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TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | April 24

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – In 2019, the Grim Reaper was coming after our Rock Stars with death falling upon such a diverse group of rock legends, from Long Island’s Eddie Money to Cars frontman Ric Ocasek, each passing away within two days of each other. Within a month, Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter and legendary Cream drummer Ginger Baker were dead. … One of my personal favorites passed as Kofi Burbridge, who mastered the keyboards and flute with the Tedeschi Trucks Band from its founding in 2010 until his death on Feb. 15, 2019, at age 57. Kofi was fighting heart disease for the last years of his life. … Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack, widely known as “Dr. John,”was one of New Orleans’ most beloved musicians who died in 2019. Sadly, the list is long and I could go on-and-on.

In 2020-21, it was a nightmare, of course, as COVID took 6.2 million and counting.

Now, in 2022, they’re coming after our NHL favorites and goal scorers. This column has already documented the deaths of New York Islanders mainstay in Clark Gillies and the team’s best goal scorer in Michel ‘Mike” Bossy, the 50-in-50 sniper who went down to lung cancer after a career as the most efficient goal scorer in NHL history.

This week, Montreal’s Guy Lafleur, 70, was taken, passing from a battle against lung cancer. From 1976 to 1979, the Canadiens were invincible. Lafleur was scoring 50 goals and 100 points, winning a couple scoring titles in what seemed to be an effortless style of play. He was THAT good.

On one occasion, I had the pleasure to watch Lafleur play at The Forum in Montreal, a two-game weekend set against the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. In 1977-78, Lafleur was battling Islanders’ center Bryan Trottier for the NHL scoring title. The Forum crowd would chant, “Guy, Guy, Guy” every time he was on the ice. In one instance, Lafleur’s linemate, Steve Shutt, scored a goal and the announcement was made (en Francais, of course) and there was polite applause for Shutt and then a thunderous reaction when it was announced, “assist, Guy Lafleur!”

Lafleur won the Art Ross Trophy as NHL points-leader in 1976-77-78, scoring 125-136-132 points, respectively, in each of those three seasons.

“You didn’t need to see Guy Lafleur’s name and number on his sweater when ‘The Flower’ had the puck on his stick. As distinctively stylish as he was remarkably talented, Lafleur cut a dashing and unmistakable figure whenever he blazed down the ice of the Montreal Forum, his long blond locks flowing in his wake as he prepared to rifle another puck past a helpless goaltender – or set up a linemate for a goal,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

“A native of Thurso, Quebec, selected first overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1971 NHL Draft, Lafleur joined the organization with the daunting task of following in the footsteps of franchise legends Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau. He somehow met those expectations, becoming the Canadiens’ all-time leading point scorer and one of the most beloved players in franchise history – the torch was passed to him and he held it high.

“In 1974-75, his fourth year in the NHL, Lafleur transformed from productive to prolific, recording the first of his six straight seasons of at least 50 goals and 119 points. He won back-to-back Hart Trophies as League MVP in 1976-77 and 1977-78, three straight Art Ross Trophies as NHL scoring leader from 1975-76 to 1977-78, and led the playoffs in scoring three straight seasons (1977, ’78 and ’79), winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1977. On one of the most star-studded teams in hockey history, he was the marquee performer, lifting fans out of their seats chanting, ‘Guy! Guy! Guy!’ as he dazzled en route to six straight selections as NHL First-Team All-Star right winger and five Stanley Cups.

“Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988, Lafleur was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players during the League’s Centennial celebration in 2017.”

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Brooklyn Nets guard Patty Mills received the Joe Dumars Trophy for winning the 2021-22 NBA Sportsmanship Award. The annual award is designed to honor a player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. … Each NBA team nominated one of its players for the NBA Sportsmanship Award. From the list of 30 team nominees, a panel of league executives selected one finalist from each of the NBA’s six divisions. Current NBA players selected the winner from the list of six finalists, with nearly 300 players submitting their votes through confidential balloting conducted by the league office. … In addition to Mills (Atlantic Division), the finalists were Miami Heat center-forward Bam Adebayo (Southeast Division), Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (Pacific Division), Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (Central Division), Denver Nuggets forward Jeff Green (Northwest Division) and Memphis Grizzlies forward-center Jaren Jackson Jr. (Southwest Division).

Mills received 1,975 total points (58 first-place votes) in balloting of NBA players. Green finished in second place with 1,841 points (60 first-place votes). The six finalists were awarded 11 points for each first-place vote, nine points for each second-place vote, seven points for each third-place vote, five points for each fourth-place vote, three points for each fifth-place vote and one point for each sixth-place vote.

A 13-year NBA veteran from Australia, Mills won the NBA Sportsmanship Award for the first time.

STORM: According to Sporttechie and the Sports Business Journal, Amazon Prime Video renewed its streaming deal with the WNBA to show 17 nationally broadcast league games, including the WNBA’s Commissioner’s Cup. The streaming service also added a regional carriage agreement to stream Seattle Storm games throughout Washington State. … Approximately 30 of the Storm’s 36 regular season games will be streamed state-wide. The team’s longtime commentators, Dick Fain and Elise Woodward, will be behind the mic while Rush Media will produce the broadcasts.

59: PGATourBrunch noted in its 6-days-a-week e-News this Friday: With a magic number – 13-under (59) – Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele set the Zurich Classic of New Orleans 18-hole scoring record on Thursday. The team’s bogey-free round included 11 birdies (including Nos. 16-18) and an eagle on the par-5 second hole when Cantlay made a 27-foot, 1-inch putt. … Despite the first-round (59), there’s room for caution as no 18-hole leaders/co-leaders have converted for the win at the Zurich. That said, the duo leads by five strokes heading into Sunday’s final round at the TPC Louisiana in Avondale after shooting (59)-(68)-(60) in the first three rounds. … The format of the Zurich Classic is intriguing enough that the PGA Tour could stage a mid-season, three-weekend, three-site “May Madness”tournament with 64 two-player teams competing until they concluded with a “Final Four.” … It’d be great for bringing attention to pro golf between the Masters and the summertime majors or late summer FedEx Cup Playoffs.

TID-BITS: Why has Father Time caught up with Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony but has left Chris Paul to flourish, even though the speed needed to excel as an NBA point guard is much more precious than the ability to shoot jumpers? … Did the Tampa Judge – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle – issue a ruling on washing our hands and singing Happy Birthday twice? … Before the NBA Playoffs and Play-In started, I didn’t realize that Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant couldn’t play or care less about playing defense. He is, probably, the most gifted offensive player in the league. … Speaking of the Nyets, you know the old adage: “A playoff series doesn’t start until a team wins on the road?” Peter Vecsey‘s esteemed column contributor Frank Drucker wrote: The Boston vs. Nets series doesn’t start until Nets lose a game in Teaneck, Commack, Hempstead, Uniondale, Piscataway, East Rutherford or Newark. … When Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams and Al Horford all play and the Celtics score ≥ 100 points, the Cs are (21-0, 1.000) in their last 21 games says Boston Sports Info. … Best wishes to retiring Villanova head coach Jay Wright, one of the very best of all-time. Wright, 60, decided to step down from his post while “on top,” and will be able to spend more time with his family. Wishing him much personal happiness and future professional success with a guess he’ll be taking the Acela to the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City quite often. … Thoughts on studio shows? … While watching Saturday night’s ESPN Countdown show before Game 3 of Celtics vs. Nets, I had to dive for the remote and hit mute. … ‘Til this day, I can NOT believe how great TNT’s studio, pregame, and postgame Sports EMMY award-winning “Inside the NBA” show is and how ESPN just can’t get it right. It’s been a total mess since 2002. … Also, Thank God for ESPN/ABC’s Mike Breen on the big-game NBA play-by-play. (Lisa Salters is pretty good, too).

DIAMOND DUST-UPs: Welcome to MiLB and our coverage of the Portland Sea Dogs vs the Birmingham Rumble Ponies – yes, the Rumble Ponies. Check-out the HBP that led to the all-out brawl at Portland, then the commentary on video. Meet me on the flip side.

SO MUCH TO DELVE INTO: First, the franchise history of the Ponies: In 1976, the franchise played as the Williamsport Bills in Williamsport, Pennsylvania but soon moved to Jersey City, in 1977 and 1978, then Buffalo, New York, from 1979 through 1984.

The club returned to Williamsport in 1987 when they were an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1987 and 1988, but changed affiliations to the Seattle Mariners during the 1989 and 1990 seasons. During that time, the Bills franchise was actually two separate franchises. After the 1988 season, the original owners moved the Bills to Hagerstown, Maryland, while the Eastern League franchise – based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts – moved back to Williamsport before the 1989 season.

Security fell upon the club when it was purchased by the New York Mets in 1991, and moved to Binghamton in 1992 to be crowned the Binghamton Mets.

That’s when it got interesting. In 2016, the franchise announced a plan to stay in Binghamton for the foreseeable future, but to change the team’s nickname.

The club held a “Name-the-team” contest on its website from May 17 to June 1, 2016 and the finalists were the Bullheads (for the bullhead catfish abundant in the nearby Susquehanna River), the Gobblers (for the rich hunting culture of the area, as well as the turkeys in Binghamton), the Rocking Horses (for the Triple Cities’ nickname as the “Carousel Capital of The World”), the Rumble Ponies (also a carousel tribute), the Stud Muffins(for the collections of carousel horses in Binghamton), and Timber Jockeys (for everyone who rides the carousels).

On November 3, 2016, the team announced that it would be rebranding as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, and released a new logo.

Secondly, let’s dig deeper into this unique team nickname, The Rumble Ponies, as you just can’t make this stuff up: Upon announcement of the new name and branding, the club issued media information that noted the Rumble Ponies are a “fierce horse that no carousel can contain.” “The aggression and fighting spirit in the horse represents the fighting spirit of Binghamton,” team owner and President John Hughes said. “Ready to do battle. Ready to take on the world.”

They were talking about a wooden rocking horse on a merry-go-round! Not surprisingly, soon after, there were personnel changes at the GM spot.

In 2017, Hughes accepted the resignation of team GM – get this – Jim Weed. Yes, Weed quit a position he’d held since 2010 to “pursue other opportunities.” Editor’s Note: Insert wise-crack about the air quality in Jim Weed’s office when they chose “Rumble Ponies” over “Stud Muffins” righthere.

On the other side of the brawl, Sox 1B prospect Tyreque Reed was hit by the pitch and tossed the first haymaker to start the brawl. Keep in mind, if his name was Ron Artest or Jermaine O’Neal, the brawl would be playing in loops on CNN and every newscast all weekend and Reed would be met at the clubhouse door by the men in blue, a la the Hanson Brothers in Slap Shot scene.

But, in baseball, dugout/bench-clearing, bullpen-clearing, assistant equipment manager-clearing brawls – like in ice-hockey – are “a part of the game” and no one bats an eyelash.

I’ve written it before: When I’m Commish, this rule change in the first 100 days – You leave your position during an altercation: FIVE game suspension (if multiple players leave position, tough luck and the AAA team better be ready). If players are on bench and they cross the warning track during an altercation: 10 game suspension. If players leave the BULLPEN during an altercation: 50-game suspension. That’ll nip bench-clearing brawls right in the bud and do wonders for pace of game stats, too.

DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS: Fisticuffs in baseball ranged from the MiLB game in Portland, Maine all the way to central Texas as a Junior College team’s pitcher, Owen Woodward, put the hi jinx on the batter that just took him downtown for a two-run homer. Check out the video from Dallas FOX 4 News closely and you’ll note the umpire was beginning to take action, so there must’ve been some trash talking going on as Josh Phillips rounded the bases.

Woodward was given a four-game suspension by the umpires and league, but the school took it further to kick the pitcher off the team. Phillips was given a two-game suspension for taunting. As Warner Wolf used to say on WABC-TV 7, “Let’s go to the video tape.”

Bruins Extend Lindolm Contract

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Bruins agreed to terms on an eight-year contract extension with defenseman Hampus Lindholm, said Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney in a statement. The deal will call for an annual cap hit of $6,500,000.

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Lindholm, 28, was acquired by the Bruins on March 19 along with  Kodie Curran in exchange for defensemen Urho Vaakanainen and John Moore, a 2022 first-round draft pick, a 2023 second-round draft pick and a 2024 second-round draft pick.

As part of the deal, the Anaheim Ducks retained 50-percent of Lindholm’s salary.

The 6-foot-4, 216-pound defenseman has tallied five goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 61 games for the Anaheim this season. The Helsingborg, Sweden native has appeared in 582 NHL games with Anaheim, totaling 57 goals and 165 assists for 222 points.

Lindholm was originally selected by Anaheim in the first round (6th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

 

Bruins Add to D – Acquire Lindholm

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official Team News Release) – The Boston Bruins acquired defenseman Hampus Lindholm and defenseman Kodie Curran from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen, defenseman John Moore, a 2022 first-round draft pick, a 2023 second-round draft pick and a 2024 second-round draft pick. The Anaheim Ducks will retain 50% of Lindholm’s salary.

Lindholm, 28, has tallied five goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 61 games this season. The 6-foot-4, 216-pound defenseman has appeared in 582 NHL games with Anaheim, totaling 57 goals and 165 assists for 222 points. The Helsingborg, Sweden native was originally selected by Anaheim in the first round (6th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Curran, 32, has appeared in 37 games this season for the San Diego Gulls, recording 1 goal and 15 assists for 16 points. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman was signed as a free agent by Anaheim on June 3, 2020.

Vaakanainen, 23, has recorded four assists in 15 games for the Bruins this season. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman has appeared in 31 career NHL games with Boston. The Joenssu, Finland native was originally selected by Boston in the first round (18th overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Moore, 31, has appeared in seven games for the Bruins this season. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound defenseman has recorded one assist and a plus-two rating. The Winnetka, IL native has appeared in 544 career NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Ranges, Arizona Coyotes, New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins, tallying 38 goals and 80 assists for 118 points. Moore was originally select by Columbus in the first round (21st overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Bruins to Honor Rask March 31

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BOSTON – The Boston Bruins will honor the career of Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask on Thursday, March 31 when Boston hosts the New Jersey Devils at TD Garden at 7 p.m.

Rask, who spent all 15 seasons in the NHL with the Bruins, will perform the ceremonial puck drop prior to the start of the game. The goaltender amassed a record of 308-165-66 during his time in Boston, with a 2.28 goals against average and .921 save percentage. Rask is Boston’s leader in wins (308) and is second among the franchise’s goaltenders in shutouts (52).

The Savonlinna, Finland native won multiple awards with Boston throughout his career, including the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2019-20, the Vezina Trophy in 2013-14, and a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2010-11. Rask was also voted to the NHL First All-Star Team in 2014 and the NHL Second All-Star Team in 2020.

Rask announced his retirement on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.

Bruins Trade for Callahan

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Boston Bruins acquired the rights to defenseman Michael Callahan from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Boston’s seventh round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman has skated in 134 games for the Providence Friars (NCAA) for four seasons from 2018-22, tallying 13 goals and 53 assists with a plus-23 rating.

The 22-year-old blue liner was born in Franklin, MA and was drafted by Arizona in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

NHL Upholds Marchand Suspension

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release and Statement) – National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the six-game suspension that was assessed to Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand by the Department of Player Safety for roughing and high-sticking Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry during their game in Boston on Feb. 8.

Bettman heard Marchand’s appeal of the original decision, assessed Feb. 9, at a hearing on Feb. 16.

The incidents occurred at 19:35 of the third period. Marchand was assessed a minor penalty for roughing as well as a match penalty.

“In reaching my conclusions I have given careful consideration to Mr. Marchand’s testimony concerning his efforts to control his emotions in order to excel as an impact player who plays aggressively, but within the rules. I believe that he has already made significant strides towards achieving this goal. Unfortunately, however, Mr. Marchand’s behavior and lack of judgment in respect of these incidents did not meet acceptable NHL standards. He created a distraction which reflected poorly on himself, on his team and on the League as a whole, and as such, I find he also deserves the penalty he received. Having said that, I encourage Mr. Marchand to reflect on this experience and to use it positively in furtherance of his efforts to refine and improve his on-ice image and game for everyone’s benefit,” said Bettman in his statement.

While We’re Young (Ideas) | February 13

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TL’s Super Sunday Sports Notes | Tribute to Tuukka Rask

“You could say I lost my faith in science and progress

You could say I lost my belief in the holy Church

You could say I lost my sense of direction

You could say all of this and worse, but

If I ever lose my faith in you

There’d be nothing left for me to do,’

– Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, CBE

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – He came to Boston from Savonlinna, Finland by way of the 21st overall selection in the 2005 National Hockey League entry draft, a pick made by the Toronto Maple Leafs. His trade to the Bruins is high on the list of the worst trades in Maple Leafs history and that’s a lofty list of mistakes.

By 2007, when goalkeeper Tuukka Rask was first called up from the Providence Bruins to the mother ship in Boston, he would be among four players attempting to crack the Bruins’ line-up of which only two goaltenders share the daily duties. A season in Providence would pass.

In 2008, although Rask had the best save percentage (.952) among the goalies in NHL preseason play, followed by teammates Manny Fernandez(.875), Tim Thomas (.869) and Kevin Regan (.857), the Bruins kept Thomas and Fernandez on their roster.

By 2008-09, a red-hot Thomas would earn the Vezina Trophy honors as the best goalkeeper in the NHL by playing 54 games and winning 36 of them. Fernandez backed up Thomas for 27 games while Rask played in only one. Thomas and Fernandez were 34 years old while Rask was 21 that season.

Two years later, Thomas led the Boston Bruins to drink from the Cup with mask as his primary back-up. Thomas started 55 games and recorded a .938 save percentage and a 2.00 goals against average. Rask started 27, but went 11-14 while posting a .918 save percentage and 2.67 GAA.

In 2012-13, with Thomas retired, Rask led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Finals in a lock-out shortened season. He started all 22 playoff games but the Bruins came up short, losing to the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-games-2 but Rask recorded a .940 save percentage and 1.88 GAA in the 22 games. The Bruins had their starting goalkeeper and he was only 25 years old.

From that moment – on – the Boston Bruins put their faith in TUUUKKK.

Rask guarded the Bruins’ nets brilliantly, although the club would only get back to the Stanley Cup Finals one more time, losing 4-games-3 to the St. Louis Blues in 2018-19. He went 14-9 that postseason with a 2.02 GAA and a .934 save percentage.

The global pandemic and Father Time soon came a’ visiting and a series of injuries felled Rask. In the pandemic, he opted to return to his family and leave the team. It was later learned that his daughter was undergoing a medical emergency at that time. He also underwent surgery in the summer of 2021, dealing with an acetabular labrum injuries in his hip.

Rask became an unrestricted free agent but made his plans known to play with the Boston Bruins or not play at all. He attempted a comeback between January 2 and February 9 of this year, eventually starting four games with the Bruins, but he decided to retire as of February 9.

Bruins G Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman have started all but four of Boston’s games and will oversee the net minding duties for the time being.

Rask went 308-165-66 over his career, hitting the incredible NHL milestones of 500 games played and 300 wins. He also surpassed the great masked one, Gerry Cheevers, to become the winningest playoff goalkeeper in Boston Bruins history. task also led Finland to the bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics, including a shut-out against the USA in the medal game and a quarter-final victory over Russia on their home ice in Sochi.

Said Rask in a statement announcing his retirement from the Bruins:

“Today is a day that I hoped would never come. But now that it’s here, I feel I owe it to everyone to hear it from me. When I made the decision to have surgery on my hip last summer, I did so knowing that the road to recovery would be challenging. I also knew it was something I would have to do if I wanted to give myself a chance to play my best hockey again. The rehab, the workouts, the practices – all of it was with the intention of getting back to where I needed to be to help my teammates win games and make another run at a Stanley Cup. Over these last few weeks, I’ve realized that my body is not responding the way it needs to for me to play at the level I expect of myself and that my teammates and Bruins fans deserve.

Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement from the game of hockey.

While I am sad to say goodbye to the game I love, I am so very thankful to have shared these last 15 years with the greatest teammates and fans in the best sports city in the world. We have shared so many special memories over the years – bringing the Cup back to Boston in 2011, our runs to the Final in 2013 and 2019, playing overseas in the Czech Republic, Northern Ireland and China, and of course the Winter Classics. I am also so thankful that I was able to represent Finland on the world stage and win a bronze medal in the 2014 Olympics. While these experiences were all incredible, what I will remember most about all of them is the bond that I had with my teammates, coaches and team staffs, the memories that we will always have, and the friendships that will last a lifetime.

Through all the ups and downs, I am so grateful for all the support this team and the people of Boston have given me. I will miss everything that comes with representing the Boston Bruins. But now, I’m excited to spend more time with my family and friends who never stopped supporting my dream. Boston is special for so many reasons and will always be our adopted home. We look forward to remaining a part of this amazing community.

I especially want to thank the Jacobs family, Cam Neely, Don Sweeney, my coaches, the equipment staff and the rest of the team support staff for all they have done for me throughout my time with the Bruins organization. I’ve never wanted to play for any other team. I’m so proud to have worn the Spoked-B for my entire career and wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Kiitos paljon translates to ‘Thanks a lot” Boston

Farewell TUUUKKK, the hockey fans of Boston never lost faith in you.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: American downhill skier Mikaela Shiffron had a rough week at the 2022 Winter Olympics. The 26-year old Olympian was disqualified from her first two races this week after missing gates and ultimately skiing off to the side of the course, head in hands and realizing her failure. The social media-verse skewered the TV/media coverage for shining the bright lights of exposure upon her misfortune. Yet, only a few days later, Shiffron did what all real pro athletes do, she competed in the Super-G race, only to finish ninth.

“I didn’t think there was a very big chance to come in and win or even medal in this race, with these women who have been skiing Super-G all season,” she said. “It felt really nice to ski that today. It was a little bit uncertain—or very uncertain. Coming back out and getting the chance to race again, was just the perfect thing to do, actually.”

She also took complete responsibility and “owned” the shortfall: “I do consider it failure,” said Shiffrin. “I think a lot of people do. It’s just tough to see that word in the headline of an article and it feels like clickbait to say, you know: ‘Crashes out!’ ‘Fails!’ ‘Disappoints the world!’ ‘Chokes’! All of it. They’re just harsh words … I failed twice to do the job that I am supposed to do. I can say that. That’s the honest truth.”

What Shiffron discovered through the experience was much more valuable than gold. She realized the amazing compassion and support of an entire nation – maybe the entire world – showing her the support she deserved.

“I would never have expected to feel in this moment, severely under-performing in an Olympics, that humans could be so kind. It’s the most surprising thing of my Olympic experience, how kind people have been in the face of my failure. I mean, it is failure – it’s okay to say that. I’m okay with that. And I’m sorry for it, but I also was trying, and I’m proud of that,’ said the downhill champion skier.

The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, personified. On TV and properly covered by the TV and media on hand.

ICYMI: On Saturday, February 12, William Felton Russell turned 88 years young. The 11-time NBA champion, 12-time NBA All-Star, five-time NBA MVP and member of the league’s 25th, 35th, 50th and 75th anniversary all-time great teams, hailed from West Monroe, Louisiana but moved to Oakland with his family and attended University of San Francisco from 1953-56. He won a gold medal for the USA in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks but traded to the Boston Celtics for Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan.

TL’s Sunday Notebook | Clark Gillies RIP

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By TERRY LYONS

Clark Gillies, an NHL Hall of Fame winger and one of the great New York Islanders players of all-time, passed away on Friday night, January 21 at the age of 67. His story is as amazing as the ‘69 Mets, as entertaining as the “Dr. J” Nets and as important to the fans of the glory-years New York Islanders as any story that can be told.

It is the story of the strongest piece to be placed in the foundation of an expansion NHL franchise. It is the story of a young man from Western Canada finding a new home on Long Island, New York and his return to that new home, even after serving his last two NHL seasons in Buffalo. Sadly, it is a story with a very unhappy ending, one that came quite suddenly to those who just saw him at Christmas 2021.

Let the story book dissolve and fade, as the calendar pages turn back in time.

On November 8, 1971, the National Hockey League awarded an expansion franchise to play at the brand new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island. The team – to be known as the New York Islanders – would join the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association as primary tenants of ‘The Coliseum” The Islanders and the Atlanta Flames joined the NHL and played each other on opening night, October 7, 1972.

The Islanders lost, 3-2, with team captain Eddie Westfall scoring the team’s first goal and hot shot rookie draftee Billy Harris netting the second. Isles’ goalkeeper Gerry Desjardins took the loss. I remember it all because I can state proudly – I was there.

The expansion New York Islanders had a few pieces in place from the expansion draft and the wise choice of Harris, the No. 1 overall pick of the 1972 NHL amateur draft from the Toronto Marlboros. Harris and the highly respected Westfall, gobbled-up in the dispersal draft from the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, were joined by fan favorites like Terry Crisp, Brian “Spinner” Spencer, defenseman Gerry Hart and a handful of others who weren’t ready for primetime NHL minutes.

There were only two foundational pieces in place that first year. The back-up goal-keeper was a young Billy Smith, a fifth round draft choice of the Los Angeles Kings in 1970 and team General Manager Bill Torrey who had signed as GM on February 14, 1972 getting an upgrade in title from that of the California Golden Seals. Happy Valentine’s Day, New York Islanders, little did we all know.

The Islanders struggled mightily as an expansion franchise, going 12-60-6 in their first year. That qualifies as the ninth worst start for a team in NHL history but it did earn the right to choose first in the 1973 amateur draft and the astute Torrey turned down many an offer for money and veteran players to select defenseman Denis Potvin with the No. 1 overall pick. Torrey also coaxed St. Louis Blues coach and former NHL defenseman Al Arbour to become the Islanders’ head coach.

A year later, Torrey scored again. With the No. 4 and No. 22 picks in the 1974 NHL amateur draft, the Islanders selected Clark Gillies, a 6-3, 210 pound left wing from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan at No. 4 and 5-11, 195 pound center Bryan Trottier, hailing from Val Marie, Saskatchewan, at No. 22, a second-rounder that every team had a chance to pick.

Fast forward to 1975 and the Islanders upset the New York Rangers in the first-round of the NHL Playoffs, went down 0-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round but managed to come back to take the series, the first time since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs for a team to accomplish the feat. The Islanders nearly repeated the miracle against the Philadelphia Broad Street Bullies Flyers in the third round Stanley Cup semi-finals, but fell short in Game 7.

The Islanders needed one or two more pieces, addressing the need for more scoring, some second-line depth and another solid defenseman or two. In 1977, the scoring issue was checked-off when Torrey used the No. 15 pick to select Michel “Mike” Bossy, arguably among the greatest scorers and snipers in league history.

The next season, Trottier would play center with Bossy on his right and Gillies on his left to form one of the great lines of all-time. Potvin paired with his brother, Jean, or with the steady Dave Lewis and Smith anchored the goalkeeping duties, combined with amazing performances by Glenn ‘Chico” Resch. The foundation for a Stanley Cup champion was in place.

In three short seasons since expansion mayhem, the Islanders were competitive. In eight years, they became an NHL dynasty, reeling-off four Cup victories in a row. A team that was dropped in our laps as Long Island hockey fans allowed us to sing “We ARE the Champions” at the top of our lungs from 1980-to-1984.

When we played Street Hockey on the asphalt school yards, you’d be asked, “Who do you want to be?”

This columnist went to Gerry Cosby’s sporting goods store and had a road, royal blue Islanders jersey affixed with No. 9 for Clark Gillies. I wore it everyday. Every single day when we played on the streets, in the parks, on the cement of ice hockey rinks in the heat of summer.

I was Clark Gillies, growing tall, with some size and a wicked left-handed wrist shot. The only thing Gillies did a thousand times better than i could ever dream of was FIGHT, and fight he did against the toughest enforcers in the NHL. Philly’s Dave Schultz, Behn Wilson of the Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks or the epic playoff fights between Gillies and Boston’s Terry O’Reilly.

This is the fight Gillies had in mind:

It’s important to note, Gillies was NOT an NHL “goon” as he scored 30 or more goals in a season six times and scored 47 playoff goals with 46 assists in his 12 year career which concluded in 1986-87 and 1987-88 as a member of the Buffalo Sabres.

More importantly, Gillies, the native of Western Canada, became an Islander forever and returned to his Long Island digs after his career, bringing up his family and enjoying life with an occasional golf outing and return to the Nassau Coliseum or helping the team open its brand new UBS Arena, near Belmont.

The Islander roots are deep as Gillies’ daughter, Brianna, married the son of one of his best friends’ (NYI center Bob Bourne) son in Justin Bourne.Gillies frequently made appearances and raised money for Islanders great Pat LaFontaine’s Companions in Courage charity but his own charity work funded Huntington (LI) Hospital’s Pediatric unit and emergency room to the tune of a $2 million check to get started and frequent fund-raising efforts of $50,000+ all to help the children of Long Island. (Please see Clark Gillies Foundation).

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Jim Johnson, Holy Trinity High School ‘76 and a former member of the New York Islanders’ front office staff, now runs the Companions in Courage Foundation along with his friend in NHL Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine. Over the last decade or more, the Islanders insiders raised millions of dollars for charity, much of it going to help children. Johnson can express the feelings of many of us better than any of us.

“The tributes are pouring in from the hockey world and from an adopted community that Clark Gillies made his home,” wrote Johnson, an accomplished scribe. “But the shock and grief have yet to set in. Even if you only met him once, he made you feel like you had been a friend for life. Clark Gillies had that kind of impact on all of us.

(Left to right): Jim Johnson, Clark Gillies, Pat LaFontaine.

“Some of us just saw him around Christmas, and he was laughing and dancing, seemingly without a care in the world. He was one of those guys who embraced life and stared down any obstacle that might arise. He once told a friend that he had culled the cutest filly from the herd, and that’s how he married Pam. They had three beautiful daughters who made him a grandpa several times over.

“The hockey world is mourning the loss of a guy nicknamed “Jethro,”(dubbed that because of his resemblance to the big, goofy son of Jed Clampett in the ‘60s-70s TV comedy The Beverly Hillbillies). They remember the fierce fighter who never lost a fight until (Friday) night. They remember him riding shotgun on the famed “Trio Grande Line” with Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier. Maybe they remember the image of him crushing a beer can on his head on the center-ice scoreboard at last year’s playoffs. Rangers fans will no doubt remember his one-punch throw down with Ed “Boxcar” Hospodar, and Bruins fans will reflect on the heroic actions of Clarkie and Terry O’Reilly in the 1980 semi-finals.

“But some had an extra special bond with Clarkie that was something completely different. Yes, we all knew the ferocity that the man represented, but it was his kindness and adoption of our town as his own that made the friendship so special. Plus, he was one of the funniest bastards we’ve ever met.

“I often talk about how the most important reason why you want a pro sports franchise in your neighborhood is not necessarily to win championships (though those four straight Cups didn’t hurt!). Rather, it’s the athletes who become a part of the fabric of the community where they play. The Islanders introduced guys from Hinton, Alberta; Waterford, Michigan; Peterborough, Ontario; and yes, even Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (where’s Moose Jaw? 6 feet from the moose’s ass!) to this lovely little island we call home. We were all so lucky that guys like Bob Nystrom, Pat LaFontaine, Steve Webb and Clark Gillies came here and stayed.

“Clarkie loved kids, and he has raised more than one million dollars to support Huntington Hospital. If you’ve never visited the pediatric wing and the “Cub Room” he built in that facility, you should do yourself a favor. As I’ve heard more than one hospital administrator say, “this is such a great idea. Why did it take a hockey player to come up with it?”

“We had a running gag at the CiC Golf dinner. How many standing ovations could we get for Clark in one night? I’m really proud that we got it to NINE this year. A personal favorite moment was the night Pat LaFontaine honored Clark for all of his charitable work in the community. He cried when we presented him the plaque. The big tough S.O.B. was such a soft touch when it came to helping kids.

“So, we’ll process the grief over the next few days and weeks over the loss of this very special friend. We’ll get together and share our own stories of how he impacted our lives, and we’ll cherish every one of them. We’ll celebrate a life that helped make us all just a little bit better. RIP, big fella – until we all skate again on that big negative-edge pond in heaven. Save us a spot “in the room” #9,” concluded Johnson.

BRIAN “SPINNER” SPENCER: Mentioned in the story of our beloved Clark Gillies and the New York Islanders was another Long Island fan favorite in Brian “Spinner” Spencer, who played in 11 NHL seasons from 1969-70 to 1978-79. … If you haven’t heard about it, his career story is incredible, unbelievable but sad. … In December of 1970 when Spinner was called-up to play his first NHL game, he called his father, Roy, who was in his hometown of Ft. St. James, British Columbia to tell him the good news and that he’d be on TV for “Hockey Night in Canada” that weekend. A very serious problem arose when a Vancouver Canucks vs California Golden Seals game was aired by the western affiliates of CBC instead of Spencer’s Toronto Maple Leafs eastern game. Spencer’s father – upset by the programming selection – drove 84 miles to Prince George where he ordered the production crew and staff at the station to air the Maple Leafs game. He did so at gunpoint and, although the station complied with his wishes, when Roy Spencer exited the TV station, the Royal Canadien Mounted Police confronted him and he was shot and killed on the spot. … As time went by, Brian Spencer had a decent NHL career, being a fan fave who loved to mix-it-up. His best seasons came with the Buffalo Sabres (1974-75 to 1976-77) and he labored for another few years, eventually finishing-up in the American Hockey League, playing 30 games in 1979-80 with the Hershey Bears. … After his hockey career was over, he turned to crime, violence, alcohol abuse and was arrested for kidnapping and murder in 1987. He was jailed and faced the death penalty. believe it or not, this reporter and Spencer became “pen pals” of sorts that year, while he was in jail awaiting trial. I wrote to say he could take pride in the fact those expansion Islanders games he played in meant a lot to a whole new generation of hockey fans, and that no matter what trouble he was in, he could smile that night, knowing he played a role. … His return letters were incredibly well-written, perfect penmanship by hand, always very appreciative and on-point – the subject matter only about hockey. He did not ask for a thing, but I sent some letterhead, envelopes and stamps. In his last letter, he assured me he was innocent and that he was hopeful he would be declared so and set free after a fair trial. At his trial, many of his former NHL teammates testified and the jury returned a NOT guilty verdict. … Despite the acquittal, Spencer returned to a life of crime and drug abuse and was shot dead in a crack cocaine purchase gone bad in Florida. He died on June 3, 1988 at the young age of 38.

CBS SPORTS: CBS Sports colleague Bob Fishman is calling it a career as one of the top remote, live sports directors of our time. The late Sandy Grossman and Fishman televised NFL, NBA and college basketball games for a generation of sports fans, both foregoing any chance to be at home on a weekend for decades at a time. Fishman will retire after the NCAA Final Four, marking 50 years at CBS Sports.

Bruins Sign Tuukka Rask to 1-Year Deal

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BOSTON – The Boston Bruins signed goaltender Tuukka Rask to a one-year contract with an NHL cap hit of $1 million. Bruins GM Don Sweeney made the announcement late Tuesday afternoon. Rask was playing for the Bruins’ minor league team in Providence this week.

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Rask, 34, played in 24 games with Boston in 2020-21, compiling a 15-5-2 record with three shutouts, a 2.28 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. In 11 playoff games, Rask recorded a 6-4-0 record with a 2.36 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.

In 2020, Rask was nominated for the Vezina Trophy, given annually to the NHL’s beast goaltender as voted on by NHL general managers. The Savonlinna, Finland native posted a 26-8-6 record with five shutouts, a 2.12 goals against average and .929 save percentage. He led the NHL in both goals against average and save percentage (minimum 30 starts) and was tied for second in shutouts.

Rask previously won the Vezina Trophy in 2014, a season in which he compiled a 36-15-6 record with seven shutouts, a 2.04 goals against average and .930 save percentage.

Rask is also the only goaltender in Bruins history to have reached 500 career NHL games, a milestone he hit on October 23, 2019. The 6-foot-3, 176-pound goaltender also sits atop the Bruins all-time leaderboard in wins (306), save percentage (.921), playoff games played (104) and playoff wins (57).

Over his 14-year NHL career with Boston, Rask has appeared in 560 regular season games, compiling a 306-163-66 record with a 2.27 goals against average, .921 save percentage and 52 shutouts.

Rask was originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round (21st overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Bruins to Retire O’Ree’s No. 22

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Bruins announced today, December 31, a celebration to honor Willie O’Ree by retiring his number 22 jersey prior to the team’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, January 18.

O’Ree is the 12th player to have his sweater honored by the Boston Bruins in franchise history, joining Lionel Hitchman (#3, 1934), Aubrey V. Clapper (#5, 1947), Edward W. Shore (#2, 1949), Milton C. Schmidt (#15, 1957), Robert G. Orr (#4, 1979), John P. Bucyk (#9, 1980), Philip A. Esposito (#7, 1987), Raymond J. Bourque (#77, 2001), Terence J. O’Reilly (#24, 2002), Cameron M. Neely (#8, 2004) and Richard D. Middleton (#16, 2018).

O’Ree became the first Black player to compete in an NHL game when he dressed with the Bruins 64 years prior to the date of his jersey retirement on January 18, 1958, against the Montreal Canadiens. Despite being legally blind in one eye, O’Ree went on to play one more game that season and 43 during the 1960-61 season before being traded to the Canadiens. O’Ree ended his NHL career with four goals and 10 assists.

Even after his retirement in 1997, O’Ree continued to transform the game of hockey. In 1998, O’Ree was named the NHL’s Diversity Ambassador, where he traveled the country to help grow the game of hockey and support Hockey is for Everyone initiatives. Thirty years later, in response to those efforts, O’Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2018 as a part of the “Builder” category, which is defined by “coaching, managerial or executive ability, or ability in another significant off-ice role, sportsmanship, character and contributions to his or her organization or organizations and to the game of hockey in general.”

The jersey retirement on January 18 will feature a pre-game ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m., with doors opening to game ticket holders at 5 p.m.