 |
Lanny McDonald hoisting the Stanley Cup in 1989, just after his Calgary Flames defeated the Montreal Canadiens. Source: https://halloffamers.sportshall.ca/?lanny_mcdonald&language=EN (May be subject to copyright) |
It was the climax of a career that took McDonald from Southern Alberta to Toronto, across the continent to the summit of the Rocky Mountains then up the range to Cowtown.
Everywhere he went, Lanny McDonald not only showed his talent and grit, but his class and grace.
That character was on display again earlier this week when McDonald took the Stanley Cup with him to visit a policeman who recently saved McDonald’s life.
The years before
Lanny McDonald grew up in Hanna and played his junior hockey first in Lethbridge then with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Canada Hockey League. I knew about his junior career with the Lethbridge Sugar Kings of the Alberta Junior Hockey League because my high school shop teacher, Mr. Dean Lawlor, had been at the high school at Lethbridge the same time McDonald was. Lawlor even had the high school yearbook with McDonald, and showed it to a bunch of us one day.
Lanny McDonald grew up in Hanna and played his junior hockey first in Lethbridge then with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Canada Hockey League. I knew about his junior career with the Lethbridge Sugar Kings of the Alberta Junior Hockey League because my high school shop teacher, Mr. Dean Lawlor, had been at the high school at Lethbridge the same time McDonald was. Lawlor even had the high school yearbook with McDonald, and showed it to a bunch of us one day.
McDonald was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs fourth overall in the 1973 NHL Entry Draft, and made his NHL debut in October of that same year. He would turn into a goal scorer, playmaker and all-star. He finished in the top 10 in scoring in the 1977-1978 and 1978-1979 seasons, played on Team Canada in the inaugural Canada Cup in 1976, and was part of the NHL all-star team who played the Soviet national team in the 1979 Challenge Cup.
What I will always remember most about McDonald in that period occurred in Game 7 of a second round playoff series against the New York Islanders. The Islanders were heavily favoured in that series after the 1977-1978 season, but the Leafs overcame a 2-0 series deficit and forced Game 7. McDonald then scored the series winner in overtime.
It was awesome, and extra special, because my friend Mike’s older brother loved the Islanders and wasn’t very gracious when they were winning.
This was another early experience with karma.
I just recently discovered McDonald had broken both his wrist and nose in that series.
As the 1970s turned to the 1980s, Lanny McDonald’s career would take some unexpected turns.
Rocky Mountain high
Prior to the 1979-1980 season, Punch Imlach became the general manager of the Leafs. He did not get along with team captain Darryl Sittler, and wanted to exert his power. He could not trade Sittler, as he wanted, because the captain had a no-trade clause in his contract. Instead, Imlach traded Sittler’s friends.
Prior to the 1979-1980 season, Punch Imlach became the general manager of the Leafs. He did not get along with team captain Darryl Sittler, and wanted to exert his power. He could not trade Sittler, as he wanted, because the captain had a no-trade clause in his contract. Instead, Imlach traded Sittler’s friends.
So, Lanny McDonald was shipped to the Colorado Rockies with Joel Quenneville, in exchange for Wilf Paiement and Pat Hickey.
That happened right before a nationally televised hockey game. I vividly remember Sittler had been so enraged by the trade he tore the captain “C” off his uniform. During the national anthem on “Hockey Night In Canada”, the camera panned past Sittler and I could see the threads dangling from where the “C” was.
McDonald had 15 goals and 15 assists in 35 games with the Leafs in the 1978-1979 season. H added 25 goals and 20 assists in 46 games in Colorado for a total of 40 goals and 35 assists for 75 points.
The 1980-1981 season would be McDonald’s only full year with the Rockies. He became the team’s captain and recorded 35 goals and 46 assists for 81 points in 80 games.
He started the 1981-1982 season with six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 16 games, then was on the move again.
The Calgary Flames acquired McDonald and a draft pick in exchange for Bob McMillan and Don Lever. He was going home, back to Alberta, and the fans would embrace him quickly as a local hero. He scored 34 goals and 33 assists in 55 games, giving him a total for the year of 40 goals and 42 assists for 82 points. He added an assist in three playoff games with the Flames.
He would play out the remainder of his career in Calgary.
Flaming success
McDonald’s first full season with the Flames, that 1982-1983 years, was statistically his best as a pro. He scored 66 goals and added 32 assists for 98 points, contributing another three goals and four assists for seven points in seven playoff games. He also started the 1983 NHL All-Star Game, was named a Second Team All-Star at the end of the season, and won the Bill Masterton Trophy for best exemplifying the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. His 66 goals remain a Flames club record.
McDonald’s first full season with the Flames, that 1982-1983 years, was statistically his best as a pro. He scored 66 goals and added 32 assists for 98 points, contributing another three goals and four assists for seven points in seven playoff games. He also started the 1983 NHL All-Star Game, was named a Second Team All-Star at the end of the season, and won the Bill Masterton Trophy for best exemplifying the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. His 66 goals remain a Flames club record.
The 1983-1984 season saw McDonald suffer the first of a number of injuries that would plague him the next few seasons. He missed 15 games, appearing in 65 games where he scored 33 goals and 33 assists for 66 points. He also had six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 11 playoff games. He did play in his fourth all-star game. He also had the distinction of scoring the first goal in the Olympic Saddledome, on October 15, 1983, the building’s opening night.
Injuries delayed the start to McDonald’s 1984-1985 season, and ultimately he appeared in just 43 games. Still he recorded 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points. He also appeared in one playoff game but was scoreless.
Cup run 1
The 1985-1986 season would be a magical one for the Calgary Flames. McDonald appeared in all 80 games for the Flames, contributing 28 goals and 43 assists for 71 points.
The 1985-1986 season would be a magical one for the Calgary Flames. McDonald appeared in all 80 games for the Flames, contributing 28 goals and 43 assists for 71 points.
The Flames eliminated the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in three straight games, setting up a showdown with the Edmonton Oilers who had mauled the Flames the previous two years in the playoffs. The Flames stood strong and upset the defending Stanley Cup champions in seven entertaining games.
They moved onto the Campbell Conference Final where the St. Louis Blues gave Calgary all they could handle, extending the series to seven games before the Flames finally prevailed.
Looming on the horizon in the Stanley Cup final was another Cinderella story, the upstart Montreal Canadiens. After the Flames won Game 1, the Habs stormed back with four straight wins to take the Stanley Cup. McDonald played in 22 playoff games, recording 11 goals and seven assists for 18 points.
Let down
Knee injuries again limited McDonald’s playing time. In the 1986-1987 season, he appeared in 59 games, scoring 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points. It was his lowest goal total since his rookie year. The playoffs were also a let down for the Flames and McDonald, as the defending conference champions were eliminated by Winnipeg in six games in the first round.
Let down
Knee injuries again limited McDonald’s playing time. In the 1986-1987 season, he appeared in 59 games, scoring 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points. It was his lowest goal total since his rookie year. The playoffs were also a let down for the Flames and McDonald, as the defending conference champions were eliminated by Winnipeg in six games in the first round.
The 1987-1988 season was not much better for either the Flames or McDonald. He appeared in 60 games, scoring a career-low 10 goals and adding 13 assists for 23 points.
The playoffs were another let down. After beating the Los Angeles Kings in five games in the first round, the Flames were swept by the Oilers in four straight in the second round. McDonald had three goals and an assist for four points in those nine playoff games.
That year he was also the inaugural winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. It is given to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and makes a significant humanitarian contribution to his community. McDonald earned it for his work with Special Olympics and the Alberta Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Cup run 2
The 1988-1989 season would very likely bey McDonald’s last as a Flame. There was a growing feeling he was past his prime and it was time to retire. Yet, he was co-captain with Jim Peplinski, and Tim Hunter was the assistant captain. McDonald played 60 games for the Flames, scoring 11 goals and seven assists for 18 points.
The 1988-1989 season would very likely bey McDonald’s last as a Flame. There was a growing feeling he was past his prime and it was time to retire. Yet, he was co-captain with Jim Peplinski, and Tim Hunter was the assistant captain. McDonald played 60 games for the Flames, scoring 11 goals and seven assists for 18 points.
The Flames opened the playoffs surviving a grueling seven-game series against the Canucks, swept the Kings in four straight, then beat Chicago in five games to advance to their second Stanley Cup final in four years. Once again awaiting them was the Montreal Canadiens.
This time things would be different. The teams would split the first four games, then Calgary won Game 5 in the Saddledome giving them a chance to win the Cup in the Montreal Forum.
The Flames came out hard and, with the game tied 1-1, McDonald stepped out of the penalty box, took a pass from Joe Nieuwendyk and beat Montreal goaltender Patrick Roy to give Calgary a 2-1 lead. Doug Gilmour made it 3-1 and for awhile it looked like McDonald would have the Stanley Cup winning goal. Then Rick Green scored for Montreal to close the gap to 3-2 and Gilmour added one more goal to make 4-2 the final score. Had Green not scored McDonald would have had the Cup winner.
What happened after the game is etched in my memory.
NHL President John Ziegler handed Lanny McDonald the Stanley Cup and he was the first to hoist it in the air in victory. I will always remember him smiling with a bushy red beard to match his trademark moustache, holding the Stanley Cup in triumph.
My brother, who at the time was a Flames fan, bought a special framed copy of the front page of the Calgary Herald with that same picture of McDonald.
Aftermath
That would be Lanny McDonald’s final game in the NHL, retiring shortly after the Stanley Cup final. He finished his career with 500 goals and 506 assists for 1,006 points in 1,111 games. He added 44 goals and 40 assists for 84 points in 117 playoff games.
That would be Lanny McDonald’s final game in the NHL, retiring shortly after the Stanley Cup final. He finished his career with 500 goals and 506 assists for 1,006 points in 1,111 games. He added 44 goals and 40 assists for 84 points in 117 playoff games.
He was selected to the Hockey Hall Of Fame in 1992; had his number retired by the Flames in 1990; was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1993; Canada’s Sports Hall Of Fame in 2017; and was named to the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2022.
Parting thoughts
What can you say about the career of Lanny McDonald? He accomplished everything a hockey player would want. Then he had a story book ending, winning the Stanley Cup in his very last game of professional hockey. It’s like a movie.
What can you say about the career of Lanny McDonald? He accomplished everything a hockey player would want. Then he had a story book ending, winning the Stanley Cup in his very last game of professional hockey. It’s like a movie.
Yet, what has always impressed me is his compassion and caring for others. All his work with Special Olympics and the Alberta Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is proof of that.
The latest example occurred earlier this year at Calgary International Airport, when he suffered a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest. Two nurses and a police officer revived McDonald by CPR. He showed his gratitude in a number of ways including taking the Stanley Cup to the police officer.
As great a hockey player as Lanny McDonald was, he is an even greater person.
No comments:
Post a Comment