| We remember the ghosts that lived in the
| |
| | "What the hell got
|
| Old Forum. They
| |
| | into you? Good job."Even Peetie
|
| had migrated from the previous one into
| |
| | wondered. "Lucky shot" he murmurs to
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| the newer modern
| |
| | himself.
|
| version. They were carrying a torch of
| |
| | He goes down to tighten his skate. As
|
| formidability for
| |
| | Peetie looks up he
|
| posterity. It was a place where legends
| |
| | sees something flash by. He nudges his
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| were born and
| |
| | teammate. "Did
|
| majestic teams ruled in the spirit of
| |
| | you see that?" The team mate responds
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| what was the grandeur
| |
| | "See what?" Peetie
|
| of Rome. Effortlessly, artistically and
| |
| | could have sworn he saw #7 fly by.The
|
| powerfully they dazzled
| |
| | Habs are playing uncharacteristically
|
| not only their fans and opponents alike
| |
| | with marvel and
|
| but themselves too.The ghosts made their
| |
| | style. Their skating reminds some in the
|
| presence felt one last time in a
| |
| | stands of the old
|
| game between the great Montreal
| |
| | Habs. One fan shouts, "Who do you guys
|
| Canadiens, Les
| |
| | think you are? The
|
| Habitants, Nos Glorieux, and Toronto
| |
| | Second Coming of '56 and '78?"
|
| Maple Leafs in what
| |
| | Jean-Paul, at that moment,
|
| was the last year before they tore down
| |
| | breaks between two Leaf defensemen and
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| the old rink. One
| |
| | scores. They
|
| gets the sense that the ghosts were
| |
| | look back haplessly and amazement as
|
| hanging around on this
| |
| | they look at each
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| somber day. It is as if they had no
| |
| | other realizing that assigning blame was
|
| intentions of moving
| |
| | futile. 4-3 with 4
|
| again. They did not like what they
| |
| | minutes to go. Jean-Paul shakes his head
|
| foresaw down the road.
| |
| | at an image he
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| Some were fixing the banners of all
| |
| | thinks he just saw. "#9? Nah."No one
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| those Stanley Cups,
| |
| | ever thought that Mario would be the next
|
| others were playing around on the ice
| |
| | one to tie
|
| chasing each other,
| |
| | this game up. He did. 4-4. He could have
|
| still others sat back and listened to
| |
| | sworn he saw #2
|
| the play-by-play of a
| |
| | flash before he scored. The energy in
|
| game between the Red Wings and Bruins
| |
| | the Forum is electric.
|
| broadcast on the
| |
| | If one could read body language, the
|
| radio. "Hey, do you think Terry Sawchuk,
| |
| | Leafs had resigned
|
| Eddie Shore, and
| |
| | themselves to defeat. One player
|
| Dit Clapper are at the Gardens tonight?"
| |
| | remarked later "It was as if
|
| shouted Bill
| |
| | the ghosts came down and played the
|
| Durnan a standout goalie for the Habs.
| |
| | game."In the broadcast booth Danny
|
| "Nah" joked Aurel
| |
| | Gallivan the sweet voice of
|
| Joliat; "They want to stay here! Same
| |
| | Montreal Canadiens radio play-by-play
|
| forThe present Habs were a mere shadow of
| |
| | calls the game as he
|
| their former
| |
| | winks to Dick Irvin who somehow was able
|
| selves. They were a team that was
| |
| | to see him.
|
| mismanaged and with it
| |
| | Behind the bench stands a stoic Toe
|
| its tradition of excellence. Vision was
| |
| | Blake. He glances
|
| lost to designers of
| |
| | over the coach and his notes and ensures
|
| this once majestic franchise. No one is
| |
| | what will work
|
| really sure how this
| |
| | and what will not. The ghosts have
|
| was allowed to happen. Some believe that
| |
| | arrived.The game is not won. There are 33
|
| the Habs will
| |
| | seconds left in this
|
| rise again one day. After all, the
| |
| | critical game. Peetie bolts down the
|
| dynasties of the New York
| |
| | wing taking whacks and
|
| Yankees and Green Bay Packers were able
| |
| | pushing off opponents and out of the
|
| to do it. Why
| |
| | corner of his eye he
|
| shouldn't Les Canadiens complete the
| |
| | sees all past Montreal Canadien legends
|
| Triumvirate? Maybe
| |
| | around him, he
|
| one day the Boston Celtics will join in.
| |
| | let's a ferocious slap shot go. He
|
| It will be a return to a
| |
| | scores! Habs lead 5-4.
|
| Golden Age.On this typically cold night,
| |
| | Doug Harvey taps Peetie's knees with his
|
| Montreal is losing 4-1 heading
| |
| | stick. Peetie was
|
| into the third period to their
| |
| | too much in the moment and did not
|
| archrivals Toronto Maple Leafs.
| |
| | realize what had just
|
| "Where are these fricken ghosts" one
| |
| | happened. He felt the tap and figured it
|
| player on the bench
| |
| | was his linemate
|
| asks. Peetie, a strong and effective
| |
| | Mario.The proud Toronto Maple Leafs,
|
| player for the Habs, tells
| |
| | however, will not leave
|
| him there are no ghosts. "Get a grip and
| |
| | without a fight. One of their fine
|
| play hard" he
| |
| | players fakes the goalie with
|
| continues. "Just get the puck to J-P."In
| |
| | 3 seconds to go...What a save! Habs win!
|
| the stands, a young fan feels like his
| |
| | Behind the net,
|
| life is coming apart.
| |
| | one could have sworn Vezina and Plante
|
| "Will the ghosts come through, Dad?" he
| |
| | were chuckling.With the arena emptying
|
| asks. "They always
| |
| | out the young boy and his father in
|
| do son." The father unconvincingly tells
| |
| | the stands wait a little while longer
|
| his son.Howie Morenz, the Stratford
| |
| | absorbing the victory.
|
| Streak, Montreal's first legend,
| |
| | "Dad" asks the young boy. "Yes, Steve"
|
| overhears the conversation on the bench.
| |
| | the father replies.
|
| He had spent
| |
| | "Dad, look on the ice." The father looks
|
| most of the game taping his hockey
| |
| | down and squints
|
| sticks and wasn't much
| |
| | lightly. Father and son, together they
|
| interested in the game. Suddenly he
| |
| | got a glimpse of the
|
| wasn't so indifferent.
| |
| | ghosts whom were congratulating each
|
| He summons the lads for one more round
| |
| | other. While they
|
| of magic."What do you say boys?" Morenz
| |
| | sat and watched in utter amazement, one
|
| proposes. Out of the clear,
| |
| | of the ghosts, in a
|
| The Rocket passes by and tells them
| |
| | tuque and a woolen Habs jersey, winks,
|
| about the boy who
| |
| | smiles, skates
|
| believed in them. "I'm in" he decides.
| |
| | away and vanishes.Incredible. Later, as
|
| The others followed.On his next shift,
| |
| | the lights were shutting down, the
|
| Peetie gets off the bench and scores an
| |
| | ghosts hugged one another and skated off
|
| incredible goal. 4-2. He came sweeping
| |
| | the ice for the
|
| in from the left side
| |
| | last time. They were tired. They swore
|
| and lifted a backhand shot with deadly
| |
| | they would come
|
| accuracy into the top
| |
| | back one day. Maybe #23 could pick up
|
| of the net. Peetie was a hustler not
| |
| | and assemble
|
| known for such flair.
| |
| | together the fragmented pieces fallen to
|
| Even the French players were impressed.
| |
| | the ground that was
|
| "If Peetie could
| |
| | once a symbol of excellence that
|
| score like dis evry game, hostie we'd
| |
| | transcended sports. The
|
| beat all de teams all
| |
| | illustrious 'C' may indeed shine one day
|
| de time" quipped Jean-Paul with an ear
| |
| | like the beacon
|
| to ear smile, their
| |
| | Dante saw when he left the Inferno with
|
| leading scorer. The coach comes over
| |
| | Virgil.
|
