A Canadian GIANT has died. Mr. Jean Beliveau to lie in state at Bell Centre, given national funeral.

[woodbuck27]

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/12/10/the-great-jean-beliveau-remembered-by-former-montreal-canadiens-teammates-during-emotional-funeral/

The great Jean Béliveau remembered by former Montreal Canadiens teammates during emotional funeral

Graeme Hamilton, National Post Staff | December 10, 2014 9:12 PM ET

“He was a man who was respected by all Canadians,” former prime minister Jean Chrétien said on his way into the church, recounting a trip he made to the Yukon in Mr. Béliveau’s company. “He was the only person people wanted to see.”



" Yvan Cournoyer, a former Canadiens captain, described Mr. Béliveau as “my friend and my captain and the idol of an entire people.” ..."

[mraynrand]

As a troubled teen, I stole lumber from a city building site and built a hockey rink in the backyard.

we just shoveled the snow to make the border

[Harlan Huckleby]

we just shoveled the snow to make the border

Well, some 12x1 planks make some nice mini-boards that you can bounce a puck off of. I'm sure your rink was serviceable. Not every young person demonstrates great creativity and craftsmanship, nothing for you to be ashamed of. Perhaps you were a late developer.

[woodbuck27]

Well, some 12x1 planks make some nice mini-boards that you can bounce a puck off of. I'm sure your rink was serviceable. Not every young person demonstrates great creativity and craftsmanship, nothing for you to be ashamed of. Perhaps you were a late developer.

Harlan...12X1 mini-boards....

You couldn't lift the puck?

You played a lot with the girls?

[Harlan Huckleby]

Harlan...12X1 mini-boards....

You couldn't lift the puck?

You played a lot with the girls?

Actually yes, several girls. Those planks had to be carried 6 blocks from .... it was more of a dump than a building site, it was old lumber. It was a herculean effort to carry enough boards in the dark, cold dead of night just to build 12" high boards.

I offer no apologies for that marvelous rink. We had lights, too.

[mraynrand]

Well, some 12x1 planks make some nice mini-boards that you can bounce a puck off of. I'm sure your rink was serviceable. Not every young person demonstrates great creativity and craftsmanship, nothing for you to be ashamed of. Perhaps you were a late developer.

Didn't need to futz with the puck and all that, I was figure skating in my spandex. Toe pick!

[mraynrand]

Well, some 12x1 planks make some nice mini-boards that you can bounce a puck off of. I'm sure your rink was serviceable. Not every young person demonstrates great creativity and craftsmanship, nothing for you to be ashamed of. Perhaps you were a late developer.

It doesn't surprise me at all that you would view theft as a virtue.

[woodbuck27]

Actually yes, several girls. Those planks had to be carried 6 blocks from .... it was more of a dump than a building site, it was old lumber. It was a herculean effort to carry enough boards in the dark, cold dead of night just to build 12" high boards.

I offer no apologies for that marvelous rink. We had lights, too.

I have a story of an important man in many of my peers life growing up as a teen in Saint John, NB @ Rockwood Court....and hockey and outdoor hockey rinks...later.

[woodbuck27]

I have a story of an important man in many of my peers life growing up as a teen in Saint John, NB @ Rockwood Court....and hockey and outdoor hockey rinks...later.

When I was a young teen I lived in a community all by itself in Saint John, NB. This palace was ideal for anyone athletic to live. Within Rockwood Court we enjoyed playing fields a playground for the tykes and we had a clubhouse a place for boxing and a grandstand. The community was surrounded on three sides by Rockwood Park the largest public park of any city, town etc. in Canada with loads of trails and lakes.

The Allison Grounds was maintained by a man we all loved or at least respected. his name was Deacon "Deak" Ferris. He was a hard working man who took no BS from anyone. He did all the maintenance and got the ball fields ready or lined for games. He created a skating and ice hockey rinks every winter. When it snowed and if you wanted to play hockey or skate you helped Deak. Often we did so well after dark. He often flooded the rinks after 11 PM. The ice was usually great. Our hockey rink was often as good as any indoor rink. We played games with teams from around the city.

Deak Ferris was like a second father to us. He taught us respect and the true meaning of making a contribution. Often when we are reunited we bring up Deak and what he taught us about living properly.

So for me early in my life hockey is synonymous with the name Deak Ferris. I can still see him just as I hope to always see Jean Beliveau.

Truly great men/women can come from various backgrounds

[Patler]

Harlan...12X1 mini-boards....

You couldn't lift the puck?

Pond hockey. Best thing there is for teaching actual passing.

[Patler]

I'll bet there isn't a pro hockey player prior to 1980 who has all of their teeth, certainly not the front choppers. Hate to ruin the romance for you, but those are dentures.

For some reason, I just thought of Gump Worsley, who played goalie in pro hockey from 1946-1974. I saw him play for Minnesota North Stars. He was the last goalie to play without a mask, he looked older than Father Time.

As a troubled teen, I stole lumber from a city building site and built a hockey rink in the backyard. My dad was a star hockey player in Duluth, and he approved of the initiative shown by my brother and I. Of course the lawn was destroyed, but that was small price. It was a bozo brand of hockey where some kids played in boots. Marijuana was part of the training table.

Harlan, did you grow up in Duluth?

[Patler]

we just shoveled the snow to make the border

We used a tractor and blade to scrape area in a field, banked the snow, then laid plastic on the ground and up the snow bank.

[woodbuck27]

Pond hockey. Best thing there is for teaching actual passing.

Ohh yes ! I played plenty of that.

Nothing like that rock hard fast fast ice but a good chase if you miss a pass.

[woodbuck27]

We used a tractor and blade to scrape area in a field, banked the snow, then laid plastic on the ground and up the snow bank.

Cool.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Harlan, did you grow up in Duluth?

I grew up (to the extent that happened) in Hudson, WI, the home of Deputy Nutz. My parents are both from Duluth, so I spent a lot of time there.

The mid 70's were a period of bitter cold in Twin Cities area, a hockey rink stayed frozen for about 3 or 4 months.