Hall of Fame Smorgasbord

Interesting interview with Bobby Hull and Phil Esposito over the weekend.   They were talking about the good old days back when Espo was a rookie playing for the Blackhawks in the early 60's. Evidently, these guys spent many a late night on the town - I'm sure that shocks you all.  Hull, Esposito, Kenny Wharram and Chico Maki were the chief participants who would come back to the hotel really hungry after a night of hard drinking and carousing.  Back then there were no late night food joints open, so they canvassed all floors of the hotel and confiscated guest leftovers that were left outside the rooms.  Yes, hamburgers with one or two bites taken out of them.  They took the "stash" back to one their rooms and had a feast.  They actually did this on numerous occasions and in the interview reminisced fondly at recollection of these antics.  

Automatic Notifications of Blog Updates - RSS Feeds or Twitter

Two easy ways to know when new content is published to my blog:  

1) RSS Feeds.  At the bottom left side of my blog there is a link that says 'Atom'.  You right click on that link, select copy link, then add that link to whichever feed reader you use.  I use Google Reader.  Easy! 

2) Twitter.  Become a subscriber to my Twitter account 'neilrherron'.  I will post 'tweets' each time I publish new content.  

Feedback From Top Massachusetts High School Hockey List

We had some interesting feedback to my December 12, 2010 blog entry entitled The Top Massachusetts High School Hockey Players of All Time.  My nephew, graduate of Reading HS, suggested Sean Collins and Steve Saviano.  One of my friends, a former Boston College graduate, suggested Brian Boyle (St. Sebastian's) and Kevin Stevens (Silver Lake).  Bias notwithstanding, some notable suggestions to the list.  

We also had feedback from a NHL scout in the Boston-area.  He put together a really good list by position:


Forwards
Robbie Ftorek
Bobby Carpenter
David Silk
Jeremy Roenick
Tony Amonte
Mike Fidler
Ralph Cox
George Hughes
Mark Fidler

Defense
Rod Langway
Jack O’Callahan
Mark Fusco
Dukie Walsh
Jack Hughes
Tom Poti

Goalies
Tom Barasso
Mark Holden

Honorable Mentions
Bobby Miller
Freddie Ahearn
John Cunniff
Greg Brown

Not a bad team at all!

The Top Massachusetts High School Hockey Players of All Time

I have been asked on a number of occasions "Who were the best players in the history of Massachusetts high school hockey?"  The response is typically the players listed below:

1. Robbie Ftorek, Needham
2. Richie Hebner, Norwood (yes Pirates fans, that Richie Hebner)
3. Rod Langway, Randolph
4. Bob Carpenter, St. John's
5. Tom Barrasso, Acton-Boxborough
6. Mike Fidler, Malden Catholic
7. George Hughes, Malden Catholic
8. Dave Silk, Thayer Academy
9. Tony Amonte, Thayer Academy
10. Jeremy Roenick, Thayer Academy 
11. Bob Sunderland, Braintree 

Choosing the Top Ten Players was not an easy task, so as a result I have made an honorable mention list:

1. Ralph Cox, Archbishop Williams (last guy cut from 1980 Olympic Team)
2. Randy Millen, Oliver Ames
3. Jack O'Callahan, Boston Latin
4. Cap Raeder, Needham
5. Dukie Walsh, Matignon
6. Bill O'Dwyer, Don Bosco
7. Mark Holden, Weymouth
8. Tom Glavine, Billerica (yes Braves fans, he played hockey)
9. Bob McDonald, Winthrop
10. Mark Fidler, Matignon
11. Ted Donato, Catholic Memorial
12. Shawn McEachern, Matignon
13. Cleon Daskalakis, Thayer Academy
14. Kevin Coughlin, South Boston