Devlin said:
Since there's no hockey on the tube how bout a hockey story...
Once upon a time, Maple Leaf Gardens wanted to have a ceremony to salute the troops from the Gulf War.
The Public Affairs officer who worked next door came over and lamented to my CO that he couldn't scrape together a guard of honour from any of the nearby CFBs.
With a twinkle in his eye, my dear CO said "Well, of course, the 48th Highlanders are the ones you should ask, especially since it's in Maple Leaf Gardens (the 48th play at the season-opening game of the Leafs)".
And so, one phone call to the Bn CO, another to the Regimental hockey team (no - I'm not kidding), and the guard was organised in about twenty minutes ... (we scrounged flags from the Recruiting Centre CO's office, and the US consulate, one of the defencemen had access to the arsenal, and Bob's your uncle!)
So, we're on the ice, only a few minutes to go, and then ... catastrophe!
We'd made sure the American flag wouldn't fall down, since it would be such an embarassment ... but instead, the Canadian flag sank to the bottom of the flagpole ... !
The Leafs were skating around for their warmup and one of the saw our predicament, skated over to their bench and brought back a roll of tape, saying "Here, I figured you could use this" (I think it was Mike Krushelnyski, but that damned malaria medication ...)
Anyway, afterwards we figured "We've got weapons, freedom of the city ... Let's go meet Don Cherry" and off we trooped to the CBC studio under the seats. We simply told the policeman that we were there to meet Don, and he held the door open for us (chuckle!)
Inside the studio, Don gets a look at us and immediately says "Whoa! When I saw the rifles, I was afraid it was Harry Synden!" He and Ron McLean were getting ready for their show, but took time to chat with us and even pose for a super photo - thumbs up all around!
The story goes on ...
Some time later, the Public Affairs guys are trying to help out with a "Unity" hockey tournament (a Member of Parliament got the idea of bringing together youngsters from across Canada to play at the Gardens).
Now, the PAffO was looking for an honourary chairman ... and once again, my dear CO's eyes twinkled as he said "I know just the person who can help you ..." (me).
So, what the heck, sez I ... I phoned and left a message for Don Cherry, and faxed him a nice letter about how "the guys who wear Canada on their uniform" would appreciate his support (Don's one of our most loyal supporters, if any of you didn't already realise it).
Later that day, I phone my office to check if there've been any messages - our civvie receptionist mumbles something about a call from "Rose Terrerrie" ... which I don't recognise ... until I'm in the shower after my workout, and after repeating "Rose Terrerrie" over and over again ... I suddenly realise it's ROSE CHERRY (Don's wonderful, late wife". With a towel around my waist, I dash into the nearest office and commandeer the poor guy's phone, citing "it's a national emergency" (chuckle!)
Anyway, Rose answers and says "of course Don will be the honourary chairman".
Back at the office, smiles all around ... and then the PAffO comes back and says "That was great. Now could you also get us a French Canadian NHL'er to be the co-chair?" (to which I silently muse "What do I look like? The NHLPA?")
And so, another phone call ... this time to the Molson corporate offices in Montreal ...
Shortly afterwards the phone rings in our office and my office-mate answers, then hands the phone to me.
"Who is it?" I ask, to which he replies "Jean Beliveau".
I was THIS close to answering and saying "Okay, now who the "F" is this really" ... but for some reason I was a little more diplomatic than that ... (ha!)
And, yes - Le Gros Bill is indeed on the other end, and he also is agreeing to be the co-honourary chairman of the Unity Hockey Tournament at Maple Leaf Gardens (he even flew down from Montreal and shook hands with the kids). I'm sorry he turned down the offer to become Governor-General of Canada - he's truly a great man.
And then there was the time I met Terry Crisp when he was coaching the Canadian Olympic team, and we talked about camouflage for goalies ... (but, that's all I can say, due to the NDA ...!)
P.S. (almost forgot - met Rick Mercer and Tom Cochrane on a flight from Canada December 2003 - they were on their way to Kabul to film a show with our troops - nice guys!)
And there you have it - some real Canadian celebrities, close up and personal!