Philip Croucher - Road to the NHL: The Incredible Stories of 25 Maritimers Making It to the Show

Copyright 2013 Philip Croucher

All rights reserved. No part of this book covered by the copyrights hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any request for photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems of any part of this book shall be directed in writing to the Canadian Reprography Collective, 379 Adelaide Street, West, Suite M1, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1S5.

MacIntyre Purcell Publishing Inc.

194 Hospital Rd.

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

B0J 2C0

(902) 640-2337

www.macintyrepurcell.com

Cover photo courtesy Photos:

Printed and bound by Marquis.

Design and layout: Channel Communications

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Croucher, Philip, author

Road to the NHL : Maritimers in The Show / Philip Croucher.

Issued in print and electronic formats. ISBN 978-1-927097-12-0 (pbk.).--ISBN 978-1-927097-41-0 (pdf).--ISBN 978-1-927097-42-7 (epub).--ISBN 978-1-927097-43-4 (kindle)

1. Hockey players--Atlantic Provinces--Biography. 2. National Hockey League--History.

I. Title.

GV848.5.A1C76 2013 796.9620922715 C2013-903150-2

C2013-903151-0

MacIntyre Purcell Publishing Inc. would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Book Fund) and the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage.

DEDICATION

To my beautiful wife Evie, my great kids Brady and Naomi, and fans of hockey from around the Maritimes.

I ts understandable for people living in Boston to think Don Sweeney is from the Massachusetts city.

The former Bruins defenceman now turned hockey executive has been associated with the Boston NHL team for most of the past three decades. Its basically become a second home for him and his wife Christine and their twin boys.

But when people say hes from Boston, Sweeney is quick to correct them. He tells them hes from St. Stephen, New Brunswick, and is very proud of it. This is where Im from - this is the grassroots for me, Sweeney says. I think that attitude and that approach to life is engrained in all of the Maritimers. Theres a pride there.

That pride is something that makes this book so special for me. The number of Maritimers who have made it to the NHL doesnt compare with the volume of players hailing from Canadas more populous provinces and regions. But we have done well - hundreds past and present have made it - and writing this book is a chance to celebrate some of those who did. More importantly, what you realize is that Maritime players never forget their roots.

Even with todays NHL player (many of whom make millions of dollars) that close connection to home remains. Im not a different person because I play hockey. Im a regular John Doe that eats regular meals, that sleeps in a regular bed who brushes his teeth the regular way, says Randy Jones, a defenceman from Quispamsis, New Brunswick. All I do is play hockey for a living. Thats just how I look at it and how Ill always look at it.

Road to the NHL has a simple concept - tell each players story about how he made it to The Show. The most difficult decision for me was selecting the 25 players to be profiled from the hundreds that have played the game from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Some were must-haves - Sidney Crosby, Al MacInnis, Brad Richards and Danny Grant are but a few examples. I also felt it was important to highlight new up-and-coming stars like Brad Marchand and Adam McQuaid. Then, there are the lesser-knowns - the Eric Boultons and Scott Pellerins - who dont make headlines, but have had solid NHL careers.

Of course, the decision on who made the book can and will be debated. Questions about how this player made it over that one are fair and expected. But remember, this list isnt meant to be the best of the best. Its a list of 25 players that come from all parts of the Maritimes. Eleven are from Nova Scotia, and seven each from Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Of course, telling each players story is the focus, but the book also serves to remind the thousands of Maritime kids (and their parents) who get up early to play the game they love that anything is possible.

Youre reminded of that over and over and over again as you read these stories. When you put the work in you can do it, too. The NHL dream doesnt have to be just a dream. For any Maritime kid who dreams of playing in the NHL one day, I would say have perseverance; go with your dreams, says Prince Edward Islands Brad Richards. You must have fun along the way too, and the options will come if it remains fun.

I want to say thank you to all the current and former players who took time from busy lives to be interviewed for Road to the NHL. As well, a special thanks to Doug MacLean, a proud Islander, who agreed to write the books foreword. When it comes to great hockey minds, few in the sport today can match him.

These stories have been a lot of fun to write, and as a life-long hockey fan, having this book now in your hands is a dream-come-true moment for me personally. I hope that enthusiam and comes through in the writing, and that you enjoy learning about the road to the NHL every bit as much as I did. PHILIP CROUCHER

A s a hockey fan and a career hockey person, this is my kind of book. Its great to read about 25 Maritime hockey players, many of whom I know personally, and the road they took to the NHL. Many of the 25 became solid National Hockey League players, and many became stars with their respective teams. All of themto a manearned the respect of their teammates.

When talking to players who played with Maritimers, its common to hear them say of their Atlantic Canadian colleagues, What a great team guy. The 25 NHLers profiled in this book certainly understood the team concept, and were very important in the success their teams achieved.

Hockey is a very important part of most Maritimers lives. We love our hockey here, and we love the local players who have made it to the NHL. These 25 players all have given back to their loyal communities. It is amazing to watch what these guys have done off the ice, and the way they treat their Maritime fans. They remember the support they received from Maritime coaches, teachers, and fans. They remember where they got their start, and how important these people were to their professional success.

The best hockey player in the worldSidney Crosbyis a fine example of a great Maritimer. What he has given back is truly amazing for such a young man. The way he treats everyone is a tremendous example for all young people to follow. My son Clark skated with Sidney in the summer of 2012, and all he could sayother than marveling at his tremendous skillwas what an amazing person Crosby was, and how well he treated the guys in the dressing room. Its as if he was a teammate and one of the boys. That is the norm for NHLers from the Maritimes. There is a real camaraderie amongst the players from here and always time for a post-game hello. A unique sense of pride exists among the group.

There is a lot of discussion today as to whether professional athletes should be role models. All I know is that when I was growing up in Prince Edward Island, my idols were Forbes Kennedy, Billy MacMillan and Errol Thompson. They inspired me to battle for an opportunity to work in the National Hockey League, just like Sid, Brad Richards and Gerard Gallant inspire todays young players. Maritime NHLers truly are role models.