Velvet Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2009/03/30/sp-hockey-fictional-five.htmlWhen hockey writers put together their lists of the Top 5 best players of all time, a few of the greats always get overlooked. Where is the love for hockey's top fictional players?In defence of the imaginary, here are our Top 5 greatest fictional players of all time.#5 - Guy Édouard Raymond "Eddie" LeBecEddie Lebec (Jay Thomas) was a recurring character on Cheers, one of the most successful American sitcoms of the 1980s. He was a superstitious, French Canadian goalie playing for the Boston Bruins. Lebec's accent was about as Quebecois as the construction workers building the new Yankee Stadium. Eddie was married to acerbic waitress, Carla (Rhea Pearlman). After Eddie retired from hockey he got a job as a penguin in "The Wonderful World of Ice," a travelling skating show. Then, in 1989, LeBec was killed off the show. Cheers writer Ken Levine says Pearlman wanted Thomas fired.Apparently, Thomas had complained (on his radio show) about how much he hated kissing Pearlman every week on TV. Pearlman heard every word. She pushed her bosses to give Eddie Lebec the kiss of death. A few weeks later, in the episode "Death Takes A Holiday On Ice", LeBec was crushed by a Zamboni.Call It: TV's coldest character assassination.Eddie and Carla's song: Oh, Canada.If He Was Real: Former Bruins backup goalie Vincent Riendeau.#4 - Jacques 'Le Coq' GrandeAnother French Canadian goalie makes the Fictional Five: Jacques 'Le Coq' Grande (Justin Timberlake) from Mike Myers' film, The Love Guru.Grande steals the wife of Toronto Maple Leafs star Darren Roanoke. Le Coq wears Speedos and the goalie mask made famous by puck-stopper Jacques Plante and Friday the 13th heart-stopper Jason Voorhees. His team is the L.A. Kings. On defence is non-imaginary NHLer Rob Blake. The last time Blake played a big game against Toronto, he was on the ice with Wayne Gretzky. The 1993 Kings beat the Leafs in seven games before losing the Cup to Montreal. The Love Guru gives Leaf Nation a little revenge. The Leafs win their first Cup in more than 40 years. It's fictional, but you can't have everything.There's plenty of Denis Lemieux (Yvon Barrette) in Grande. Lemieux was the Quebecois goalie for the Charlestown Chiefs in Slapshot. Timberlake's a graduate of the Denis Lemieux school on how to speak hockey 'Frenglish.' He delivers some of the best lines in the film.First Line: "Ding Dong. Did someone order the special Quebec pizza, huh? Uh, you know, like in the porno."Second Line: "Don't look at me with that tone of voice or I will punch you in the shirt!"Scouting Report: He's big between the pipes.If He Was Real: There was a real Jacques Lecoq. He was an actor, called the "father of modern mime." Aren't you glad you finally know?#3 - Hockey Superstar Big Bobby ClobberIn addition to being a hockey superstar, Big Bobby (Dave Broadfoot of CBC's Air Farce) is remembered for being the main reason for the mandatory helmet rule.If NHLers are stereotyped as the dumbest of all athletes, thank Big Bobby. It's the chicken (cannon) or the egg debate. Did Big Bobby create the image of the dim-witted hockey bruiser or did 1970s bruisers create Bobby Clobber?Either way, Big Bobby is a first-ballot, fictional hockey Hall of Famer. Here's an example of Big Bobby in his prime:Reporter: When you look back at all of those years in hockey what do you miss the most?Big Bobby: My teeth.If He Was Real: Flin Flon, Manitoba's own hockey superstar Big Bobby Clarke. Captain of the goon squad Philly Flyers of the 1970s, Clarke once said "They always try to play with our minds. But that won't work with our club. We've got 20 guys without brains."#2 - The Hanson Brothers (Slapshot)Hockey's Hanson Brothers (Steve and Jeff Carlson and Dave Hanson) were all hockey players, but not all brothers. Steve and Jeff had a third brother, Jack. He was supposed to be in the film but had a higher calling — a calling-up to the Edmonton Oilers, just in time for the 1976 WHA playoffs.Of the brothers, Steve was the best player. He skated for the Oilers too, sharing ice with 17-year-old Wayne Gretzky in 1978-79. The next year he was in L.A. with the Kings and a teammate to another legend, Marcel Dionne.It could be argued that no one, real or imaginary, did more to shape the image of the Canadian hockey player than the Hanson Brothers.Call It: The official first line of Good Canadian Hockey. Not bad for three boys from the U.S. Midwest.If They Were Real: Easy. Pick three of Viking, Alberta's Sutter Brothers.#1 - Pierre Lambert, The Quebec NationalsLambert (Carl Marotte) was a hit in both official languages. He was the star of CBC's Lance et Compte (He Shoots, He Scores ). The show was the first series to be shot in French and English at the same time. It was a hockey soap opera, much like this year's edition of the Montreal Canadiens.Lambert was the hot-shot rookie on the Quebec Nationals, a fictional NHL team. All similarities to the Quebec Nordiques were purely intentional. Marc Gagnon was the, Lafleur-like, aging superstar. Special mention goes to Yvan Ponton who played no-nonsense coach Jacques Mercier. Ponton also played the assistant captain of the Charlestown Chiefs in Slapshot and Jean Charles in Les Boys. He's a fictional hockey legend.The original series ran across Canada from 1986 to 1988. Several versions have aired in Quebec since then.Roch and Roll: Juno winner Roch Voisine played Lambert's teammate Danny Ross in season three.If He Was Real: Sidney Crosby (Separated At Birth). The young sensation sent to save a franchise.Honourable Mention: Dan and Jerry Flynn. Main characters of Leslie McFarlane's book, Dynamite Flynns. McFarlane's son is Hockey Hall of Fame member and Hockey Night in Canada veteran Brian McFarlane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booche Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Apparently, Thomas had complained (on his radio show) about how much he hated kissing Pearlman every week on TV.That was fantastic. We used to joke about that back in the day. "Poor Eddie. He has to kiss Carla."Hahahahaha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-towns Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 It was a hockey soap opera, much like this year's edition of the Montreal Canadiens.bwaahahahahhaha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freak By Night Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I'm surprised JP Petit wasn't mentioned on that list. He was the little goalie in the McDonald's commercials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubberdinghy Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 This isn't a fictional player but a TV movie was made about his life...Brian Spencer Wiki The movie was called Gross Misconduct, and was made by Atom Egoyan, i'm also pretty sure Paul Gross had something to do with it. (If it's Canadian, Paul Gross has had something to do with it.)Also....I've been looking for a copy of this movie for a long time and can't seem to find one anywhere...Anyone know anything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I'm surprised JP Petit wasn't mentioned on that list. He was the little goalie in the McDonald's commercials.Ha! The Little Russian guy is awesome too...but they're still young, haven't built much of a career to this point yet.Emelio Estevez must coach of this team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booche Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted March 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 This is from the entertainment section of CBC news:Leafs sign son of Slap Shot starThe Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Tuesday they've signed free agent centre Christian Hanson, whose father starred as one of the iconic Hanson brothers in the classic film Slap Shot."We are excited to have Christian signed to a contract, and look forward to seeing him play for our organization," Leafs GM Brian Burke, who is a friend of Dave Hanson's, said in a statement. "He is a very intelligent hockey player who has good size and a solid scoring touch around the net."Financial terms of Hanson's two-year entry-level deal weren't disclosed.Hanson, 23, recently finished his fourth season at the University of Notre Dame. The six-foot-four, 228-pound native of Venetia, Penn., recorded 31 points (16 goals) and 28 penalty minutes in 31 games this season for the Fighting Irish, who finished the regular season ranked second in the NCAA but were bounced from the playoffs last Saturday by underdog Bemidji State University.Dave Hanson played Jack Hanson in 1977's Slap Shot, the beloved Paul Newman vehicle about a floundering minor-league hockey team that turns to on-ice violence to attract fans.http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2009/03/31/sp-leafs-hanson.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 A maple Leafs Jersey with "Hanson" on the back is an MLSE wet dream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwa. Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I'd buy one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 (edited) I wouldn't.Edit to add: Don't fall victim to their corporate schemes Schwa, your better than that! Edited March 31, 2009 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 A maple Leafs Jersey with "Hanson" on the back is an MLSE wet dream.mmmmmmmmmmmmmBop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 does the CBC know that there were 3 Hanson brothers? making it a top 7 list? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 They've had to cut all their top methematicians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwa. Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I wouldn't.Edit to add: Don't fall victim to their corporate schemes Schwa, your better than that!what would lead you to believe i'm better than that. I'm hardly adequate in any real situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 So, your conceding that I can beat you in a race?Oh hells ya!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-towns Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 100m? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 oh i'd love to watch that race, maybe someone can video it?!?!?!there was a scanky boxing match at That Place on Canada Day a number of years ago, highly entertainingthe loser was able to get up on stage later and sing Jumping Jack Flash which was nice to see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I'd video tape it, but schwa always hides behind his bum ankle excuse. But always adds that he'd win if he could actually run So we'll have to come up with something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-towns Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 wheelchair race?I'll record it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 THAT would be highlarious! Wuddya say Schwa?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 now that's a photograph that's destined to end up as a demotivational poster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I'd definitely do the whole race with a smoke hanging off my lips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-towns Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 yes. I can picture the whole production now....sweatbands, booze, highschool track and field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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