TORONTO (June 11) – I find it rather difficult to believe it was a quarter century ago that I began my tenure at CJCL AM-1430 – destined to become Canada’s first all-sports radio station. More accurately, it was 25 years ago that I fell into my radio career.

With not a day’s experience in the field, I was hired by general manager Doug Ackhurst and director of network sports Allan Davis at the princely sum of $270 per week. Given my innumerable attempts at breaking into the biz, I probably would have worked for free. CJCL was best known as voice of the Toronto Blue Jays, then building toward consecutive World Series titles half-a-decade down the road. With lucrative broadcasting rites to the ball club about to expire – and much competition expected from other radio outlets – the Jays urged CJCL management to increase its sports profile beyond just airing games. Somewhere out there was a cheap hire willing to schlep a microphone and tape recorder to press gatherings around the city.

Enter moi.

And, so began – on May 30, 1988 – an extremely rewarding term of 23 years at what is now called Sportsnet-590. As many of you are likely aware, the bulk of my term at the radio station was spent following the Maple Leafs around North America, a task I thoroughly enjoyed between 1994 and 2010. In the years prior to assuming the full time hockey beat, I had the thrill of  covering the Blue Jays through their seasons atop Major League Baseball – attending the American League Championship and World Series in 1992 and 1993.

WHILE COVERING HOCKEY, I’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO KNOW COUNTLESS PEOPLE IN THE GAME, NONE BETTER THAN LOS ANGELES KINGS COACH DARRYL SUTTER – POSING WITH ME HERE AT THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK DURING HIS CLUB’S STANLEY CUP ROMP LAST SPRING. I WAS STANDING ON THE ARENA FLOOR, LOOKING AT A CONCERT SET-UP, WHEN DARRYL CAME BY AND INSISTED WE TAKE A PHOTO. LIKE HIS HOCKEY BROTHERS FROM VIKING, ALTA., HE IS A TERRIFIC MAN.

From the perspective of covering sport here in Toronto – and despite the preponderance of hockey – my most vivid memories were provided by the Blue Jays. The run-up to their consecutive championships was incredible because Toronto had become a baseball-first city in the mid-to-late-80′s. That may seem odd to a young sports fan today, but there’s absolutely no question the Blue Jays usurped the Maple Leafs between 1985 and 1993.

By the time the Jays finished teasing their fans – the club lost the American League Championship Series in 1985 (to Kansas City); 1989 (to Oakland) and 1991 (to Minnesota) – the perfect storm had erupted.

In January 1992, the Leafs acquired Doug Gilmour from Calgary. In September ’92, CJCL became The Fan-1430, our country’s first stab at all-sports radio. One month later, the Jays knocked off Oakland in the ALCS and defeated Atlanta to finally win the World Series. April and May of 1993 brought the euphoric Stanley Cup challenge of Gilmour and the Leafs, who lost Game 7 of the Conference championship to Wayne Gretzky and Los Angeles Kings. October ’93 saw the Jays beat Chicago in the ALCS and Philadelphia in the World Series on Joe Carter’s “touch ‘em all” home run at SkyDome. Simultaneously, Leafs were setting an NHL record by winning their first 10 games of the ’93-94 season en route to another berth in the Stanley Cup semifinals, where they lost to Pat Quinn and the Vancouver Canucks.

What a time it was here in the Big Smoke.

In my years at the radio station, I covered the Stanley Cup final 17 times; the NHL All-Star Game eight times, and every NHL Draft between 1992 and 2010. I attended the baseball All-Star Game here in Toronto (1991); in San Diego (1992) and Pittsburgh (1994). I covered Super Bowl XXVII in Pasadena, Calif. when Dallas clobbered Buffalo. Speaking of the Bills, I attended the majority of their home games as a reporter from 1989 to 1994, including AFC Championship wins over Los Angeles Raiders (January 1991) and Kansas City (January 1994). I covered the final Blue Jays game at Exhibition Stadium and the first  game at SkyDome (now Rogers Centre). I also covered the final hockey games at Maple Leaf Gardens, Chicago Stadium and Pittsburgh Mellon Arena, and the first Leafs game at Air Canada Centre. I went to Stockholm and Helsinki for the Leafs 2003 training camp; to Innsbruck and Vienna for the 2005 World Hockey Championships. Between 1988 and 2004, I covered 147 Maple Leaf playoff games. I was assigned the Atlanta Summer Olympics in 1996 and the past four Winter Games – Nagano (1998); Salt Lake City (2002); Turin (2006) and Vancouver (2010). In September 1990, I went to Tokyo to cover the International Olympic Committee session that awarded the ’96 Games to Atlanta. Toronto was among the finalists.

And, my long-time affection for the Canadian Football League was highlighted by covering the Grey Cup in 1988-89-91-92-94-96 and 2004. Argonauts won the championship in ’91 (Winnipeg Stadium); ’96 (a snowstorm in Hamilton) and ’04 (Lansdowne Park, Ottawa) .

As mentioned, a truly rewarding experience from beginning to end.

With all of these assignments, it isn’t easy to narrow best memories. After some careful consideration, however, I’ve come up with a Top 10.

OCT. 25, 1992 – ATLANTA: From the perspective of a born-and-raised Torontonian, nothing in my radio career surpassed the moment the Blue Jays won their first of consecutive World Series. Having viewed most of Game 6 in the ’92 Series from an auxiliary press holding in Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium, I walked around to our Telemedia broadcast booth behind home plate. From that spot – standing next to colleague Scott Ferguson and behind play callers Tom Cheek and Jerry Howarth – I watched as Otis Nixon of the Braves bunted a ball toward pitcher Mike Timlin, who corralled it and and quickly tossed to Joe Carter at first base. As Carter leaped with joy, Blue Jay players stormed out of the visitors’ dugout to celebrate the initial World Series championship by a team outside the United States.

MY 1992 AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP AND WORLD SERIES CREDENTIALS.

FEB. 24, 2002 – SALT LAKE CITY: After the bitter disappointment for Canada at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan – a team of our country’s best NHLers failing to win a medal – it was delightful to be among media four years later when Canada broke a 50-year championship drought. That the victory occurred against the United States on American soil made it even more special. Prior to the game – outside the arena – Walter Gretzky, father of Team Canada’s executive director (I think you know his name), had an enormous crowd of people gathered around him as he led cheers while holding a Canadian flag. Inside the E Center, the environment was unlike anything I had experienced – only to be topped eight years later in Vancouver. Leafs coach Pat Quinn was behind the bench for a 5-2 gold medal conquest of the host country in which Canada pulled away with goals in the final four minutes by Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla. In my reporting role back home, I wasn’t getting along particularly well with Quinn at the time, but I remember feeling extraordinarily happy for him when he walked onto the ice to accept his medal. I’ll also never forget the scenery when I left the rink late in the afternoon – the setting sun casting a gold radiance on the snow-covered Wasatch Mountain range east of Salt Lake City. What a day. 

REAR OF MY LEATHER JACKET FROM THE 2002 WINTER OLYMPICS IN SALT LAKE CITY.

JUNE 14, 1994 – NEW YORK: Covering Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup final at Madison Square Garden is embedded in my mind for a crowd noise I have never heard – before or since. I was standing between center-ice and the blue-line, behind the team benches, when the Rangers knocked off Vancouver, 3-2, to win their first NHL title in 54 years. Obviously, there was unfettered joy at the final buzzer. But, the sound I’ll remember occurred with about 20 seconds left when the Rangers – after Canucks swarmed goalie Mike Richter and came within inches of tying the match –  finally cleared the zone. What happened in the Garden at that moment wasn’t so much a noise as a reverberation. The building literally shuddered, as fans stomped in excitement and relief. By comparison, the roar when the clock expired was conservative; New Yorkers finally able to celebrate a hockey championship.

MAY 27, 1993 – INGLEWOOD, California: Having attended roughly 1,400 Maple Leaf games as a reporter, there is one that stands out – by quite a margin – to this day. Until Boston overcame that 4-1 Leafs lead at TD Garden last month, it was also the most debated and discussed match involving the Blue and White. Game 6 of the 1993 Stanley Cup semifinals at Los Angeles Forum provided Leafs an opportunity to play Montreal for the NHL championship. The story line is old and annoying for hockey fans in this city: Leafs overcoming a 4-2 deficit in the third period to force overtime, whereupon Wayne Gretzky accidentally cut Doug Gilmour with the follow-through of a shot; was permitted to remain in the match, and scored the winning goal seconds later with former teammate Glenn Anderson in the penalty box for Toronto. What I most remember, though, also involved a once-in-a-lifetime noise. It happened the moment Wendel Clark tied the game in the final minute of regulation – coming off the bench to take Gilmour’s feed and whip a 30-foot shot past Kelly Hrudey. Again, it was a combination sound and feeling, as 16,000 devastated  L.A. fans slumped into their seats: a collective gasp and whomp! The Forum became so quiet you could hear Leaf players bellowing in excitement on the visitors’ bench. But, Kings had the last laugh – Gretzky and Co. advancing to the Cup final with another victory two nights later at Maple Leaf Gardens.   

PHOTOS I SNAPPED TWO SUMMERS AGO OF FREEWAY EXIT TO – AND EXTERIOR OF – LOS ANGELES FORUM: SITE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE LEAFS GAME I HAVE COVERED.

OCT. 11, 1992 – OAKLAND: If the World Series triumph in Atlanta was the most memorable moment from my years covering sport at The FAN-590, this one – two weeks earlier – was the most important in Blue Jays history. Still is, nearly 21 years later. Any person remotely familiar with baseball here in Toronto has seen a replay of Roberto Alomar’s dramatic home run off Dennis Eckersley in Game 4 of the 1992 American League Championship Series. I was fortunate to be in the Oakland Coliseum that day and see it live – from roughly 25 feet. With the A’s leading, 6-4, I left the press box to wait in line outside the visitors’ clubhouse. For a reason I still cannot explain, I stepped out of line and walked down the ramp toward a fenced-in area beside the Blue Jays’ dugout. From that location – standing next to Jerry Howarth – I watched Alomar launch his game-tying, two-run homer to right field off Eckersley in the top of the ninth inning. I can still see the Toronto second-baseman throwing his arms in the air as soon as the ball left his bat. It erased a 6-1 Oakland lead and led to a 7-6 victory in 11 innings that provided Blue Jays a 3-1 lead in the ALCS. Without Alomar’s clutch hit, most believe the Jays would not have made it to the World Series against Atlanta. Toronto lost Game 5 in Oakland but eliminated the A’s at SkyDome in Game 6.

THIS WAS ESSENTIALLY MY ANGLE, AT FIELD LEVEL IN THE OAKLAND COLISEUM, OF ROBERTO ALOMAR’S DRAMATIC HOME RUN OFF DENNIS ECKERSLEY, OCT. 11, 1992.

FEB. 24, 2010 – VANCOUVER: Eight years to the day of Canada’s gold medal victory in Salt Lake City, I was back at the Winter Olympics – this time on home turf – for the most emotionally charged hockey game of my life. Interestingly, it was not the day of Sidney Crosby’s “golden goal.” I had the privilege of covering that moment, as well, for the radio station. This one occurred four nights earlier, when Canada faced Russia in the quarterfinals at Rogers Arena (re-named Canada Hockey Place during the Vancouver Games). It has long been said that Canadian hockey fans are conservative by nature… and by comparison, particularly to their European counterparts. Not on this night. Though a rivalry with the U.S. has developed in the previous decade-and-a-half – the neighboring countries meeting for Gold in the 1996 World Cup and the 2002 Winter Olympics – nothing in Vancouver compared to the raucous environment for the Canada-Russia playoff. This was a Canadian crowd like I had never seen and it reinforced the notion that our country’s true rival – established in the famed September 1972 series – was the Russians. The noise began in the warm-up and only let up during intermissions. That Canada waltzed to a 7-3 victory enhanced the din from 17,740 fanatics. It was truly a remarkable experience. There was obvious excitement for the Gold Medal game four days later against the U.S. and a wild explosion when Crosby scored in overtime. The inclusive environment, however, did not come close to the match against Russia.

FEB. 10, 1990 – HARTFORD: There was nothing particularly notable about this occasion, but it ranks in my personal Top 10 because I worked with Joe Bowen on the radio broadcast of the Leafs-Whalers game. It was the first of four such assignments prior to CJCL-1430 losing the Leaf rights in the summer of 1995. I was in Hartford as part of an annual driving trip with colleague Chris Mayberry, then working for the old CKEY radio station (on the AM-590 band we would ultimately assume). Chris and I attended four games in two days! We drove to Boston on Friday and saw the Bruins and Islanders at the old Boston Garden on Saturday afternoon. Then we made the two-hour drive south to Connecticut – a nerve-racking journey with stop-and-go traffic. I had to arrive by the 7:30 puck-drop and we made it to the Hartford Civic Center with about a half-hour to spare. Up in the broadcast booth, I wondered if Joe if he had any tips. “Just have fun, Howie,” he replied… and I certainly did. Leafs were annihilated, 6-2, by the Whalers, so I wasn’t sure if Joe would ask me back. But, I called two other games with him – a home encounter against Detroit and a Saturday night road match in December 1990 against Gretzky and the Kings at the L.A. Forum. In April 1995 – my first season traveling, full time, with the Leafs – I worked a game in St. Louis with Ken Daniels, who has been TV voice of the Detroit Red Wings since 1997. As for the remainder of my weekend trip with Chris, we saw two games on Sunday: Calgary at New York Rangers in the afternoon; Pittsburgh at Philadelphia in the evening. On the way home, we stopped in Bethel, N.Y. and saw the site of the legendary Woodstock Music Festival in August 1969.

MEDIA CREDENTIAL AND PROGRAM FROM THE MAPLE LEAFS FINAL GAME AGAINST THE WHALERS IN HARTFORD – A 3-1 LOSS ON JAN. 20, 1997. WHALERS WOULD MOVE TO GREENSBORO, N.C. THE FOLLOWING SEASON AND BECOME THE HURRICANES.

JULY 27, 1996 – ATLANTA: Nearly four years after covering the Blue Jays first World Series championship, I was back in Atlanta for the 1996 Summer Olympics. These Games will forever be recalled in our country for gold medals won by Donovan Bailey in the men’s 100 meters and by the Canadian 4×100-meter relay team. I was fortunate to cover both events, but it was Bailey’s triumph – on a humid Saturday night at Olympic Stadium (now Turner Field, home of the Braves) – that stands out. First, the men’s 100 meter final is the glamour event of the Summer Olympics. Second, I was in a tremendous location to cover the race – in the upper deck at roughly the 80-meter mark. The runners passed directly below me from left to right. And, third, as a Canadian, it obviously had special meaning when Bailey prevailed. Though no reporter from our country actually cheered the result (taboo in any press location), we were all standing when the gun sounded. It was a remarkable 9.84 seconds – a world record at the time. The 4×100 triumph one week later – same place, a bit earlier in the evening – was also thrilling, as the Canadian relay team of Bailey, Bruny Surin, Robert Esmie and Glenroy Gilbert defeated the host Americans by half-a-second.

MAY 25, 1989 – MONTREAL: The first Stanley Cup final I covered for the radio station turned into an historic event – the only time a visiting team paraded the silver mug around the ice at Montreal Forum. That team was the Calgary Flames, who beat Canadiens, 4-2, in Game 6 to win the first and only Stanley Cup in franchise history (which dates to Atlanta in 1972-73). With the cramped press box at the Forum, I was situated in an auxiliary location – the upper-white seats that literally hung over the south goal in the Ste. Catherine St. end of the building. Apart from the historic significance, this game had some personal meaning. Lanny McDonald – the prolific winger I had cheered as a Leaf in the 1970′s – scored a big goal for Calgary in the third period. It was Lanny’s final goal, and game, in the NHL. After arriving home the following day, I contacted McDonald’s former line-mate in Toronto – Darryl Sittler – and got a reaction. I don’t remember exactly what Darryl told me, but the strength of his friendship with McDonald was so palpable in the way he spoke. For trivia buffs, a future Leaf – Doug Gilmour – scored the game-winning goal for Calgary on that unforgettable night 24 years ago.   

THE MONTREAL FORUM IN 1991. TWO YEARS EARLIER, I WAS SITTING IN THE UPPER-WHITE SEATS BEHIND THE GOAL IN THIS PHOTO. FROM THERE, I WATCHED AS CALGARY FLAMES BECAME THE ONLY VISITING TEAM TO WIN THE STANLEY CUP ON FORUM ICE.

JAN. 31, 1993 – PASADENA: Given that the Super Bowl is the largest annual sporting event in the world, I’ll be able to tell my grandchildren I covered one such game: the 27th edition, at the Rose Bowl, following the 1992 NFL season. I won’t be able to tell them I saw much of a contest, as Dallas obliterated Buffalo, 52-17. It was the second of four straight AFC championships for the Bills – an accomplishment that has never been appropriately recognized; engulfed, rather, by mockery for losing all four Super Bowls. This result didn’t help. The Cowboys’ mini dynasty (three NFL titles in four years) – led by Troy Aikman, Emmett Smith, Michael Irvin and Co. – was underway, with owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jimmy Johnson providing a comical side-show. What I remember most about this game occurred long after it had been decided. I was walking down steps adjacent to the west end zone at the Rose Bowl – on my way to the dressing rooms – when a commotion stirred. You might recall Dallas linebacker Leon Lett casually loping toward the Buffalo goal-line after recovering a late-game fumble. Out of nowhere – and for no reason except pride – Bills receiver Donald Beebe tracked down Lett and knocked the football out of his hand before he could score the Cowboys’ 58th point. The incredible play happened 30 feet in front of me.       

SOUVENIR SEAT-CUSHION PROVIDED TO MEDIA AT THE ONLY SUPER BOWL I COVERED FOR THE FAN-590. IT WAS BUFFALO’S THIRD OF FOUR CONSECUTIVE APPEARANCES IN THE NFL CHAMPIONSHIP; BILLS WERE DEMOLISHED BY TROY AIKMAN AND THE DALLAS COWBOYS, 52-17, BEFORE 98,374 FANS AT THE ROSE BOWL.

OTHER STUFF…

WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES – 2002 SALT LAKE CITY (LEFT); 2006 TURINO, ITALY (RIGHT).

2006 BUFFALO/CAROLINA EASTERN FINAL (LEFT): HURRICANES WON IN SEVEN AND WENT ON TO DEFEAT EDMONTON FOR THE STANLEY CUP. LEAFS/THRASHERS AT PHILIPS ARENA IN ATLANTA (RIGHT): ALREADY A COLLECTOR’S ITEM.  

LEAF GAMES AT PHILADELPHIA – NINE DAYS APART – IN 2006-07 SEASON.

1991 MAJOR LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME HERE IN TORONTO (LEFT); STILL WONDERING WHO “HOWARD BEURGER” IS, 14 YEARS AFTER THIS LEAFS GAME IN VANCOUVER.

ANAHEIM DEFEATED OTTAWA IN FIVE GAMES TO WIN 2007 STANLEY CUP.

EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM

TWITTER: BERGER_BYTES

FACEBOOK: HOWARD BERGER [THORNHILL ON]

TORONTO (June 6) – Like most of us with a sporting interest, I’ve made some lousy predictions in my day – too many, in fact, to count.

But, I’ve been pretty darned good with the Stanley Cup final.

At the beginning of 2009-10, for example, I had Chicago vs. Philadelphia and nailed it, though I picked the wrong horse (Flyers). Last year, it was Los Angeles and Boston, with Bruins prevailing for a second consecutive spring (half wrong again). I didn’t make a pick at the start of the current season because I had no inkling what might unfold in a 48-game sprint. But, I’m darned proud of this passage from my Apr. 29 submission here:

[About the Toronto-Boston opening-round series]: My gut feeling – Bruins will struggle to a six-game triumph over the Leafs and then get on a big-time roll in the Stanley Cup tournament.

STANLEY CUP PICK:

CHICAGO OVER BOSTON IN 6.

Not bad so far, but guess what? I picked the wrong horse again.

Boston is going to win the Stanley Cup this spring. Since the Bruins and Maple Leafs were tied at three games last month, Claude Julien’s team is undefeated in regulation with an 8-and-1 record – its only loss occurring in overtime of Game 4 against New York Rangers in the second round.

With Tuukka Rask playing lights out, the Bruins simply do not have a weakness. They can beat an opponent along the boards with muscle and through the middle of the ice with speed. All four lines are superb and the club has invaluable championship experience, with 17 players having won the Cup two years ago against Vancouver.

As in 2011, Boston survived a major scare in the opening playoff round – Nathan Horton scoring in overtime of Game 7 to eliminate Montreal. Unlike 2011, however, Bruins have been in cruise control since Round 1. Two years ago, a four-game sweep of Philadelphia was followed by a seven-game marathon with Tampa Bay in the Conference final – Boston prevailing, 1-0, in the deciding match. For a third time, Bruins went the distance against Vancouver in the Cup final – Zdeno Chara lifting the mug at Rogers Arena.

Barring a miraculous recovery by Pittsburgh, the Bruins will be fresh for the championship round this spring. They will miss the courageous Gregory Campbell, who displayed some of his father’s grit by gutting out a shift Thursday night at TD Garden with a broken leg. For those unaware, Colin Campbell was a tough, uncompromising defenseman with Pittsburgh, Colorado, Edmonton, Vancouver and Detroit between 1974 and 1985. With Bruins’ depth and speed, just about every forward on the roster can kill  a penalty, so the club should be able to withstand the loss of Campbell.

The 2013 Cup final is likely to be a long one, with Chicago or Los Angeles providing stiff competition. But, it’s nearly impossible to conceive of the Bruins – performing as they are – losing four of seven games.

Once again, I called the right team but the wrong horse.

JAROMIR JAGR OF THE BRUINS GOT AWAY WITH A HOOK ON EVGENI MALKIN, LEADING TO THE RUSH THAT ENDED THURSDAY’S TERRIFIC GAME 3 – PATRICE BERGERON RE-DIRECTING BRAD MARCHAND’S NIFTY FEED LATE IN THE SECOND OVERTIME PERIOD. CBC IMAGES

LEAFS LOOKING AT GOALIE DEPTH

In a smart move, it appears that Maple Leafs general manager David Nonis will add a veteran goalie to the club this summer. A source in New York claims – unsubstantiated – that Tim Thomas could be heading this way, but there are several candidates to pair with James Reimer.

A number of my Twitter followers ask “Why?” Clearly, they haven’t paid attention to Pittsburgh in the playoffs this spring. Though Penguins are on life support against the powerful Bruins, they would not have survived their opening-round match up against the Islanders without Tomas Vokoun. The value of a proven NHL back-up arose when Marc-Andre Fleury flamed out for a second consecutive spring. Chicago has alternately relied on Corey Crawford and Ray Emery this season. Los Angeles has a prime substitute in Jonathan Bernier, who would start in goal for a dozen NHL teams. Boston called upon unproven Anton Khudobin 14 times in the regular season and he rang up a 9-4-1 record and 2.32 goals-against average.

But, Khudobin – in my view – is an exception rather than the rule.

Most NHL clubs will recede without their No. 1 netminder – particularly those that are blessed with a front-line starter (Rask, Martin Brodeur, Henrik Lundqvist, Jimmy Howard, Antti Niemi, Cam Ward to name a few). The Pittsburgh situation is unique in the playoffs, though such teams as Ottawa, Anaheim, Washington and St. Louis benefited in the regular season from a pair of NHL-caliber goalkeepers. In no other position is depth  so critical.

TOMAS VOKOUN HAS BEEN INVALUABLE FOR PITTSBURGH SINCE TAKING OVER IN ROUND 1 FROM SHAKY MARC-ANDRE FLEURY. LEAFS NEED SIMILAR VETERAN DEPTH.

Leafs have Reimer and Ben Scrivens – an adequate tandem though hardly one with Stanley Cup credentials. Reimer proved he can favorably handle an abbreviated schedule and he came up big on more than one occasion in the playoffs. Still, he has a couple of bugaboos: rebound control and glove-hand coverage. I can’t imagine even the most ardent Leaf supporter thinking that Scrivens can lead the club to a championship. So, the position requires upgrading for Leafs to have any chance of going deep into the playoffs.

Reimer has an exceptional grasp on life in the big league – demonstrated by his ability to shake off Nonis’s attempt at acquiring Miikka Kiprusoff from Calgary at the trade deadline. In no way would Reimer become shaken, emotionally, with the addition of a proven colleague. Thomas certainly fits the bill, though cheaper alternatives will be available on the open market this summer – potentially among them Evgeni Nabokov, Nikloai Khabibulin, Mike Smith, Jose Theodore and Emery. All have substantially more experience than either of the Maple Leafs’ current puck stoppers.

Therefore, expect a move between the pipes before next season.

EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM

TWITTER: BERGER_BYTES

FACEBOOK: HOWARD BERGER [THORNHILL ON]

TORONTO (June 3) – Though it appears all but certain that NHL players will take part in the Winter Olympics for a fifth term, an official announcement has yet to be made. Time is clearly of the essence given the 2014 Games at Sochi, Russia begin in just more than nine months, and that the NHL must soon release its 2013-14 schedule. I’m told two versions are on the table: one comprised of a break from Feb. 9-25; the other without interruption.

While a couple of prime matters were raised last month by Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly – the resolution of player insurance and approval for the league to self-market the hockey tournament on its website and TV network – a third, underlying consideration may rank ahead of both.

Since the advent of NHL competition at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, league personnel have been treated as third-class citizens by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and – by extension – the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). This may seem petty and insignificant to a fan of the game, but it’s been a colossal annoyance for Gary Bettman and all other league governors. I saw the obstructive tactics and resentment first-hand at the four Winter Olympics I covered for The Fan-590. It was unwarranted; disrespectful and completely out of line.

After the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway, the IOC and IIHF began to consider the inclusion of “professionals” for the ’98 Japan Olympics. In the wake of the famed 1972 summit series between Canada and the Soviet Union, it was crystal-clear that Russian players were of professional caliber, and were being compensated – in one form or another – by the Communist regime. Still, the IOC and IIHF considered the players “amateurs” and forbade the top “professionals” in North America from competing.

The trend began to change during the 1977 World Hockey Championships in Vienna when Canada returned after an eight-year absence with a team full of NHL players. Bill Watters was general manager and Johnny Wilson coached the club, which included such NHL stars as Phil Esposito, Tony Esposito, Rod Gilbert, Pierre Larouche, Wilf Paiement and Jean Pronovost. Despite the league presence, Canada finished a disappointing fourth behind gold medalist Czechoslovakia, Sweden and the Soviet Union.  

In 1995, after years of lobbying, an agreement was finally reached between the IOC, IIHF, NHL and NHL Players Association for the top performers in the world’s best league to compete in the men’s hockey tournament three years later in Nagano. The Japanese people were euphoric when Wayne Gretzky and Co. arrived in their country for the ’98 Olympics, which I had the privilege of attending. Anticipation was off the charts.

It wasn’t long, however, before Bettman, Daly and all NHL personnel (owners, general managers) began to feel slighted. Without a doubt, the inclusion of NHL pros immeasurably augmented world focus on the hockey tournament, which had long represented (and still does) the marquee event at the Winter Games. It also boosted profit margins for the IOC and IIHF. As such, NHL personnel should have been welcomed with open arms; included in all social events organized by the IOC, and provided free reign at hockey venues that were off limits to everyone but IOC and IIHF officials.

No such courtesy was granted.

Now, it’s understandable why a measure of control is needed at such big events as the Olympics and World Hockey Championships. But, the IIHF, in particular, has no flexibility. If a reporter is standing five feet to the left of where he’s supposed to be, he cannot move four feet and 11 inches to the right. During the lost NHL season of 2004-05, I covered and participated in radio broadcasts of the World tournament in Innsbruck and Vienna. At one point, at the Olympiahalle in Innsbruck, I was unknowingly out of place while waiting in the dressing room corridor to interview players. A man with no visible identification approached and brusquely commanded me to move. That being my first World tournament, I had no idea who he was, so I argued. Turns out the man was Szymon Szemberg, media director for the IIHF.

I’ve since come to know and admire Szymon, but – at the time – I was thinking, “Who is this arsehole telling me where to stand?” Finally, a media colleague (I think it was Pierre LeBrun, then writing for The Canadian Press) apprised me of the man. I quickly approached him and apologized.

GARY BETTMAN LISTENS AS RENE FASEL – IIHF PRESIDENT SINCE 1994 AND IOC MEMBER SINCE 1995 – ADDRESSES MEDIA AT THE VANCOUVER OLYMPIC GAMES.

Point is, the IIHF and IOC are quite rigid and not always respectful of others. In 1998, at Nagano, this came to include the highest level of NHL personnel and it continued through the Vancouver Olympics in 2010. For example, GM’s were forbidden to go anywhere near dressing rooms and talk to their players. When they complained to Bettman, and the Commissioner took up the matter with IOC officials, he was curtly dismissed – an egregious reply to such a principal figure. Quite properly, Bettman was enraged.

In the first intermission of the gold medal game in Vancouver, Bettman graciously agreed to join me for an interview. At one point, I brought up the subject of alienation by the IOC and IIHF. The Commissioner was appropriately diplomatic but he made it clear that such conduct would have to change, and it would undeniably be a factor in the league consenting to participate in the 2014 Sochi Olympics. As Commissioner, Bettman was strongly and justifiably standing up for the people in his fold.

Whether the matter has been resolved – and should it be delaying an official announcement for Sochi – is not known, but I wouldn’t bet against it.

Considering its stature and significance to the Winter Games, the NHL is unequivocally owed a great deal more respect by the people in charge.

EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM

TWITTER: BERGER_BYTES

FACEBOOK: HOWARD BERGER [THORNHILL ON]      

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (June 1) – So, I’m here in the former hockey home of Donald S. Cherry for a family event this weekend.

I normally wouldn’t write about this, for obvious reasons, but there is no other way to explain what happened. At 3:30 this morning, ol’ Mom Nature knocked and I got up to pay a washroom visit. Gazing at my Blackberry (yes, I’ve stayed with a BlackBerry), I looked for a final score in the Blue Jays game at San Diego. No luck. I went back to bed and thumbed through the weekend USA Today for a few moments, then checked again for the Blue Jays score: 4-3 San Diego in 17 innings. Game ended at 3:15 a.m. EDT.

Un-freaking-believable!

_________________________

Rochester, for those unaware, was the American Hockey League affiliate of the Maple Leafs during the club’s Stanley Cup dynasty in the 1960′s. It was close enough that Punch Imlach and King Clancy could make the 3½-hour drive along the QEW and New York State Thruway to check out Leaf farm-hands on a regular basis. At one time or another, practically every Leaf player of note in the 60′s and early-70′s had a turn at Rochester War Memorial Arena (re-named Blue Cross Arena in 1998).

Among them: Bob Baun (1956-57); Al Arbour (1962 to 1967); Kent Douglas (periodically, 1963 to 1970); Bruce Gamble (1966-67); Brian Glennie (1968-69); Billy Harris (periodically, 1956 to 1965); Larry Hillman (periodically, 1961 to 1968); Ed Litzenberger (1963 to 1966); Jim McKenny (1965 to 1969); Bob Nevin (1956 to 1960); Jim Pappin (periodically, 1960 to 1968); Eddie Shack (1965-66); Don Simmons (1961 to 1963); Peter Stemkowski (periodically, 1963 to 1966) and Mike Walton (periodically, 1963 to 1966).

Don Cherry was a mainstay here – appearing in 390 games on defense for the Americans between 1963 and 1972 before starting his coaching career with the team. And, Wayne Gretzky’s younger brother – Keith – played 66 games for the Amerks between 1987 and 1989, registering 11 goals and 37 assists.

_________________________

This really has become a disaster of a season for the Blue Jays – 23-32 at roughly the one-third mark. A couple of times, the club has strung together three wins, only to give them right back. On TV, Buck Martinez and Pat Tabler are exhorting fans – convinced, beyond imagination, how incredible the team would be – to stay patient, which is the home broadcaster’s job, of course. “The team just has to get to .500,” Tabler said this week of a club that was expected to be 10 or 15 games above the break-even point by now.

Fundamentally, the Jays are a mess, running the bases like bantam players; getting doubled off on line drives. Normally, that’s a reflection of the manager, but John Gibbons knows how to play the game and he should be able to get the basics across to his players. Something unquestionably is wrong and the Jays have no chance of escaping last place (an awfully low expectation) in the American League East until it is corrected.

_________________________

For the second time in as many seasons, a 48-game, lockout-shortened schedule in the NHL has yielded few surprises. In 1995, it seemed novel to witness New Jersey sweep Detroit in the Stanley Cup final. It was, however, a portent of the best playoff teams in subsequent years - the Devils and Red Wings combining for seven championships in 19 seasons.

This spring, we have the last four Stanley Cup winners in the Conference finals. Which tells us the cream rises to the top in nearly every situation.

Given how spectacular Jonathan Quick has been in goal once again, and the incomparable firepower of the Penguins, a Los Angeles-Pittsburgh Cup final seems most logical. But, I’m staying with my pre-playoff hunch of Boston and Chicago. The Bruins pulled off a miracle to eliminate the Leafs in Round 1, which is typically the most difficult and unpredictable. Then they steamrolled New York Rangers. Chicago was the best team in the NHL all season and had its scare in Round 2 against Detroit. Rebounding from a 3-1 series deficit to knock off the Red Wings confirmed the Hawks’ distinction.

Once again, I’m going with Boston in 6; Chicago in 7.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS PULLED OFF QUITE THE ESCAPE AGAINST DETROIT, BUT I’M LOOKING FOR THEM TO KNOCK OFF THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS IN ANOTHER SEVEN-GAME MARATHON. BILL SMITH GETTY IMAGES/NHL.COM

________________________

I wasn’t surprised when the Rangers fired John Tortorella this week. In spite of remarkable talent, New York proved not to be in the same universe as Boston. In Game 4, when Chris Kreider scored in overtime to provide Rangers their lone victory, I wrote here that I sensed the team had stopped playing for Tortorella. Before Kreider’s re-direct of Rick Nash’s feed, Bruins were toying with the Blueshirts, and twice came within inches of a sweep. That’s not how a desperate club responds, particularly on home ice.

I really liked Tortorella during his years in Tampa. A straight-shooter has always been my favorite-type of individual and he never danced in media sessions. In the opening round of the 2006 playoffs, I covered the Tampa Bay-Ottawa series. Lightning was the defending Stanley Cup champion, having won in 2004, prior to the lost season of ’04-05. On a day between games, I was standing in the dressing room corridor at Scotiabank Place as Tortorella walked past, leaving the arena. I stopped him; introduced myself; told him how much I admired his candor, and implored him not to change.

I’ll never forget the sincerity of his reply.

“Thank you, Howard. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that.”

Once in New York, however, Tortorella became embittered and I found it disappointing. Obviously, the Big Apple and Tampa are incomparable media centers and maybe the spotlight had a depleting effect. But, I don’t recall a hockey person reacting with such unfettered malice in front of reporters.

Some of you may be thinking: “Oh yeah? You covered Ron Wilson.” But, the comparison is invalid. Wilson was sarcastic and biting, though almost never blatantly disrespectful. And Ronnie did not provide a curt, one-word response to questions that annoyed him. In fact, I found him to be insightful in nearly every gathering with reporters, regardless of mood.

EVEN AT HIS WORST, RON WILSON WAS NEVER AS DISCOURTEOUS TO MEDIA AS JOHN TORTORELLA. I SNAPPED THE ABOVE PHOTO IN RON’S FINAL MEDIA SCRUM AS LEAF COACH – FEB. 29, 2012 – AT THE UNITED CENTER IN CHICAGO.

I could be wrong, but I sense Tortorella has ruined any chance of returning as a coach in the NHL. I can’t envision a general manager considering his comportment beneficial or analogous to success. And, I agree wholeheartedly with Larry Brooks of the New York Post, who Tweeted that any media outlet hiring Tortorella ought to “be ashamed of itself.”

Not that the veteran coach couldn’t entertain or provide valuable insight. The hypocrisy, however, would be astounding in light of his vehement disdain for the media.

That said, I wouldn’t bet against him landing another TV gig.

_________________________

If Leo Komarov goes home to play in the Kontinental Hockey League, I think the Leafs will truly miss him. And, that’s coming from an observer that felt he was not of NHL-caliber early in the abbreviated schedule. I was wrong.

Komarov proved to be a wonderful addition to the improved hockey club. Though he had stone hands around the net, his energy and physical play – especially on the forecheck – became part of the Leafs’ fabric. Komarov and Jay McClement, in my view, were the club’s most valuable role players.

I think David Nonis should try hard to retain the 27-year-old forward.

LEO KOMAROV’S WILLINGNESS TO MIX IT UP PROVED EXTREMELY VALUABLE TO THE MAPLE LEAFS IN THEIR SEASON OF IMPROVEMENT.

EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM

TWITTER: BERGER_BYTES

FACEBOOK: HOWARD BERGER [THORNHILL ON]