FeedThe Big Dinner
May 18, 2012 in Los Angeles Kings, NHL playoffs, Toronto Maple Leafs Tags: Andy Bathgate, Bruce Castator, Carmen Basilio, Garney Henley, Jiggs McDonald, Ken McDonald, Roger Crozier, Sal Maglie
My peewee baseball team (I was a smallish-yet-reliable infielder) was invited to the big Sports Celebrities Dinner in Orillia, a dinner organized by Ken McDonald, who became Jiggs McDonald, the Los Angeles Kings’ very first play-by-play announcer. I was 13.
The lineup of guests was impressive, and I got them all to sign my little book
May 18th, 2012 at 6:35 am
Hey Dennis
1952 – Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters – Doug Ashley, Andy Bathgate, Frank Bettiol, Marvin Brewer, Fontinato, Ken Graham, Aldo Guidolin, Terry Hagan, Chuck Henderson, Harry Howell, Ken Laufman, Doug Lessor, Bill McCreary, Ron Pirie, Dean Prentice, Ron Murphy, Ray Ross, Ron Stewart, Ken Uniac, Roy Mason (manager), Alf Pike (coach).
Not a bad club.Many players had pretty ‘decent’ NHL careers.One player ended up in our little hamlet playing for the Powell River Regals.
Doug
May 18th, 2012 at 6:48 am
Doug, who was the Regal from this? And I think the Biltmores were an extention of the story of how three goals became known as a hat trick, which began in the 40′s in Toronto. Guelph was definitely a Rangers club. Look at the guys who played for NY – Prentice, Bathgate, Fontinato, Stewart, coach Pike.
May 18th, 2012 at 7:53 am
Dennis
Doug Lessor ended his hockey career tending goal for the Regals in the 1960s.Like many a hockey player it was time settle down and raise a family.Players like Doug Lessor,Bob Bergeron,George Chambers,Andy McCallum etc. ended their hockey journeys with the Regals.
Doug
May 18th, 2012 at 8:36 am
Hey Dennis,Who was the captain of the Regals in the early seveties?I think it was seventy three when I watched them play in Powell River,I remember he used to walk with a cane if I am remembering correctly.
May 18th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Derry, I think that might have been Bob Crawford. Originally from Timmins and by all accounts a terrific hardrock defenceman.