The Gordie Howe Hat Trick, Michael Ryder, and the Jets.

- Michael Ryder was, for two seasons, the best player on the Hull Olympiques of the QMJHL, a team that I followed very closely for the 12 years.

Ryder was the type of player who would go unnoticed for most of the game, but he had a knack for making the best of his scoring opportunities. He had a playoff run where he scored 20 goals in 23 games and brought the Bob Guertin Arena crowd to its feet on a regular basis.

Tonight, as a member of the Boston Bruins, he scored a goal in overtime against the Montreal Canadiens, in Montreal, to bring the opening series to 2 games apiece. It brought me to my feet.

A side note. Ryder's coach in Hull, Claude Julien. The same Claude Julien who is Boston's current head coach.


Photo: Robert Guertin Arena (The Bob), Hull, QC

- I read an what I thought was an interesting historical fact today. It's about the Gordie Howe Hat Trick.

The Gordie Howe Hat Trick is a take on the conventional hat trick, which is the nickname given to the accomplishment of scoring three goals in one game. In collecting a Gordie Howe Hat Trick one must score a goal, record an assist, and be involved in a fight.

It is a feat that happens only on very, very, rare occasions. Gordie Howe himself only did it three times over the course of his 26 legendary NHL seasons.

Which brings me to the interesting fact. On the night that Gordie Howe performed his first Gordie Howe Hat Trick, his linemate and fellow Hockey Hall of Fame legend, Ted Lindsay recorded a Double Gordie Howe Hat Trick.

Yes, a double. Terrible Ted scored 2 goals, was awarded two assists, and was in two fights. I don't know if it's the only time that it has ever been done in NHL play.

I do know that it would have been a game that I would have loved to watch.


Photo: Ted Lindsay had received death threats previously to the playing of this game. After scoring the game winning goal, in overtime, Lindsay skated to centre ice of Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens and mimicked a machine gun with his stick.



- You can count me among the hockey fans that would like to see Winnipeg get a National Hockey League team again. Winnipeg is a hockey town. Like most Canadian cities, it has a long and impressive list of homegrown hockey heroes. Terry Sawchuk was from Winnipeg. So was Andy Bathgate.

Bobby Hull played there in the defunct World Hockey Association. Dale Hawerchuk, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and Teemu Selanne, who will join him in the Hall of Fame, thrilled Canada's Windy City fans during their NHL years.

And for many years now they've supported the Manitoba Moose, farm team of the Vancouver Canucks. Supported them all while following the boardroom melodrama that is playing out in Phoenix.

I hope they get their team back.



Photo: Bobby Hull, of the Winnipeg Jets