Every ten years or so, my friend Gary in Ottawa sends me a box of gifts. Just out of the blue, and always quite fascinating. One came the other day, and included: A plastic alarm clock that looks like sticks of dynamite and which needs a battery. A cassette that’s seen better days and might [...]

“CUP COMES HOME” blared the headline in 1993 and little did we know that the Cup just a year later was going to run away from home and stay away. Stanley come home. We miss you. Enough’s enough. I think I’ll change it. It was Montreal’s 24th 25th championship in 1993 2013 and it was [...]

If I was a better man, I’d feel sorry for Leafs fans. Unfortunately, I’m a terrible person. This email came today. The Leafs win the Cup every year. Their fans must be so spoiled. Hi Dennis, As you’re probably (joyfully) aware, Leafs fans have had to endure years of heartbreak. While the Habs made the [...]

I remember Jim Ralph when he was a goalie for the Ottawa 67′s in the 1970′s. He was never a great backstopper, and his career didn’t amount to much, just bouncing around the minors for a decade after junior, and he never made it to the bigs. But there’s one thing about Jim Ralph – [...]

The T206 Honus Wagner cigarette card, bought in 1991 by Wayne Gretzky and L.A. Kings owner Bruce McNall for $451,000. Over the years it’s been resold several times, and the last buyer paid almost three million bucks for it. However, it was found to have been trimmed to make it appear in better condition, and [...]

Montreal can beat a lot of teams. Just not the New York Islanders. And thus ends the lovely eleven-game point streak. The Canadiens had clawed back from a 3-1 deficit to even the score, and then it all just slipped away like those dew worms we’d try to grab on the front lawn in late [...]

Ron Green in Orillia sends along an interesting story from TheStar.com – Hockey Is In Tom Scanlan’s Bones  – about a fellow who bought game-used sticks once owned by the 42 players who scored at least 500 goals in the NHL. The sticks were up for auction last June from Classic Auctions in Montreal. 42 [...]

I’m sure Gretzky’s endorsements have declined a fair amount since he played, but there’s probably still a whack of companies who want number 99′s name on their wares because he maintains a certain mystique. After all, he is Gretzky. Bigalow Tea recognized this. Green tea’s good for you. Probably even better than beer, although there’s [...]

Soviet signings I’ve accumulated over the years. And yes, they appear to be scribbles, but don’t forget, these are written in cyrillic. And all Russians, young and old, rich and poor, only sign their last names, except for the odd initial sometimes thrown in.             

No need for any words here, except that I think this clip is fantastic. Thanks a lot to Beatnik for sending  it over.