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RICK MacLEAN: Saturday night was hockey night. And I was Ken Dryden

There was a rule. At least, I had a rule. And he broke it. So he had to pay.

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“If you poke my glove hand with that stick again I’ll cut your head off with my goalie stick.”

He turned white, backed up and turned away. He didn’t try to jar the ball loose with his stick again. We won the game.

“Why aren’t you playing varsity hockey with us on the school team?” one of the defencemen asked me after the tournament – which we won – was over.

Sadly, real hockey is played on skates, unlike road hockey. And my skating was never up to the mark.

But my willingness to guard the net wearing my goalie gear was, apparently, more than up to snuff. Good to know.

Saturday night tradition

I’d had years of practice. After all, it was hockey. And I’d been watching it on TV, courtesy of Hockey Night in Canada – da-da-da-da da daaaah (go ahead, you know the theme song) – since my grandfather started inviting me to watch the game with him every Saturday night.

He’d always fall asleep. I’d always cheer for the Montreal Canadiens.

Now it’s over.........

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