Title/Author:
“’67: The Maple Leafs,
Their Sensational Victory and the End of an Empire” by Damien Cox and Gord
Stellick
Tags:
Ice hockey,
professional, championship, history, Maple Leafs
Publish date:
January 21, 2014
(e-book. Original publication date 2004)
Length:
386 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
One of the longest current championship
droughts in professional sports belongs to the Toronto Maple Leafs. They were one of the “Original Six” NHL teams
and their last championship came during the last season of that era, 1967. The next season saw the league double in size
from six teams to 12 and the expansion has continued to the 31 teams now
playing. Think about that for a second –
the Maple Leafs, who have long been the heart and soul of Toronto – have not
won a Cup during the time the NHL grew more than five-fold.
While the title of this book may
lead a reader to believe that this book will simply relive that last Stanley
Cup championship, which ended a six year stretch of dominance by the Leafs,
authors Damien Cox and Gord Stellick weave many reasons why the team has been
struggling to regain that glory ever since that last year of the Original Six.
Cox and Stellick pull no punches in
spreading the blame for the woes of the Maple Leafs. Just about everything that was wrong with the
Maple Leafs is covered, including a horrendous pedophile scandal at Maple Leaf
Gardens. The downturn actually began during their championship reign as the
authors illustrate numerous lapses of judgement when it came to scouting and
signing young talent to replace the aging stars of those great Leafs teams of
the 1960’s. At that time, the Leafs had practically a stranglehold for
acquiring players from the province of Ontario but one player in particular,
who wanted to play for the Leafs but did not appreciate the low offer he was
given, instead signed with the Boston Bruins. That young player’s name – Bobby Orr.
That was just one example of a
common theme of the Maple Leafs under the guidance of Punch Imlach, Stafford
Smythe and Harold Ballard, were known for not only their tight fisted ways when
negotiating with players but also for their disdain of the newly formed players’
union. Ironically, that was headed by
the now-shamed Alan Eagleson who was also the agent for Bobby Orr and several
other players including Maple Leafs stars.
Those who have followed hockey for a long time know about the many sins
of Eagleson and that is the only issue I had with this book – he is practically
given a free pass while Imlach, Smythe and others in the Maple Leafs organization
are routinely criticized. That may be rightly so but it doesn’t explain how
Eagleson is not held to the same standards.
The actual play on the ice for the
1967 Stanley Cup is not forgotten and each chapter is divided into the eleven playoff
games played by the Leafs that season. The exploits of their veteran
goaltending tandem of Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk are told in great detail,
especially Bower’s feud with John Ferguson of Montreal in the Stanley Cup
finals. Many other stars from that team are portrayed such as Dave Keon, Bob
Pulford, Ron Ellis and Frank Mahavolich.
Lesser known players who still had played a significant role in that
championship season are also featured such as Brian Conacher, Larry Hillman and
Marcel Pronovost. The story of this Maple Leafs team and the subsequent demise
of the franchise is a terrific story with many interesting characters and is
one that hockey fans will enjoy reading.
Unless, of course, they are Leafs fans.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Nook)
Buying Links:
I know the Leafs are horrible (having been a fan for 40 years), but they have definitely won at least one game during the time the NHL grew more than five-fold.
ReplyDeleteLol, thanks for catching that. Meant to say Cup, not game. Fixed.
Delete