Random Leaf Memories

[LeafsNation75]

It's amazing how sports can have such lasting memories with people. I lot of the best memories I have are attending Titan games in Bathurst. Getting to see guys like Crosby and Marchand and alot of guys that ended up in the NHL.

I'm really hoping in 20 years when I think back to these next five years that I can say watching the Leafs end their drought was a great memory haha

It was also the first time I ever saw a hat trick live and in person. Now I didn't throw my hat on the ice because I was sitting in section 105, row 28 which was almost the last row in the red seats. Plus I liked the hat I was wearing and even if I wanted to throw it. Now had I bought a new one I would have tried throwing the one I brought from home.

 

[crump]

Lanny's playoff winner against the Islanders.

I hurt my knee jumping off the couch when he scored that.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I have vague memories of being in the standing room section as a 13 old kid for this amazing, legendary playoff game that didn't end until about 11:30 IIRC (games were almost always done by 10:30 in those days) despite having no overtime. This article captures the essence pretty well. If you can imagine being hot and humid at a hockey rink with the action on the ice equally hot ... what a night it was!

Study in Violence: Leafs vs. Flyers 1976

 

[Leafs1993]

I didnt have access to watch most leafs games growing up ( no satellite tv ) but I remember listening to the game on the radio where Mats Sundin scored the OT winner shorthanded for the hatrick and for 500 career goals . Gave me goosebumps.

 

[Leafs1993]

Also my first (and only) leafs game I have been to live was not a great experience. It was my 18th birthday and my mom surprised me with tickets to see the leafs play ottawa in Ottawa. Once we got inside, my mom bought us some beer and we walked to our seats. As soon as the puck dropped, an attendant who worked at scotiabank place walked up to us and kicked us out because my mom bought me a beer and I was 18 instead of 19. As we were being escorted out of the building, Ottawa scored. I was pretty pissed off. (Ottawa ended up winning 3-0)

 

[Tall Morty]

Anyone remember this huge comeback against the Rangers? 5 goals in the last 7 minutes or so of the game to come back and win. One of the bright spots from an otherwise dark period.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

I have many random memories of games and plays, but a major non-in-game thing that sticks out to me as one of my fondest memories from my younger years was the accessibility of the players. A lost art so to speak nowadays. Back in the day you could go to catch a game at Maple Leaf Gardens, and instead of heading right to your car or the subway, you could wait outside the doors on the side of the arena on Church Street waiting for the players to come out. Would be a few dozen fans each time, and you'd always walk away with a quick glimpse of the hometown players and a few autographs (which I still hold to this day).

I remember one time too the Islanders were in town, and word had it a few players went to grab a bite at the Golden Griddle across the street right after. So unknowingly then to a bunch of kids who just wanted a couple of autographs and didn't think we were disrupting someones' dinner, we ran across the street and into the restaurent so we could get Glenn Healy, Derek King and David Volek to sign a few things for us.

 

[8816 others]

Garry Valk's overtime series winning goal against Pittsburgh that sent to the Leafs to the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals.

I remember that very well as I sat on my parent's couch with every extremity crossed and right before the face off I said Valk would score.

 

[ULF_55]

1972-01-19 Toronto at Montreal

 

[Raging Bull]

Random, watching Brian Leetch feather passes to McCabe for one-timers in his Leaf debut, we were sitting right behind the visitors net. McCabe could have had 5 goals that night but towards the end of the game they kept trying to set up Leetch to score in his debut.

 

[robertmac43]

That was a playoff sudden death OT, the refs weren't, and still aren't going to call anything even in today's NHL.

There are some definite playoff penalties in there. For instance 50ish seconds in that hook gets called in today's game. Creates an O-zone turn over.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Random, watching Brian Leetch feather passes to McCabe for one-timers in his Leaf debut, we were sitting right behind the visitors net. McCabe could have had 5 goals that night but towards the end of the game they kept trying to set up Leetch to score in his debut.

That happened to be another game I was at to see live and in person.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Anyone remember this huge comeback against the Rangers? 5 goals in the last 7 minutes or so of the game to come back and win. One of the bright spots from an otherwise dark period.

I remember everyone saying how the Leafs could not get a goal on Steve Valiquette because he played well against us being from Etobicoke and all of the sudden those 5 goals happened. I was shocked and happy when they did that.

 

[saffronleaf]

Come to think of it, given that I started watching the Leafs / hockey in 1998, most of my favorite Leafs memories are associated with Sundin. What an athlete. #34 is the first person to really be able to fill the void he left.

 

[robertmac43]

Also my first (and only) leafs game I have been to live was not a great experience. It was my 18th birthday and my mom surprised me with tickets to see the leafs play ottawa in Ottawa. Once we got inside, my mom bought us some beer and we walked to our seats. As soon as the puck dropped, an attendant who worked at scotiabank place walked up to us and kicked us out because my mom bought me a beer and I was 18 instead of 19. As we were being escorted out of the building, Ottawa scored. I was pretty pissed off. (Ottawa ended up winning 3-0)

OMG this is heartbreaking....I hope you get out to another game soon!

 

[8816 others]

An indirect memory: Leafs playoff hopes are riding on the Devils in their final game of the season and they start Clemmenson instead of Brodeur and lose, allowing the Islanders to knock us out of the final playoff spot.

All this after a hard fought game the night before where we came back from 5-3 in the third to defeat the habs for that spot.

 

[Goonface2k14]

Sorry I dont know how to put the youtube link up properly. As mentioned by a couple posters, one of my best memories as well, is the Motor City Smitty goal in 87 vs St Louis. That link has the whole game up.
Four things to note on Smitty's goal, which is at roughly the 6:40 mark...
1. Wreggets helmet is off and play continues (leading up to the goal)
2. Wendel sprung Smitty with an outlet pass - yes, a pass from my favourite Leaf ever
3. In goal for St Lou - so many of HF Leaf fans' favourite commentator - the one and only Greg Millen. He also attempted a poke check on Smitty (remember when Bower passed on, how Millen went on and on during commentary about using Bowers pokecheck his whole career? Well it didn't work for him here)
4. Personal note - two of my buddies are shown cheering and hugging each other after the goal, at the 7:06 mark, bottom right of the screen

I used to have this game on VHS at the time and watched it so many times haha. Now I have it on dvd, but havent seen it in years! GREAT MEMORY!

ffwd to the 9 second mark.... I'll never forget that Wregget save... the youtube video is from the 1989 playoffs, but that highlight is from that same series in 1987, I believe.

Miraculous!

 

[Goonface2k14]

My only leaf home game back in the 80's Leafs 7 Wings 5 Clark did not play.

2nd row reds with my buddy & the couple in front of us wearing home & away jerseys got on the front page of the Toronto Sun.

I believe I was at that game as well

 

[LeafsNation75]

An indirect memory: Leafs playoff hopes are riding on the Devils in their final game of the season and they start Clemmenson instead of Brodeur and lose, allowing the Islanders to knock us out of the final playoff spot.

All this after a hard fought game the night before where we came back from 5-3 in the third to defeat the habs for that spot.

When the Leafs won that happened on be on my birthday and despite what happened the next day, what a gift seeing them eliminate from Montreal from making the playoffs.

 

[Loosie]

Anybody remember this?

Mats Sundin Knocks Out Grant Fuhr with one shot

I remember Clark doing something similar to Cujo during the 93 playoff run.

 

[LeafsNation75]

I remember Clark doing something similar to Cujo during the 93 playoff run.

 

[djdev]

2 of my favorite memories ever were 1993 playoffs with the borschevsky goal in OT game 7 vs detroit and the game 7 beatdown of st louis (6 - 0) with gilmour spinning around the back of the net a bunch of times!

 

[Knies iT]

Obscure one but Rosehill squaring up with Gleason after he jumped and broke Kulemin's nose in the prior game, followed by Tim Brent's shot blocking heroics. Was there live and haven't seen that many standing O's in a random ACC regular season game since.

 

[Spirit of 67]

I remember after Sittler's 10 point game I asked my dad if the could give him 3rd star for assists, 2nd star for goals and 1st star for points. I was 10, so cut me some slack.

I also remember listening from my bedroom at the top of the stairs as Ian Turnbull scored 5 against LA. It was a school night and bed time was like 8pm or something like that.

Not a Leafs memory but as far as I know, the very first bet I ever made was for 25¢ and I took Canada over Czechoslovakia when the game went into OT. Of course, Sittler scored and Don Cherry will never let anyone forget about it.
Not sure I've won a bet since.

 

[Leafs1993]

OMG this is heartbreaking....I hope you get out to another game soon!

Yeah, it wasn't a great experience. I just finished school and as soon as some of my debts are paid off I plan on going again, but this time I will go to Toronto and have all the beer I would like!