I remember that all of the divisions and conferences in the NHL had names. Instead of the boring names like “Eastern Division” and “Western Conference” there was the “Smythe Division” and the “Norris Confernce” (i think). Who were these people - and what role did they have in the NHL?
I am told that people throw octopi onto the ice before Detroit Red Wings games - and that one octopus rides on the zamboni between periods. WHY? (and why is it named a “zamboni” anyway?
Last week Marty McSorley of the Bruins WHACKED an opposing player in a flagrant attack. The other player (his name escapes me) fell to the ice and had a concussion. But what shocked me was that he was black. I can only remember one other black NHL player (Ray Neufeld of the Hartford Whalers). Any insight why blacks seem to be underrepresented in the NHL (not that there should be any quotas - but I guess you don’t find too many Quebecers in the NBA).
Re the octopi: It started in the early fifties when a couple guys who owned a seafood market in Detroit threw an octopus on the ice during the Stanley Cup playoffs–apparently each tentacle represented a hopeful win for the Red Wings (then teams needed to win eight games–two best-of-sevens) They won and it just snowballed from there.
Re the names of the districts: They changed from names to “eastern” etc. to make it easier for fans. Instead of scrapping the names, they now use them for the trophies. The name “Smythe” is now the trophy for the most valuable player in he playoffs. Conn Smythe was the coach, manager, president and owner-governor of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Norris Trophy is for best all-around defensive player. James Norris was the former owner-president of the Detroit Red Wings.
Re the lack of black people in hockey: I don’t know. I could speculate but I have no idea.
I have a hobby. I have the world’s largest collection of seashells. I keep it scattered on beaches all over the world. Maybe you’ve seen some of it.
There are more black players in the NHL than you think. There are at least two black goalies in the NHL, but, since they are wearing a mask you probably haven’t noticed. (Grant Fuhr and Fred Brathwaite are the goalies. There may be others.)
The player who was clobbered by Marty McSorley was Donald Brashear.
Mike Grier of the Edmonton Oilers is probably the best black player in the NHL right now.
Grant Fuhr stands a chance of being the first black player to get chosen for the Hockey Hall of Fame after he retires.
Recently, the NHL suspended a player for using a racial slur on the ice toward a black player.
Remember that the NHL tends to reflect the ethnic background of Canada, Sweden, Russia, and the Czech Republic more so than the USA.
Don’t forget the ‘Rock’ up in Calgary (Georges Larouque <sp> ), and of course, the first black player in the NHL, Boston’s Willie O’Ree (hope I spelled that right). My guess is that Americans are still less prevalent than Canadians, or Europeans (taken as a whole)-so there are going to be fewer black players.
The Norris Trophy is older than the division name change. Heck, Bobby Orr won it a bunch of times, and it’s older than he is. Here’s some quick facts:
Norris Trophy-for best defenseman. I believe the original Mr. Norris was either the owner/coach of the Blackhawks or related to him. Also allegedly affiliated with organized crime.
Adams Trophy-Named for Jack Adams, the old Red Wings coach. Best known for all those cups, and trading Ted Lindsay to Chicago after Ted tried to organize the first player’s union.
Conn Smythe trophy-Best player in the Stanley Cup Finals. Connie was an owner for the Leafs way back when, built Maple Leaf Gardens. Known to be very shrewd-refused to put player names on the back of jerseys because it hurt his program sales. When forced to by the league, he had them sewn on in the same color as the jersey, so you couldn’t read them. Also tore out the portrait of the Queen in MLG to shoehorn in more seats.
They dumbed down the names to help sell the game in the states, and I’ve been depressed ever since.
Inasfar as slurs go, don’t forget one of the Euro players got in trouble for calling a francophone a ‘frog’ a couple of months ago, too…
Oh, the other Division was the ‘Prince of Wales’ division.
What else ya got?
-sb
“This is going to take a special blend of psychology and extreme violence.”
The league has caved in to American inability to relate to the conferences and divisions when the honored the past of the game. At least the names of the people on the divisions still live on with trophies. I don’t understand the idea of basing the current divisions on geographical names and then putting Dallas in the Pacific Division. At least Fox sports isn’t involved anymore, because they wanted hackey to switch to a 4 quater game. And they really thought that the Fox Trax was a good idea, however nobody from Fox responded when I suggested that they use that same technology in a baseball.
“He love people, all of them, washed and unwashed; he loves his wretched pack of sponging relatives. He shoots people, arrests people, but he doesn’t like it.”
Oh, yes, Mr. Patrick. Lester Patrick, former coach of the NY Rangers, who, when faced with having two goalies injured and unable to continue, strapped on the pads himself, at the age of 44, and maintained the win. There’s a manly man.
Plus, there’s always the funny story of how his little kids got their names on the Stanley Cup. They found it downstairs in their basement one summer (it didn’t always have security guards) and scratched their names on it with a nail. The NHL had their scratched-in names buffed off, and then added the names to go along with their dad’s name…
-sb
“This is going to take a special blend of psychology and extreme violence.”
I’ve drank out of the Stanley Cup, twice. If you were here I’d let you touch me.
“He love people, all of them, washed and unwashed; he loves his wretched pack of sponging relatives. He shoots people, arrests people, but he doesn’t like it.”
Hockey as opposed to other sports such as baseball or basketball is not readily available to kids living in southern states or inner-city locales. You need ice in the form of an outdoor rink or frozen ponds etc…
If you want to play in an indoor rink, there are fees, as well as expensive equipment for each player.
Anson Carter of the Bruins is black, and he’s leading his team in scoring. Peter Worrell of the Panthers is one of the league’s most feared enforcers. He’s who you talk to if you fuck with Pavel Bure.
“The world is everything that is the case.” --Ludwig Wittgenstein
Roy Boy (John Candy): How come you never see any black guys playing hockey? Kabral (Bill Nunn): Now do you think it’s easy to just gradually take over every professional sport? Let me tell you something, man. Brothers have started figuring out this ice thing. Hope you enjoyed it!
Wrong thinking is punished, right thinking is just as swiftly rewarded. You’ll find it an effective combination.
There is also Jarome Igilna, I believe he is still on the Calgary Flames.
As for the banning of the Octupi, it is probably better for Detroit now that fans are not allowed to throw deris on the ice. When they did, crews would have to come out and clean the ice (any juices leaking out of the octopus freeze to the ice). All that does is let the opposing team reform themselves and take momentum away from the Red Wings.
There is also Jarome Igilna, I believe he is still on the Calgary Flames.
As for the banning of the Octupi, it is probably better for Detroit now that fans are not allowed to throw deris on the ice. When they did, crews would have to come out and clean the ice (any juices leaking out of the octopus freeze to the ice). All that does is let the opposing team reform themselves and take momentum away from the Red Wings.
While most of the material above is good enough as it stands, here are a couple clarifications from off the top o’ my head:
The NHL Conferences were the Clarence Campbell conference (West) and the Prince of Wales conference (East)
The divisions were, of course: Smythe, Norris, Patrick and Adams. Feel free to correct me if that isn’t more-or-less in a West to East fashion as well.
(Big thanks to those above giving historical references for all of those names)
Georges Laraque plays for the Edmonton Oilers. Yes, he is black.
I believe Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames) was born to mixed parents… I could be wrong.
While most of the material above is good enough as it stands, here are a couple clarifications from off the top of my head:
The NHL Conferences were the Clarence Campbell conference (West) and the Prince of Wales conference (East)
The divisions were, of course: Smythe, Norris, Patrick and Adams. Feel free to correct me if that isn’t more-or-less in a West to East fashion as well.
(Big thanks to those who have given historical references for all of those names)
Georges Laraque plays for the Edmonton Oilers. Yes, he is black.
I believe Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames) was born to mixed parents… I could be wrong.
