THE CFB TRENTON POND HOCKEY CLASSIC
In 2012, Captain Jeff Moorhouse, on behalf of 436 (T) Squadron, organized a fun sports day pond hockey tournament to raise funds for the Military Family Fund “while promoting a healthy outdoor sport that fosters camaraderie and esprit de corps.” Rebranded as “The Classic” in 2013 this one day event expanded to two ice surfaces and two days of hockey plus a Gala fundraising dinner. Comedian Dave Hemstad, whose father formerly was in the R.C.A.F., waved his $6000 fee and kept the audience in stitches with his cleverly insightful and tasteful humour masterfully fulfilling his duties as Master of Ceremonies. Leaf legend Ron Ellis who played 1000 games over a 16 year career with the Toronto Maple Leafs during which he scored 640 goals and assists was the guest speaker. Ellis played on the 1967 Leaf team, the last to win the Stanley Cup for Toronto. In 1972 he played on Team Canada in the legendary Summit Series on a line featuring Bobby Clarke and Paul Henderson. Since retiring Ellis has been Director of public affairs for the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The stage presentation featured Ellis and his son R.J. a Legacy Herc pilot with 426 Sqn. R.J. would set the scene and his father would fill in the background details. Of note, Ellis’ father and father-in-law were both R.C.A.F. pilots. R.J. noted that flying seems to have had a generational leap in the Ellis family.
STORIES BEHIND THE STORIES
Ellis began playing hockey in North Bay where his dad was posted. At 13 they were living in Ottawa when Leaf coach Punch Imlach and Leaf icon King Clancy paid him a visit. “My dad told me to go upstairs to my bedroom,” Ellis recalled. Imlach and Clancy wanted Ron to move to Toronto to play in the Marlies organization. “I left home at 14.”
In high school Ellis recalls teachers getting on his case for homework not completed, assignments not turned in. “Hockey players are a dime a dozen,” he often heard.
One Friday evening Punch Imlach called Ellis and said Toronto was playing Montreal the next night and he wanted Ellis to play. “I figured that I wouldn’t play much but would have a good view of the game from the bench.”
Before heading out on the ice Imlach announced the opening lineup. Ellis was to start the game. One time Jean Beliveau skated by and an awestruck Ellis reached out and touched him. Later Imlach told Ellis to cover Montreal tough guy John Ferguson. “I can see him just fine from here coach,” he replied. During the game Ellis drew a Montreal penalty, Toronto scored, and won the game 1-0. “I had no more trouble with teachers after that!”
Ellis played on the Junior A Toronto Marlboroughs and coach Ron Gregory suggested that Ellis shift from centre to right wing in his last year of junior hockey when they eventually won the Memorial Cup. Gregory knew there would be one opening on the Stanley Cup winning Leafs and it would be right wing. Although he preferred centre Ellis took Gregory’s advice, ultimately made the Leaf team and of course won the Stanley Cup during Canada’s Centennial year. Ellis was 21. His tip for success? “Listen to advice and opportunity may knock. It’s a matter of timing.”
Before playing for the Leafs, Ellis deliberated about going to the U.S. on a hockey scholarship. He wasn’t certain he would make the Toronto team. The Toronto papers reported this and Don Cherry, then with Toronto, thought Ellis was nuts so he would teach him a lesson.
During a blue/white scrimmage Cherry caught Ellis with his head down and decked him. “I still remember it,” recounted Ellis.
Many years later, on Cherry’s Grapevine show, Don told Ron that following that hit Imlach reproached him saying “Cherry, you two-bit player. Leave my million dollar player alone.”
Ellis told Cherry that he wished Cherry had told him that at the time as “I was only making $10,000.”
On route to winning the Stanley Cup in 1967 game 6 was in Toronto. “We had to win,” said Ellis. “There was no way we would have defeated Montreal in Montreal; especially considering they were hosting Expo and wanted the cup on display.” Punch had a rule – smoking only in the washroom. Ellis, Tim Horton and Red Kelly were left alone in the dressing room. “I looked over and Horton and Kelly were sitting, heads together, dozing….Everything is under control I thought.”
THE SUMMIT SERIES
Readers may recall that Russia dominated amateur hockey in the early 70s and Alan Eagleson orchestrated a series to pit “our pros” against the Russians. In those days the pros didn’t train the year round but waited for training camp. “We thought we would have an easy go with the Russians and treated the series as training camp,” said Ellis. “We treated this as an all star game when we got together with players from other teams for whom we had little love.” In short, the Russians thumped the pros in North America. So off they went for two days in Sweden – in theory to be a celebratory holiday for they had expected to be in command of the series. “We played two exhibition games there and under the inspiration of Phil Esposito we started to meld as a team.” Espo told us to ditch our egos. “We had 4 games in Russia and had to win 3 to win the series. A tie was as good as a loss.”
The Russians had agreed that the players’ wives would stay with them. At the last moment the Russians reneged. “I didn’t want to be the one to tell my wife,” said Ellis. “The Russians may have feared us. They should have feared our wives.”
The players unanimously voted to go home unless the Russians recanted. Sensing victory, the Russians relinquished and the wives stayed with their husbands. That episode, combined with the Black Market stealing half of their team supplies, including beer, really “annoyed and motivated us.”
During the first game in Russia Canada took a 4-1 lead but lost 5-4. Now they had to win all three remaining games. “Many know that Paul Henderson scored the winning goal to win the Summit Series for Canada,” said Ellis. “They have overlooked the fact that Henderson scored the winning goal in each of the last 3 games.”
GAME 8 – FINAL MOMENTS
With seconds remaining in game 8, the game tied, Pete Mahovlich’s line was on the ice when Henderson stood up and shouted for Mahovlich to get off the ice. “Players just didn’t do that,” said Ellis. “Mahovlich must have thought it was Coach Harry Sinden yelling so he came off.”
Henderson jumped over the boards with 34 seconds remaining in the game and made a beeline to the Russian net, and as everyone knows, scored to win the series. Russian coach Tarasov, the Father of Russian hockey, said, “We can match the Canadians in skill and fitness but not in heart!”
During the two-day “Classic” tournament won by Health Services, Defence Minister Peter MacKay dropped by for a ceremonial puck drop. So, how well did the expanded “Classic” fare? In its first year they raised $6700.00; in just its second year, on a cold blustery April 3rd, 2013, the organizers presented a cheque for $26,000 to the MFF and $750.00 towards the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial.
Photos: Ron Ellis and son R.J; Dave Hemstad.