Ted Green
“In September 1969 Green suffered a serious head injury due to a stick swinging incident. He missed the entire 1969-70 season and was considered lucky to be alive.” ~ Mike Leonetti
Dave Keon
“If you ever wanted to neutralize an opposing line, this guy (Dave Keon) could do it. He had the best skating legs of any player I knew. It’s very difficult to go around someone that is back-checking because you can’t deke him, and you couldn’t deke Davey.” ~ Frank Mahovlich
Punch Imlach
“Punch was originally hired to be the “assistant: anything. He wanted the official title of general manager, and was assured he would get it eventually.” ~ Bobby Baun
Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup
“I wanted all our old guys to enjoy this one. This may have been their last game together.” ~ Punch Imlach
Frank Mahovlich & Gordie Howe
“There are four strong teams in the NHL and two weak ones. The weak ones are New York and Boston. The strong ones are Toronto, Montreal, Chicago and Gordie Howe.” ~ Dave Keon
Bob Nevin
“In 1964 the Leafs traded him to the New York Rangers. He missed out on a third straight Stanley Cup win, but the change of scenery was good for Nevin in the long run. With the Rangers, Nevin was named captain of the team in 1965 and he scored over 20 goals in five of his seven years.” ~ Mike Leonetti
Bobby Hull & Johnny Bower
"Johnny Bower, the Hall of Fame goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs, always told me that he thought the puck was going wide. But the fact is, this puck is going to wind up in the middle of the net.” ~ Bobby Hull
Allan Stanley & Claude Provost
“The Montreal – Toronto rivalry created great competition and great debate, not only between the players but also between the fans of each team.” ~ Dave Keon
Alex Delvecchio & Johnny Bower
“I think that he (Delvecchio) had fewer penalty minutes (383) in 24 years with the Wings than some players rack up in a single season says a lot about his game. He played clean, good hockey.” ~ Gordie Howe
Johnny Bower
“The greatest competitor I ever saw was Johnny Bower. Johnny was 34 years of age when he made it to the team, and he was desperate so he would do anything. He had a work ethic that I’ve never seen in any other human being.” ~ Carl Brewer
Lou Fontinato
“Fontinato fancied himself the heavyweight champion of the league and Ranger coach Emile Francis was not above sending the rugged defenseman out after the leagues stars like Richard, Beliveay and myself to put them off their game.” ~ Gordie Howe
Doug Mohns
“He had his best season in 1966-67 when he scored 25 goals and had 35 assists to help Chicago finish first.” ~ Mike Leonetti
Ed Giacomin
“Another goalie who didn’t feel he needed to be tethered to his net, Giacomin could both excite and petrify fans when he skated after the puck.” ~ Kevin Allen and Bob Duff
Terry Sawchuk
“The expansion clubs would each choose a pair of goaltenders to open the draft. Clarence Campbell drew the team names from the Stanley Cup to determine the drafting order, and the los Angeles Kings got the first pick of netminders. The Kings owner, Canadian-born media tycoon Jack Kent Cooke, stepped up to the microphone with the look of a Cheshire cat. 'Los Angeles draws Terry Sawchuk from Toronto,' he said in a clear unhesitating voice.” ~ David Dupuis
Toe Blake
“I had to quit… I’m 56 years old. The pressure was getting to be unbearable. The day of the game, I was getting to be unbearable. The afternoons were the worst. All the thinking. And waiting, waiting, waiting.” ~ Toe Blake
Pierre Pilote
“I went to training camp for the St. Catherines Teepees so unpolished Rudy Pilous, who later coached me on the Chicago Blackhawks, had to argue with the coach even to keep me in training camp. After three weeks, not only did the coach think I’d never make it as a hockey player, I was hurting a lot of his players. He quit over the issue and Rudy became coach.” ~ Pierre Pilote
Les Binkley
“Binkley started out as a trainer with the Cleveland Barons of the AHL in 1960-61 and only practiced as a goaltender. When he replaced starter Gil Mayer and won six in a row, he saw a career in the net begin.” ~ Mike Leonetti
Red Berenson & Gump Worsley
“It was a freak, a fluke. It was great for hockey but I just keep telling myself something like that isn’t in character for me. A few good plays or stopping the opposition from scoring, that’s my game. But six goals…it’s ridiculous.” ~ Red Berenson
J. C. Trembley
“I didn’t go for fights, brawls or perform like I’m in a circus when I’m on a hockey rink. My job is to help the team win. That’s what I’m concerned with doing.” ~ J.C. Tremblay
Gordie Howe & Johnny Bower
“Hockey is the warmth of memories.” ~ Red Fisher