp in Edmonton and you could watch Gordie Howe and Terry Sawchuk play their Edmonton Flyers farm club.

Then one day Bill Hunter and pals invented the WHA and Howe was playing in games here. Then Gretzky showed up and then one night in Chicago, Gretzky, Messier, Fogolin, Hunter, Lumley and Semenko were playing their first game in Chicago Stadium.

And now it’s 25 years ago since they won their first Cup?

So much has happened since. But those five years before they won that Cup, were hardly uneventful either.

There was Gretzky, first and foremost, breaking all those records, including scoring 50 goals in 39 games, the team making the playoffs that first year, losing out to the Philadelphia Flyers who virtually lined up to testify about the fabulous future in front of these kids.

SINGING ON THE BENCH

There was sweeping the Montreal Canadiens the next year and singing on the bench in their second round series in Long Island against the Stanley Cup-winning Islanders.

There was the weak-kneed wimp Miracle On Manchester setback, blowing a 5-0 lead and the series against the Los Angeles Kings the following year.

And there was getting to the 1983 final, and losing to the Islanders in a four-game sweep, a lesson which taught them how to win – Gretzky later recalled walking by the Islanders room and noticing that they were exhausted and wounded while the Oilers felt fine.

Fogolin transferred the captaincy to Gretzky in the fall of the 1983-84 season and when they started the playoffs, Sather not only had John Muckler and Ted Green as assistant coaches but, in a moment forgotten by many, he added the temporarily unemployed Roger ‘Captain Video’ Neilson to work the film room for the playoffs.

The Oilers easily disposed of the Winnipeg Jets in the first round but were pushed to Game 7 during a fabulous playoff series against the Calgary Flames with Gretzky declaring: “There’s going to be a rivalry now for sure.”

After sweeping the Minnesota North Stars in the third round, the Oilers had earned a rematch with the Islanders in the Stanley Cup final.

It was the Islanders’ ‘Drive For Five’ vs. the Oilers’ ‘Run For One.’ Or Billy vs. ‘The Kid,’ named for goalie Billy Smith vs. Gretzky.

Fuhr was great, stopping 34 shots and McClelland scored the goal to win 1-0 in Game 1 on the Island.

While the Oilers lost 6-1 in Game 2, the series involved the 2-3-2 World Series format that year so the Oilers headed home for three.

Led by Messier with two goals, the Oilers won Game 3 by a 7-2 count.

“I’ve never heard a crowd like this in Edmonton for a constant 60 minutes,” said Messier of the inspiration.

It was 7-2 again in Game 3 with Fuhr out with a shoulder injury and Andy Moog in the rest of the way.

The Oilers won Game 5 by a score of 5-2.

During the three games in Edmonton, the Oilers outscored the Islanders 19-6. The defending champions had not only been nudged off the throne, they’d been blown away and the sign on the dressing room wall said it all: “The Drive For Five Is No Longer Alive because the Thirst For First shall be quenched tonight.”

In that dressing room when it was over were more people than a dressing room can hold. It was an insane scene of family, friends, politicians and the nation’s sports media.

And everybody was drenched. Those who weren’t were taken care of by Gregg, who went around the room looking for candidates, shouting ‘You’re too dry!’

MESS WAS A MESS

Messier was crying.

Not only had he won the Stanley Cup but he was such a force they gave him the Conn Smythe Trophy too.

“Messier’s goal in Game 3 turned us into the team we had to be,” said Coffey.

“The Calgary series made all the difference,” said Lowe. “Right there. That was the time and place. That’s where we grew up. That’s where we acquired the mental toughness to win the Stanley Cup.”

Sather mentioned the World Hockey Association.

“I’m proud to have been in that league. People like Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson showed us a lot about creative hockey. It started there.”

Edmonton went crazy. The oil capital of Canada became the hockey capital of Canada. A crowd of between 100,000 and 200,000 (Police told Mayor Laurence Decore it was the latter) attended the biggest single parade ever held in Edmonton.

And thanks to the Oilers and a bet between mayors, 36 Long Island Ducks were moving to Edmonton’s Storyland Valley Zoo.

In the column I wrote while dripping with champagne that night was the following paragraph:

“Edmonton had tasted winning before but never like this. The Grey Cups were great. But uh-uh. No way. Not even close. That was the greatest single sports experience the unbelievably fortunate sports city – Canada’s City of Champions – has ever seen.”

Soon there would be signs on the outskirts of town declaring Edmonton the City of Champions.

After all that’s happened in Edmonton over the years, it’s hard to top what we witnessed that night on May, 19th, 1984.

Terry Jones appears courtesy of the Edmonton Sun

Article by Don Schwartz, WG Authentic / Watch Video

You know that you’ve had a one-of-a-kind hockey career when the words of a national anthem – in a country different from your native land – are changed to reflect what you’ve meant to the sport.

Such was the case a decade ago at Wayne Gretzky’s final National Hockey League game on April 18, 1999 at Madison Square Garden. As the New York Rangers prepared to end their season by hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins, the hockey world gathered to say goodbye to the all-time record holder in 61 NHL statistical categories, accomplished throughout his 20-year career.

But it was clear to many that while everyone’s eyes were fixed on Wayne that evening, his thoughts were squarely on others, making sure that that the people close to him were taken care of on a night that was supposed to be his shining moment.

“Wayne didn’t forget anyone,” said Rangers broadcaster Sam Rosen, who was part of the national TV coverage of the game and worked alongside Wayne throughout his three seasons in New York. “With all that was going on, you knew how much emotion there was and what he had to be feeling inside. But when he would come off the ice he’d make sure that his stick was pulled aside and he would sign that stick and he’d go on and get another stick. He made sure that every stick used that night was noted and taken care of and made sure that everyone knew that it was going to someone that deserved to have one, whether it was a teammate or people that worked in the locker room.”

Every moment meant to honor Wayne for his accomplishments became an opportunity for him to thank others. As John Davidson, former Rangers broadcaster and current St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations, headed to the arena that night he received a call from Wayne asking him to make a special mention during the pre-game ceremony.

“Tom Mees was a broadcaster for ESPN who had passed away as he drowned in a terrible swimming accident at his home,” Davidson said. “We had all worked with Tom. He was a wonderful, passionate hockey guy and for Wayne to remember that out of the blue during his day to say goodbye to the world of hockey as a player was the way he was. Nobody was more important than other people to him. Nobody’s ever been. It didn’t matter what you did for a living. You could just be a guy who works hard and makes the minimum wage, he’ll take care of you. He’s that type of guy.”

In a game filled with obvious emotions, the Rangers tried to keep the situation light and the team’s focus off the inevitable ending to Gretzky’s playing days; even turning their thoughts to a new beginning.

“My daughter was pregnant and she was in the hospital giving birth to a baby,” said John Muckler, then the coach of the Rangers and now a senior advisor to the general manager for the Phoenix Coyotes. “It was in the third period and I had instructed our P.R. guy to come down to tell me as soon as the baby was born. So he came down and told me it was a baby boy. I called time out with maybe about a minute left in the game and called Wayne over to the bench. I said ‘You were right. My daughter’s going to have that baby on the day you retire. And here’s what I want you to do for me, I want you to go and score another goal.’ Well, he looked at me like ‘Oh my gosh, don’t put that kind of pressure on me.’ He said ‘I could have done that one time, but I don’t think I can do it tonight.’”

“I just wanted the guys to try to relax and have fun,” Muckler added. “Even the organization tried to have a little bit of fun with him because they showed a lot of Wayne’s previous commercials when he was younger and the players had a lot of fun teasing him. They tried to keep it as light as possible. But you knew when it got into the third period and we ended up with a tie that it was going to end suddenly, since it was headed to overtime where the first goal wins, of course, so you knew it wasn’t going to take too long to come.”

That moment came 82 seconds into overtime as a Jaromir Jagr goal gave Pittsburgh a 2-1 victory. While Wayne wasn’t able to add one last goal to his all-time record, he did provide the sold-out crowd with one final glimpse of greatness, assisting on a Brian Leetch goal that tied the game in the second period and set up the sudden death stanza.

Jagr’s game-ending goal set off a lengthy standing ovation followed by multiple curtain calls from the fans who wanted a few more moments with Wayne. It was the capstone to a night that began with a star-studded ceremony, featuring well wishes from contemporaries Mario Lemieux and Mark Messier, a new Mercedes as a gift from the Rangers organization and an announcement by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman that no other player would wear No. 99 again. And in addition to John Amirante’s special version of the American anthem, pop-singer Bryan Adams altered the Canadian national anthem, changing “We stand on guard for thee” to “We’re gonna miss you, Wayne Gretzky.”

“I think he was somewhat ready to retire,” Muckler said. “I’m sure he had thought about this for a long time and it seemed to be the right year, ’99. He had made up his mind going into Ottawa for his last game played in Canada, which was also emotional for the players and his teammates, because we didn’t want to see him go. We tried to talk him into staying for another year, but he had made up his mind and he was comfortable with his decision and he knew that he had to move on.”

Though Wayne has remained in the game throughout the ten years since his final NHL contest – first as an ambassador and now as a head coach – that night in New York closed the chapter on a career that continues to resonate throughout the sport of hockey.

“It was not only him playing his last game as a New York Ranger, I think he was playing his last game as something that the world of hockey should have seen and been a part of  and the whole world was able to see it,” Davidson said. “I found that to be fascinating because what Wayne did for our sport and the ambassador he’s always been, our sport wouldn’t be where it is today without him and what he’s done for us. I think he’s the greatest player that’s ever played. I was fortunate to have broadcast – in the hundreds – the number of games that I saw him play live and I’ve never seen a player like him and I don’t think we’ll ever see a player like him again. His records will not, in my mind, ever be broken. He’s the best ever.”

Article by Don Schwartz, WG Authentic / Watch Video

Terry Jones appears courtesy of the Edmonton Sun

Other banner-raisings have been more momentous.

And others were more emotional than when Glenn Anderson’s No. 9 finally went up to the rafters at Rexall Place last night.

But what made this one extraordinarily memorable was the players from the past who showed up to be there for the player who had to wait the longest to get there.

“Everybody was there,” said Anderson when it was over.

“It was tough to hold back the emotions. They were right there with you,” said Anderson.

No. 9 said he’s glad he didn’t have the banner-raising before his Hockey Hall of Fame induction.

“If it had been the other way around, I don’t think I’d have been able to go through my speech.

“It was amazing to have them all there. I think we showed the strength of the organization and the team we had and what we meant to each other. Everything was overwhelming,” said Anderson.

“It was a real good feeling,” said Glen Sather of being out there with all his players of the past.

“It’s nice to see everyone back here. This is what it’s all about,” said Wayne Gretzky.

The Oilers do banner-raisings better than anybody, but after you’ve done Gretzky, Mark Messier, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, Grant Fuhr and Al Hamilton, how do you top that with the one guy who had been overlooked by the Hockey Hall of Fame for so long?

Simple. Play the theme from the Magnificent Seven and introduce them one by one. Then cut to the Zamboni entrance where No. 9 stood in the dry-ice fog, his back to the crowd.

Except that wasn’t Glenn Anderson.

It was the Edmonton Oil Kings’ Drew Nichol.

“I got to be Glenn Anderson. And I get to keep the uniform,” said the Oil Kings tough guy.

The spotlight then hit the Oilers bench. And the real Glenn Anderson stood up, jumped over the boards and began a slow trip around the rink, waving to the crowd, many of whom were sitting in the same seats when he was scoring more game-winning goals, than any player in Oilers’ history.

There were lots of little touches, like Anderson stopping to pick up his six-year-old daughter Autumn, and to have a special moment with wife Susan and his dad Magnus who, despite his health, was able to make it after not being able to attend his Hall of Fame induction in November.

Anderson shook hands with Sather and John Muckler, who Gretzky put to work behind the Phoenix Coyotes bench as a coach for the occasion.

One by one, he did the same with every former teammate.

Eventually, Anderson took his place to watch No. 9 make the slow trip to the top of Rexall Place, the crowd standing from beginning to end when, taking a page from the Coffey banner-raising, they called on Messier to send Anderson a pass on the right side to break in on the net and score.

The only thing that might have made it better was if Billy Smith had been in the goal in a New York Islanders uniform, slashing him with his goal stick as Anderson crashed the crease to score.

Oilers president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe gave the banner-raising speech.

“Glenn, it’s nice to see you back in that uniform,” he said.

“And it’s terrific to see all these other guys. We haven’t had as many of these guys on the ice at the same time since the Heritage Classic.

“I was beginning to wonder if we’d ever get to have this celebration,” he said of the time Anderson had to wait to finally make it into the Hockey Hall.”

He spoke of Anderson’s “courage, guts and bravery” and how “when it came to crunch time, there was never anybody any better.”

“As much as Glenn marched to his own drummer, when the chips were down, we knew Glenn would deliver.”

Lowe ended it by saying, “Tonight, I hope this makes your dream come true.”

Messier’s eyes were wet as he listened to Anderson start his speech.

“It was a lot easier watching someone else,” said Messier, who was the focus of the previous banner-raising.

“He was nervous before it. As we waited for it to start, you could tell the moment got bigger and bigger.”

Messier said he wouldn’t have missed this.

“We played on the same line, roomed together on the road, lived together here in town.

“To me, he’s my brother.

“We’re all like brothers. To look out there at all our guys together again, it felt like we should still be playing,” he said.

Anderson told the crowd, “It’s great to be back in this uniform again. This jersey represents home and home is where the heart is. Right here is where my heart is.”

His last comments he saved for the fans.

“You are the greatest hockey fans in the world,” he said. “We had the time of our lives here.”

Last night was another of those times.

Terry Jones appears courtesy of the Edmonton Sun

There are some things that you just can’t believe you get a chance to witness. It happens every so often in my job and last night was one of those nights that you bookmark for the rest of your life.  If you are a hockey fan and you find yourself in Edmonton, Alberta and at a rink that features Mark Messier, Jarri Kurri, Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey, Wayne Gretzky and Glenn Anderson, well, let’s just say you might want to sit back and enjoy the ride.

And that’s what we did last night, despite the outcome of the game itself. To witness Anderson’s number 9 thrust into the rafters, and him receiving one last pass from Messier as he flew down the right wing was the stuff you write home about. (Or, you write it on your blog!)

My personal favorite moment? The decision to put John Muckler on the Coyotes bench!  What a classy move. And it obviously meant a great deal to a man who has given his entire life to the game of hockey. That was one of the topics of conversation with Gretzky just moments before the ceremony.

Listen below for a tribute to Glenn that ran on our game broadcast and Wayne’s comments prior to the special ceremony.

Wayne on Glenn’s ceremony:

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Broadcast Tribute:

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As a bonus, here is Glen Sather from right after the ceremony.  Interesting to note that he was asked about Wayne’s comments regarding the potential NEXT name to hang from the rafters.

Slats:

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A tip of the hat to the entire Oiler’s organization. They put on a helluva show and really know how to roll out the red carpet. They have built a wonderful connection between past and present Oilers.

It’s quite a fraternity.

- Todd

Terry Jones appears courtesy of the Edmonton Sun

No matter where he played or who he played with, Anderson always made it fun.

Glenn Anderson didn’t get the date wrong. He didn’t mistakenly think his banner-raising was this Sunday, not next.

But he showed up here yesterday. For the event.

Right off, you get the idea that his Edmonton Oilers Hall of Fame banner -raising, like Anderson himself, is going to be a little bit, well, odd … unusual … out there …

Anderson got off the plane and proceeded directly to sign and be photographed for collector authenticity with 300 unique concept hockey jerseys that will be on sale at a kiosk at Rexall Place tonight for the San Jose Sharks game.

“I received approval from the league last night in New York at the Rangers game. Also, I have a collector’s hockey stick.

“The hockey sweater is an artist design picturing my life from the first backyard rink to the Stanley Cups.

“Instead of being on canvas and framed, it’s all on a hockey sweater. It’s really cool. Nobody has done it before. It’s different.”

Kind of like the person.

After years of fighting his space cadet, skate-to-the-beat-of-a-different-drum image, you may have noticed, watching the telecast of the Hockey Hall of Fame inductions that Anderson has come to embrace it.

The latest of the glory gang to be honoured arrived 10 days early because it’s not just the Glenn Anderson banner-raising, but Glenn’s Global Games Raising The Rafters Weekend.

“I’m a little bit behind the eight ball with some stuff,” he said of organizing his own personal hockey fantasy camp, modelled after the highly successful Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier camps — “except more fun.”

It’s an extension of a project Anderson and Igor Larianov worked on during the Hall of Fame weekend in Toronto.

“It’s a fantasy camp featuring three-on-three hockey. It’s first-class all the way.

“The players will be outfitted head-to-toe. Each team will have uniforms from a team I played for in my career, home or away — an NHL team, a Canada Cup or All-Star team. They’ll have sweat suits and team jackets. We’ve rented a restaurant for an evening. They’ll be part of the Oilers function with the Don Metz videos and everything.

“We’ll start the tournament at the rink at the River Cree Resort & Casino on Friday and then move to Rexall on Saturday and Sunday.”

The price tag is $20,000 per four-man team or $6,000 per player to be placed on a team.

There’s still room for another team or two, and another player or two.

“Each team will get a girl,” he said.

Huh?

Anderson laughed, explaining that he’s arranged with Hayley Wickenheiser to provide a female member of Canada’s national women’s hockey team for each team.

And each team will get an Oiler great.

“Jarri Kurri, Dave Semenko, Dave Hunter, Ken Linseman, Craig Simpson, Kevin Lowe, Paul Coffey, Bill Ranford and, hopefully Mark Messier,” he said.

On Thursday, Anderson will present a cheque for $10,000 to the Cross Cancer Institute, which made him an honorary chairman during his Oilers career.

And what else?

Oh, yeah.

The banner-raising.

That’s at next Sunday’s game, with Wayne Gretzky’s Phoenix Coyotes in town as they were in 2007 when Mark Messier’s No. 11 went up.

The Oilers have led the league with their banner-raisings for Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Coffey and Grant Fuhr.

And this one, says Anderson “will be different.”

It took a long time for No. 9 to go up there, but Anderson said it isn’t going to take a long time for him to sit down.

“I’ve been to a lot of banner-raisings and the best ones are the ones that don’t go on and on.”

He’s seen Mark Messier bawl and doesn’t think he’ll do that.

But will he shed a tear?

“I hope I do,” he said. “If I don’t have the tears, I want to show people how much I cared about the city.”

And a message?

“I plan on telling the players on both teams how we bled the Oiler colours here and came to play for the crest on the uniform. And that it’s one thing to say it and another thing to do it.”

I don’t know about Gretzky’s guys, but that’s a message that Kevin Lowe’s modern-day Oilers need to hear.

Terry Jones appears courtesy of the Edmonton Sun

Another great Hall of Fame induction evening, another great Oiler enters. The competitiveness inside that locker fueled their play on the ice, with each and every player pushing their teammates to new heights. They had as much fun off the ice as they had winning on it, too. That Oilers Dynasty was something to behold.

You got spoiled if you were a fan. Every night the expectations were high, nothing but a win. Nothing but a blowout win. Try being a goalie, or a defenseman against that squad.

Today, there is another unique, dynamic player entering the Hall of Fame and it is the right call by the selection committee, just slightly overdue. Anderson was a gifted, free spirit off the ice and a competitive, free wheeling big time player on it. Maybe his loose and off beat personality kept his 498 regular season goals out of the Hall for this long, who knows. He was nearly a point per game when it mattered most, the postseason. He scored big goals at big times. Clearly a difference maker, but hidden somewhat behind the other big 3 up front.

Make no mistake, every dynasty has layers of great players, all put in a position to succeed. Would Glenn Anderson have been able to carry the mail for that franchise if he was the lone, go-to guy? Not likely. The team was put together with solid drafting and a timely WHA sale with the Greatest player ever. Up the middle its Gretzky and Messier. Patrolling the wings its Kurri and Anderson. On the bleuline, its Lowe and Coffey. In the net it is Fuhr and Moog.

Everything has its order. The players all have their rightful place in the line up and the coaches have the right players to put in match ups against any style of team. You ask any of their coaches and they will tell you they could all play defense when they had to. They could win 2-1 when they needed to. And it was the star players that bought in and sold it to the rest of them. Anderson was unique. He was a winger that would challenge you with speed, tenacity and an edge that bordered on reckless and careless, especially with his stick.

I remember the 1st game I played in Edmonton and the Oilers were coming at us pretty good. As a goalie, studying the likes of Gretz and Messier were one thing. You knew Mess liked to shoot the puck on his “wrong” foot, across the grain to the far side. He was looking for the goalie to be slightly off his angle and by shooting early in a game, he got you thinking he would do it all the time. It backed you off.

Gretz was simply amazing in the way he found the late man, especially on the weak side of the ice. He put pucks where he just came from, always against the flow, causing you to turn your head, if just for a split second. Impossible to defend against.

Anderson could dipsy doodle, beat you with speed or simply run over you. He ran into me so hard that night in Edmonton, I thought I was going right through the mesh in the net. He set a tone. He wanted to know if I would challenge him the next time, or would I get deep in the net and play passively?

I recently spoke with Hall of Fame defenseman Denis Potvin about Anderson. I got the feeling Denis originally felt Anderson might be a little ‘soft’ in the tenacious department. But Potvin said he went at Anderson pretty good one night, and Potvin was one tough player, especially when he buried the heavy wooden Titan in your back or mid section. He goes right at Anderson and gets him good. Anderson didn’t back down. He knew he had to earn space and respect in the scoring areas and came back at Potvin with a discreet, timely crosscheck to his back. He stood up to him and that caught Potvins and the rest of the Islanders attention.

The game hasn’t changed that much. You have to show the veteran, tough players you aren’t afraid. If you are, they know it right then and soon the entire team knows about it and that is how soft players get a reputation as being, well, soft players. Not Anderson.

He was unique. He wanted the puck in big games and he delivered. Welcome to the Hall of Fame Glenn Anderson.

For Gretzky.com, I’m Darren Pang 40

For the six years that “Live From Wayne Gretzky’s” has been broadcasting from Gretzky’s Restaurant, the show has hosted a who’s who of the hockey world.  On Saturday, November 8th, none other than Mark Messier added his name to that impressive roster of hockey talent, and we have the photographic evidence to prove it.

6-Time Stanley Cup Winner Champions The Cause Of Protection Joins Cascade BOD

TORONTO, ON. – It used to be said that Mark Messier’s eyes could burn a laser-like hole in an opposing centre when lining up for a faceoff. His intense and intimidating stare was called the look. That look was his indelible trademark. But these days, Mark Messier is eager to put on a very new and different look, one intended to make all hockey players safer and more secure when they take the ice.  Messier will debut his new look this Sunday when he skates for the All Stars in the Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Game at the Air Canada Centre. For the first time ever, Mark Messier will wear a Cascade CHX hockey helmet with SEVEN technology. The CHX helmet is designed to provide optimal comfort and protection, and with it on his head, Messier’s new look demonstrates his desire to champion the cause of safety in hockey.

Mark Messier’s credentials in regard to safety are impeccable. After all, he successfully survived twenty-five NHL seasons, spanning four decades, finishing his Hall of Fame career second only to Gordie Howe on the all-time games played list.   However, he knows not all players are as fortunate.  “I have seen teammates and friends of mine, people like Mike Richter and Jeff Beukeboom, end their careers early because of concussions and then have to deal with the devastating effects of post concussion syndrome. I am a father with one son playing hockey and another about to start.  I have 3 nephews that play youth hockey, I coach twelve-year-olds and I am alarmed by the number of concussions and the devastating effects at every level of the game, from minor to the NHL.  With a growing emphasis on skating and speed, the potential for high-impact contact has really increased.”

As a 6 Time Stanley Cup Champion, Messier is recognized as one of the greatest leaders in all sports.  Today, the Captain is applying all of his vast experience and leadership to the cause of protection. Messier recently commented, “When it comes to matters of health, I have learned that prevention is the key.  I think we can do a lot to reduce the risk of concussion starting with education.  We have to teach kids to take and give a clean body check.  They have to learn to be aware on the ice and pay attention to their body positioning.  Beyond that I believe we need to ensure we arm ourselves with the best protection possible- starting with the helmet.”

Once Messier made his intention to champion the cause of protection and safety in hockey known, he learned of Cascade’s SEVEN technology which provides superior protection.  Subsequently, Messier met with the founder, Bill Brine and after learning of the company’s mission to become the leader in head protection, he agreed to join the team.  As a member of the board of directors, Messier hopes to contribute in a meaningful way to the cause.  “I am passionate about Bill’s mission and believe he is on the right track with the development of a technology that dramatically improves helmet protection.  I hope to provide a player’s perspective and lend my experience to help the company build a helmet that is superior in every aspect, from protection and performance to design.”

Messier is well aware of what’s at stake as he adds, “I don’t think there’s ever been a time in hockey when the right kind of protection, particularly head gear, has ever been more necessary.  Cascade’s superior technology, and advanced fit represents a new paradigm in helmet safety.”  While he is hopeful to bring this message to players at every level, Messier believes Cascade has a unique opportunity to engage kids, as he continues, “I think Bill and his team may be onto something, because it is important to get the kids excited.  Making protection fun is a great first step.  Cascade created specially designed helmets for the Pee Wee Ranger team I coach with colors to match the Rangers uniforms and they loved them… because all of a sudden great protection is cool!”

Cascade CEO Bill Brine added, “When I started Cascade in 1986, I had a vision for a totally new kind of lacrosse helmet, one based on science, style, and performance. As we now branch out further in the manufacturing of hockey helmets, it is clear that Mark Messier shares our vision. Mark has an abiding and relentless concern about player safety in hockey.  We are honored to have him providing our scientists and developers with his expertise; and we are thrilled that he, a six-time Stanley Cup winner has joined our team and will now champion the cause of safety.”

These days, for Mark Messier, it is all about making the sport he has played all his life and loves passionately, safer for others. It is the same passion and caring Messier provides to his family, past teammates, current and future players. Mark Messier has a new look, one lasered-in on safety, and that is good news – no matter how you look at it.

About Cascade: In 1986, when Bill Brine left his family’s company to start Cascade, he had a vision for a company that would be driven by world-class product development, production and service. In slightly more than two decades, Brine has succeeded. Today, Cascade has established itself as the leader in the lacrosse helmet and eye mask category. Every Cascade helmet is engineered to meet or exceed NOCSAE standards. Cascade is the official helmet of Major League Lacrosse, and the past eleven NCAA Division 1 lacrosse champions have all worn Cascade helmets. The company’s factory is located just outside of Syracuse, in Liverpool, N.Y. The Cascade CHX hockey helmet offers SEVEN technology— the latest development in lateral displacement technology—that provides the protection of TWO helmets in the space of one. One form of protection guards against catastrophic hits while one provides safety against concussions. CHX helmets are fully customizable offering 3,375 color combinations.

Visit Cascade Hockey

Be sure to visit Wayne Gretzky’s Restaurant this Saturday afternoon.  Mark Messier is scheduled to stop by joining Gord Stellick and Murray Wilson for this week’s edition of Live from Wayne Gretzky’s.  Listen to the weekly show via NHL Home Ice, your local radio station or podcast.  Other guests this Saturday will include Russian hockey legend Igor Larionov and a third Hall-of-Famer, Phil Esposito.

The Hockey Hall of Fame announced that Honoured Members Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri and Mark Messier will join former teammate and 2008 Inductee Glenn Anderson for the 2008 Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Classic Game.

The game, featuring a record total of 19 Honoured Members, will be played Sunday, November 9 at 2pm at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

“Stepping on to the ice again with Mark, Paul and Jari will be a real thrill,” said Glenn who will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday, November 10. “It’s a great honour to have the support system back in place as we once did.”

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