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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-04-23, Page 26lay by lay ccormg to any iter for over 32 years, Gallivan was the voice of the Canadiens BY DAVE SYKES • As soon as the words had reverberated through the microphone of a national net- work many years ago, Danny Gallivan in- stinctively knew "it was wrong." A litany of descriptive phrases, nar- ratives and on the spot play by play euphemisms would follow over the years through his broadcasting career but Gallivan, forever more, will be remembered for his infamous "can- nonading drive." The 69 year-old former broadcaster of Montreal Canadiens' games for Hockey Night in Canada vividly reconstructed the moment for the audience at the Goderich Lions Club annual Young Canada Week hockey banquet at the Candlelight Restaurant Thursday. "There was a faceoff in the opposition zone and there was Beliveau at centre with Rocket on one wing and Moore on the other," he recalled. "Harvey .was on one point and Boom Boom Geoffrion was on the other side. And it seemed like there was five seconds before the puck was drop- ped and I visualized, before the play, that the puck would come back to Boom Boom and he would let fly with one of those shots. The puck came back to him and I used the term cannonading and I immediately knew it was wrong." Soon after the momentous broadcast of that Canadiens game, Gallivan insists he received -a letter from a professor of English who admonished the broadcaster for making up words, ."How dare you° There is no suchavord." Gallivan simply replied to�the, letter, "How dare you° There is now." - That was but 'one story in an evening's collection by Gallivan that entertained, provoked nostalgia and laughter and was purposeful in thought. The voice of the Montreal Canadiens for more than 32 years, Gallivan was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia in '917 and attended St. Francis Xavier University in An- tigonish. Following an overseas -stint with the Canadian Army, he returned to Canada and a sports reporting job with CJCH,Halifax. The job exposed the young reporter to a wide range of sporting activity and it was play-by-play work with the Halifax junior team in a Montreal tournament that caught the attention of Hockey Night in Canada executives • in 1947, Three years later, ' when announcer Doug. Smith suf- felled a mild heart attack, Gallivan was summoned't,o fill in and handle the Cana - diens' announcing chores. Two yearslater, in 1952, he became the voice of the Mon- treal hockey team and a regular with the Hockey Night in Canada crew. It was a partnership that would span more than 30 years of broadcasting and some of the more memorable games in the history of the sport. Now a goodwill am- bassador for the network, he also acts as chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee. In acknowledging the work of" the GoderichLions Club and itsmembers with respect to the 37 year legacy of Young Canada Week, Gallivan said the longevity of the tournament speaks well of the players involved. He cited Nip Whetstone as "an all-star to have the dedication and determination to see the tournament to its fruition." While Gallivan makes his bias for the Montreal Canadiens hockey team clearly evident, he lauded the playoff efforts of the Toronto Maple Leafs. "The Leafs have a tradition and pride that extends coast to coast and they gained that stature and following because of Foster Hewitt. The game owes him a lot," Gallivan suggested. "I applaud what Toronto has done this year." The broadly ttheyearforwhat people rs e was often criticized over sensed was a biased towards the Montreal hockey team.."I was the voice of the Cana - diens for over 32 years and enjoyed every minute of it,' i he' said. "They were a great hockey team They won 16 Stanley Cups and had gre4 stars like Rocket Richard. I was criticized by some people but despite it, I was still paid very well• Gallivant met a myriad of fans throughout the years and admitted that Montreal's success also breeded some resentment among hockey fans. He fondly recalled a letter he received from a Bathurst, •Nova Scotia lady in 1975 when the Buffalo Sabres eliminated the Canadiens. "The letter was written in black as a card of symphony with a caricature of a frog on the front," he related. "And it read; In loving memory of the Montreal Canadiens who passed away Thursday at the Montreal Forum at 10.30 p.m. They are survived by The New York Rangers, Philadelphia and the New York Islanders. Burial will be held in the Montreal Municipal Dump. Donations will be ac- cepted for the Scotty Bowman, Pocket Richard retirement fund." Blessed with an innate ability to enhance his descriptive -narrative of hockey action, Gallivan contends his success was enhanc- ed by timing. "I realize how lucky Ir was because anyone could have done bgtter. I was just in the right place at the right time," he reasoned. "It takes a lot of luck." That he lasted more than 30 years in the business is testimony to the man's skills as a broadcaster and hockey promoter. Gallivan made the. game meaningful, he made the game exciting and his naration was accurate. During his tenure at the microphone, the Montreal franchise was undoutedly the mos'. - tctrifying, talent -laden franchise in any hoc -y league. It was an emotion- charged eam,in a demanding market, that pr i duced more hockey champi ships o er the last three decades than any to • ms combined. lliva elished his role i . 1 of "When I did ale Leaf 'd -week broadcasts a few yeao : was in Denver with Don Cherry and I remember that the arena was dead, like a morgue," he remembered. "In Montreal, there was that emotionalism and allegiance. My favorite,pver the 32 years was coach Toe Blake. He was the greatest the game has seen. He was a tough loser, a great com- petitor and an ingenious coach." While easily conceding that former Boston Bruin defenceman Bobby Orr was the best player he'd ever seen in the game, Gallivan ,insisted that Rocket Richard the game's most exciting performer. He was capable of that emotion -driven play at the crucial time in a game. He was the con- sumate player, who responded to the rhallenae in the face of adversity, He was one player who took the outcome of a game into his own hands. While Wayne Gretzky is rapidly en- croaching on Gallivans "all-time" list, he makes no mistake in suggesting that the "most, amazing athlete in any sport, anywhere, was Gordon Howe." Now one of the game's greatest am- bassadors; Gallivan is a hockey purest tyho detests the pugilistic style of play that often dominates today's games. • "I love the game and it is the best'game in the world when it's properly played," he said. "They have to get high sticking and the ugliness out oi the game. And they pro- ved they (Canadians) can play without the illegal asoects of the " illegal aspects of the game. International competition on large ice • surfaces excite Gallivan and he contends it's the type of hockey that Canadians want to see. The rinks are too small he says ad- ding that standard arenas should measure 200 by 100 feet. "The athletes today are big and strong and they can shoot and there is no room to move," he said. "Every rink should be bigger." He believes that junior hockey players should not be eligible for the NHL draft un- til they reach 19 years of age claiming the practice of drafting 18 year-olds is harmful to both the players and their junior teams. Scholarships should be offered to Cana- dian players by Canadian universities Gallivan said adding that there was. nothing wrong with the concept of paying for people's education if they have talent. • In speaking to the Goderich Lions peewee hockey players in attendance, Gallivan admonished them to put hockey, in its proper perspective. "Let hockey not be an end in itself." he said. "Let hockey not interfere with educa- tion. Let hockey be a stepping stone to education. If you have the talent to go to the NHL, you go there earned." Delighted to be a supporter of the game, Gallivan claims that penalties for drug users must be more severe citing the fact that player's actions have lasting effects on Canada's young people. He advised the peewees to be respectful of the leadership and oportunities afforded each of them. "I hope drugs are not a part of your ac- tivity in sport," he said. "You are for- tunate to have the leadership of the Lions Club and the community is interested in you because you are promising young men. Be grateful, to the men and women who of their time and effort. They want on- ly your co-operation and respect and you'll get their leadership." At the,Gaderien minor hockey banquet, David Bogie work the Most Improved Goalie trophy, Donny Rivers held the Atom housele runner-up trophy''ind Steve Hogan held the Atom Houseleague runner-up trophy. (photo by Susan Hunderiuiark) The bantam division winners for the Youth Bowling League at Lit- tle Bowl included Pat Smith, Jason Hayter, Ryan Pollock, David Hollingsworth, Lisa Maclnnis, Pat Glazier, 'Tara Million, Mikael McCabe and Julie Fisher. Over 150 bowlers and their parents at- tended an awards night at the Goderich Legion last Thursday night. (photo' by Susan Hundertmark ) Michael Wick of Monkton, foreground and Matt Pheana of London, rear, got their lines wet at the Port Albert River mouth on Sunday. Fishermen have only a couple more days to wait for the opening of the trout season this Friday at midnight. ( photo by Sharon Dietz Goderich Bridge Club results Pee wee participation award winners for the Youth Bowling League were given their awards at the awards night at the Goderich Legion last Thursday. They were Randy Pollock, Kim /Brownlee, Chris Steep, Lori Straughan and Scott McIver. (photo by Susan Hundertmark) Mary Ann Dempsey was the director of a 61/2 table Mitchell Movement at the April 8 meeting of the Goderich Duplicate Bridge Club. Brian and Jane Cere.topped the North- South division with 721/2 points while Lee Ryan and Joanne Gilchrist were second with 701/2 points and Eleanor Erskine and Mary Donnelly third with 67 points. The average score for the division was 60 points. . The average score in the East-West divi- sion was 70 points where P.K. Venkiteswaran and Aelian Weerasooriya finished first with 821/2 points. Tied for se- cond and third place with 72 points each were Pat Strinupr and Cathy McDonald and Verna Worthy and Ray Fisher. The average score in the North-South division at the April 15 meeting of the Goderich Duplicate Bridge Club was 60 points. Brian and Jane Cere were first with 73 points and were followed by John Donatis and Bill Bradley with 65 points and A. Weerasooriya and P.K. Venkiteswaran with 631/2 points. John Wood and Marg Hall were first in the East West section of play with 771 points while the average was 70 points., Ed- na Overholt and Audrey Tobin finished se- cond with 721/2 points while Bill Duncan and Don Godley finished third with 70 points. Maitland Country Club is a senior citizen this year • e s HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US — WE ARE 65 YEARS YOUNG. Yes the Maitland Country Club becomes a senior citizen this year, having received its Letters Patent on May 21st, 1921. But, as the saying goes, just because there is snow on the roof doesn't mean there is no fire in the furnace. A number of events have been planned to encompass all groups, to celebrate our venerable age. The first: event of the year will be Mon. May 5, when the Men's Section tees off for its first regular men's night, followed on Tuesday, May 6th by the ladies' regular weekly events. Ladies - mark Wednesday, May 7 on your calendar for the combined tennis and golf sections Opening Dinner. There will be a Happy Hour starting at 6 p.m. and then dinner at 7. Once again, Rosemary's will present a fashionshow, featuring spr- ing and summer styles. The price is only $12.00 for a super evening. Please let you representatives know by May lst. Saturday, May 10th is the Men's Official opening with the annual day of breakfast and golf. All sections have had meetings to plan for the coining year and enthusiasm runs high. Pour lady golfers attended the District Spring Meeting, in 'Walkerton to find out all the new Do's and Don'ts, Why's and Wherefore's for the coming season. A few changes have been made which will be explained at the first opportunity. John and Bridget Mathers have been hard at it for some weeks now, and the course is in exceptionally fine condition for this time of year, so let's get, with it and make the most of the comparatively short golf season. Do you think the Government could be persuaded to forward, each month, an Old Age Pension Cheque? No, I guess not. Squirt team to practice Any young ball players interested in try- ing out- for the Goderich Squirt Boys WOAA ball team is asked to contact either John Phillips at 4-6668 , Ray Cook at 4-6813 or Jim Hayter at 4-6805. To be eligible for the squirt boys team. players inust be under 12 years of age, Anyone having a 12th birthday before Jan. 1 is ineligible.