Heroes in red and white
By JOE WARMINGTON, TORONTO SUN
The names are as Canadian as maple syrup. Henderson, Lafleur, Sittler, Orr, Gretzky, Lemieux, Carter, Iginla and I guess we better add the names Luongo and Lecavalier to that list after their heroics in last night's World Cup semi-final win over the Czech Republic.
There are so many Canadian hockey heroes as the torch gets passed along from generation to generation. Even Wayne Gretzky's daughter, Paulina, got into the act, singing the national anthem prior to the game. Bring her back for the final. She's good luck.
And I can't wait to hear talented opera singer Robert Pomakov's version of the Finnish national anthem, either.
Any hockey player who has experienced it will tell you there is no better feeling than pulling on that red and white sweater of Canada. But there is something that comes close, as Ron Ellis found out last night.
One of the stars of Team Canada's 1972 Summit Series found himself at last night's game with his son, Ron Jr., and his 2 1/2-year-old grandson Zack, who was taking in his first hockey game.
"This is pretty special," the former Maple Leaf said.
Ellis' son Ron, 30, wasn't born for 1972 and it's not easy for them to get together (the younger Ellis is a pilot in the Canadian Armed Forces). But being at a Team Canada game was perfect for No. 6.
"To think all of this started with Team Canada 1972," Ellis Sr. said as he looked out over the raucous crowd.
Sitting next to Ellis was another former Maple Leaf, Peter Zezel, who experienced the feeling of wearing Canadian colours at the 1982 world junior tournament. "It's amazing," he said. "It's the mecca." It was a nice night for Zezel too; he brought his peewee coach Dave Merriman to the game.
It doesn't matter where you're sitting at the ACC, in the platinums or up in the nosebleeds, cheering for Canada is a job taken pretty seriously by hockey fans. Oshawa's Randy Alexander and his 11-year-old son Jeremy were doing their part last night -- from the highest point of The Hangar. "It's great," said Jeremy.
He wasn't the only one. Former Leaf Borje Salming was cheering -- as was Academy-winner nominee Michael Lerner. And, yes, that was Woody Harrelson -- decked out in a Canada hat -- rooting on the red and white. He was great with the fans -- even posing for a picture with fan Julie McGann.
Woody is in town working on a project but after Tuesday he might not be able to attend a hockey game for a while.
"I sure hope this isn't the last hockey of the year," said actress Heidi Fischer, who wore a Team Canada tattoo on her bust.
Yet another proud Canadian.
