NHL Connect ID:

chrono420

Description:

I come from a big Canadian hockey family. My grandmother’s brother lived in Toronto and took her to a game at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1932 (it was built in ‘31 & the NHL was only established 14 years earlier) She fell in love with the game and continued to follow the league on radio (yes, also before TV – lol) From the time I was little to when I was a grown man I used to watch Hockey Night In Canada with her several times a year. She loved Don Cherry, knowing him as a coach before his television career… She also hated expansion teams! lol – she would often say; “There’s too many damn teams! Back when there were six I knew every player on every team” this used to crack me up, Id agree with her just to make her happy… Nevermind how good the expansions were for the game! ====================================================== My father and uncle were the biggest influence on my brother & me, both walking compendium’s of sports knowledge. Im even named after a retired NHL’er, who’s final season with the Leafs was the year I was born (1981-82) Ill always remember when I became a serious fan & started following the league. It was 1985, I was four and my brother was two years old, my dad brought us home childrens “timbits” jerseys. My bro was given a Detrot Red Wings sweater and I got Toronto Maple Leafs with #11 (my first favorite player – Gary Leeman) As time past the household rivalries became heated (many times resulting in brotherly fist-fights!) After years of struggling for both our teams, the Wings came into their own, with Yzerman leading them to three Stanely Cups. Our family rivialry was over, Detriot proving my brother “right”. ====================================================== The 1992-93 season was the closest Toronto had come (in my lifetime), when after Gilmour’s 127 point season the Leafs made it to the confrence finals, only to be beaten by the L.A. Kings. To this day Im still a little bitter towards Gretzky who; during overtime high-sticked Gilmour (drawing blood) the infamous referee Kerry Fraser didnt call a penalty and moments later Wayne scored the winning goal to keep the Kings from elimination. L.A. won game seven at the Gardens to move onto the finals, where they were defeated by the Habs. I do love Wayne Gretzky (and what hes done for the sport & Canada) but Ill always hold a grudge for the year “that could have been”. lol – Who knows, it could be 2067 before we have another chance to make the Stanely Cup finals!

Favorite NHL Team:

Toronto Maple Leafs

Favorite Sports/Teams:

Toronto Marlies (formerly St. John’s Leafs), Toronto Argonauts, Toronto Blue Jays, SF Hershey Bears, Ottawa 67’s

Favorite Players:

- Fav Current Leafs: Mats Sundin, Jason Blake, Matt Stajan, Alex Steen, Mark Bell, Boyd Devereaux, Dominic Moore, Cujo & recently drafted Luke Schenn - Fav Leafs Alumni: (my lifetime) Darcy Tucker, Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clark, Dave Andreychuk, Gary Leeman, Rick Vaive, Lanny McDonald, Ron Francis, Al Iafrate, Kirk Muller, Joe Nieuwendyk, Mike Gartner, Gary Roberts, Vincent Damphousse, Owen Nolan, Dave Ellett, Tie Domi, Jason Smith, Micheal Peca, Grant Fuhr & Felix Potvin - Others: (past & present) Bobby Orr, Mario Lemieux, Theo Fluery, Sidney Crosby, The Staal Brothers, Vincent Lecavier, Martin St. Louis, Jarome Iginla, Danny Heatly, Joe Sakic, Ryan Smyth, Mark Messier, Steve Yzerman, Paul Coffey, Trevor Linden, Al MacInnis, Scott Stevens, Jeremy Roenick, Cam Neely, Shane Doan, Rick Nash… (Im sure Ive forgotten others… to be added later)

Music:

1. Nu Metal: Deftones, Mudvayne, Nonpoint, Taproot, Ill Nino, System Of A Down, Rage Against The Machine, NIN, Incubus, Spineshank, 36 Crazyfists, 40 Below Summer, 30 Seconds to Mars, Atreyu, Karnivool, Evans Blue, 10 Years, Trust Company, Stone Sour, Flyleaf & Black Light Burns 2. Alt Rock: Nirvana, STP, Soundgarden, Live, Collective Soul, Weezer, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, I Mother Earth, Radiohead, Bush, Tragically Hip, & The Headstones 3. Classic Rock: Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, The Beatles, The Doors, Pink Floyd, The Guess Who & Dire Straits

Books:

Novels by: JRR Tolkien, Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, Robert Jordan, Terry Brooks, RA Salvator, Terry Goodkind, Ann Rice & any good Hockey Bio!

Movies:

Star Wars, Indiana, Jones, The Godfather, Lord of the Rings, Matrix, Kevin Smith & Marvel Comics collections, 300, Sin City, Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy, Interview With The Vampire, The Royal Tennenbaums, I Heart Huckabees, Superbad & any other comedy with SNL alumni…

Other interests:

More Hockey…