Born with a bravado to match that of the team he led to a world championship, Davey Johnson was the perfect manager for the 1986 Mets, brash enough to predict his ballclub would “dominate” the competition that season and immodest enough to howl “I told you so” when all was said and done.
Johnson, 82, died Friday night, leaving a legacy as an accomplished major league player and manager for several teams. He was most successful as a manager with the Mets, racking up 595 wins over six-plus seasons, the most by any skipper in team history.
Above all, he’ll always be remembered most fondly in New York for winning the second and still the most recent championship in the history of the franchise.
It took something of a miracle in Game 6 of that World Series against the Boston Red Sox to bring home the title, of course, with Mookie Wilson’s ground ball trickling through Bill Buckner’s legs to complete a two-out rally in the 10th inning. Yet in some ways, that too was fitting for the team and its manager, both forever oozing with a confidence that bordered on arrogance and created a belief that they couldn’t lose.
Johnson’s self-assurance was at the heart of what made Queens the place to be in the mid-to-late 1980s, the rare period in New York baseball history when the Mets, not the Yankees, unquestionably owned the city.
It was Davey, after all, who was secure enough in his ability that he managed with a loose rein, giving a famously boisterous group of players the freedom to flaunt their talent, speak their mind, and even publicly disagree with the manager on occasion.
In his 2018 book, “My Wild Ride in Baseball and Beyond,” Johnson succinctly summed up his style during his time with the Mets: “I just let everybody do their thing.”
Yet there was never any mistaking who was in charge, thanks to Johnson’s brilliant baseball mind. Even as a player who helped the Baltimore Orioles win championships in 1966 and 1970 -- and lose to the upstart Mets in 1969 -- Davey was always considered a deep thinker who was destined to manage.
May 28, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets former manager Davey Johnson is introduced to the crowd during a pregame ceremony honoring the 1986 World Series Championship team prior to the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. / Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
In fact, as a young player, he was nicknamed “Dum-Dum” by some veteran Orioles who thought he was a little too smart for his own good at times.
“He was a guy who was always thinking about things,” Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer once said about Johnson. “Very cerebral, even to the point of overanalyzing a situation, but I think that became one of his strengths as a manager.”
In fact, Johnson was ahead of the curve as one of the first managers to rely on a computer to give him an edge in creating lineups, bullpen matchups and the like. Analytics before there was such a thing, in a sense.
As a player, Johnson even tried to convince Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver on the benefits of statistical analysis, as he recalled when he was hired to manage the Orioles for the 1996 season.
“I used to work on this program I called ‘optimizing the Orioles lineup,’” Johnson told reporters. “I would run it through the computer and bring the data to Earl Weaver. I found out that if I hit second instead of seventh, we’d score 50 or 60 more runs, and that would translate into a few more wins. I gave it to him, and it went right into the garbage can.”
Johnson was never shy about voicing his opinion on all matters baseball. It was a trait that would create conflict with Mets GM Frank Cashen and may well have hastened his departure when Cashen decided to fire him during the 1990 season.
It also led to some tension during his playing days with the equally headstrong Weaver, but eventually Johnson came to regard his Orioles’ manager as one of his mentors.
“He handled the pitching staff the right way,” Johnson once said of Weaver. “He knew how to use his relievers. He was a genius that way. I took it in.”
As a player, Johnson was a fixture at second base on those Orioles teams that went to the World Series four times from 1966 to 1971, winning three Gold Gloves and putting up solid offensive numbers.
Sep 12, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson looks on before the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field. / Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
It wasn’t until Johnson was traded after the 1972 season, reportedly because Weaver felt his second baseman was becoming more interested in bulking up to hit for power than playing defense, that he had his most memorable season.
Playing for the Atlanta Braves in 1973 at age 30, Johnson hit 43 home runs, setting a record for second basemen that stood until 2021 when Marcus Semien hit 45 with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Johnson never hit more than 18 in a season before or after that year, and by the mid-1970s, his stock had fallen to the point that he went to Japan to be a starter for two years before returning to the U.S. to finish out his career as a part-time player for the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs.
After his playing days, Johnson got into managing due in part to his connection with Cashen, who had overseen baseball operations for the Orioles in the 1960s and 1970s before taking the GM job with the Mets.
Cashen hired Johnson in 1981 to manage in the minors with the Mets and then decided the time was right to promote him to manage the big-league club in 1984. With a wave of young talent led by Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden, Johnson experienced immediate success, winning 90 games in ’84 and 98 games in ’85, both times falling short of the postseason at a time when there were no wild-card berths.
“Davey had great knowledge, and I think his real strength was knowing how to develop the young pitchers we had then,” former GM Joe McIlvaine, who was Cashen’s assistant in ’84, once said. “I don’t think anybody could have done a better job with Doc, with Ron Darling, and Sid Fernandez that first year. That set the trend for the next five years.”
After finishing behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL East in ’85, despite their 98 wins, Johnson wasn’t shy about predicting greatness going into the ’86 season. He told his team in spring training, and anyone who would listen, “We’re not just going to win, we’re going to dominate.”
His team backed up his words, winning 108 games and running away with the division title, then surviving an epic NLCS against the Houston Astros and finally coming back after losing the first two games of the World Series to defeat the Red Sox, miracle Game 6 comeback and all.
“Like I told you guys all along, there was never a doubt,” Johnson crowed gleefully after Game 7.
Davey Johnson while managing the Mets / Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images
In total, for those five years that McIlvaine referenced, from ’84 through ’89, the Mets were the best team in the National League. However, their failure to win more than one championship left a sense that they didn’t fulfill their promise.
As such, Johnson eventually faced criticism from Cashen, who wanted his manager to be more of a disciplinarian. And then there was the 1988 NLCS, which the Mets lost in seven games to the Los Angeles Dodgers after having dominated them during the season, winning 10 of 11 games.
The turning point came in the ninth inning of Game 4 with the Mets poised to take a 3-1 lead in the series. Gooden, after walking light-hitting John Shelby, famously gave up a game-tying two-run home run to equally light-hitting catcher Mike Scioscia, and the Dodgers won the game in extra innings.
Though it was an era where pitchers routinely went much deeper into games than they do now, there was a case to be made that Gooden was running out of gas, especially after he walked Shelby. Yet over the years, Johnson remained defiant about his decision.
“That was Doc’s game,” Johnson said in 2013, when he was asked about it. “I’ve never had a second thought about leaving him in.”
True to his confident nature, Johnson rarely doubted himself, at least publicly, about any decision he made. But in 1990, with the Mets off to a 20-22 start, Cashen fired Johnson on May 29, replacing him with third-base coach Buddy Harrelson. The team went on to win 91 games but finished second in the division behind the Pittsburgh Pirates.
From there, Johnson went on to have success managing the Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, and the Washington Nationals, reaching the postseason with each of them, in addition to a stint with the Dodgers. A career managerial record of 1,372-1,071 (.562).
He won Manager of the Year awards in ’97 with the Orioles and then in 2012 with the Nationals in a distinguished career that, together with his playing accomplishments, has made his Hall of Fame candidacy on various veterans committees a subject of considerable debate.
Whether he ever gets into Cooperstown remains to be seen. However, Johnson is a member of the Mets Hall of Fame, with a legacy in New York that was forever secured with the ’86 championship that defined Johnson in so many ways.
The Vancouver Canucks are starting to build a strong prospect pool. Whether through the draft, trade or free agency, there are quite a few prospects who could make an impact at the NHL level sooner rather than later. Here is a look at the top ten prospects in Vancouver's system heading into the 2025-26 season
*Note: To qualify for this list, players must be 23 or under and have played fewer than 25 combined NHL regular-season and postseason games. Players are ranked based on age, position, potential, and overall performance during the 2024-25 season.
After two seasons with the Barrie Colts, Riley Patterson was traded to the Niagara IceDogs in search of a new start. The trade is already looking like it will benefit the 19-year-old, as he will get an opportunity to play more at center rather than on the wing. With Patterson projected also to get significant time on the power play, it is possible that he records his first point-per-game season in the OHL this year.
10. Anthony Romani- Michigan State University, NCAA
C, 6'0", 185 lbs- 162nd Overall in 2024
Anthony Romani is headed to the NCAA next season to join Michigan State. With a stacked roster, it is unclear what the 20-year-old's ice time will look like, which means he could be a bottom-six player for the majority of the year. The hope is that playing against older competition will help Romani's development and make it an easier transition when he eventually moves to the AHL.
9. Wilson Björck- Colorado College, NCAA
C, 6'0", 165 lbs- 143rd Overall in 2025
The first player from the 2025 NHL Entry Draft featured on this list is Wilson Björck. The 19-year-old was a standout at Canucks development camp and is on the radar for Sweden's 2026 World Juniors team. Björck's development this season will be something to keep an eye on, as he is leaving the J20 Nationell and joining the NCAA.
8. Ty Mueller, Abbotsford Canucks, AHL
C, 5'11", 185 lbs- 105th Overall in 2023
Ty Mueller is one of Vancouver's more intriguing prospects for the 2025-26 season. The 22-year-old made his NHL debut in 2024-25 and was a key member of the Abbotsford Canucks Calder Cup championship last year. If Mueller has a strong start to the season, he could be one of the first players called up if injuries occur.
After a successful WHL career, Sawyer Mynio looks ready to make the jump to the AHL. Based on Abbotsford's 2025-26 roster, the 20-year-old may play most of the season lower down the lineup, but should get some time on the penalty kill. Mynio should also get some games in the pre-season, as it is clear the Canucks have big plans for him in the future.
6. Alexei Medvedev- London Knights, OHL
G, 6'2", 178 lbs- 47th Overall in 2025
At the 2025 draft, Vancouver jumped at the opportunity to select goaltender Alexei Medvedev of the London Knights. The 17-year-old had a strong regular season, posting a 22-8-2 record with three shutouts as a backup. Now that Medvedev is the starter, the question is, can he lead London back to the Memorial Cup for the third straight year?
5. Ty Young- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL
G, 6'3", 181 lbs- 144th Overall in 2022
After a strong rookie campaign, Ty Young enters the year as the projected backup for Abbotsford. The 20-year-old looked strong in limited action at the AHL level last season, and could get extended time as a starter if injuries occur in Vancouver. Ultimately, Young will be a player to watch at training camp and should get some game action in this year's pre-season.
4. Kirill Kudryavtsev- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL
LD, 5'11", 200 lbs- 208th Overall in 2022
Kirill Kudryavtsev has developed into a draft-day steal for the Canucks. The 21-year-old made his NHL debut last season and was one of Abbotsford's most-used defensemen in the playoffs. While the Canucks do have some depth on the blue line, it would be shocking if Kudryavtsev does not receive a call-up sometime during the year.
With their first-round pick in the 2025 draft, Vancouver selected Seattle Thunderbirds captain Braden Cootes. The 18-year-old is a two-way center who is also one of the most completive players in the WHL. If Cootes can continue to develop as he did last year, it shouldn't be long before he finds himself a permanent spot in the Canucks middle-six.
2. Jonathan Lekkerimäki- Vancouver Canucks, NHL
RW, 5'11", 172 lbs- 15th Overall in 2022
All eyes will be on Jonathan Lekkerimäki this year as he looks to secure a full-time spot in Vancouver. The 21-year-old did play 24 games in the NHL last season, but spent part of the year being called up and sent down to the AHL. Ultimately, training camp and the pre-season will be crucial for Lekkerimäki as he will be competing with a handful of other players for spots on the main roster.
1. Tom Willander- Vancouver Canucks, NHL
RD, 6'1", 180 lbs- 11th Overall in 2023
After a successful career in the NCAA, Tom Willander is ready to make the jump to the NHL. While he may start the year in the AHL, the 20-year-old has the potential to be a top-four defenceman at the NHL level. Regardless of where he starts the season, it will not be surprising if Willander is a full-time NHLer heading into the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
Team to wear monogram-branded kit for rest of race
The Israel-Premier Tech team have removed their full name from riders’ jerseys for the rest of the Vuelta a España after pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted the finish on stage 11 on Wednesday.
The stage ended without a winner after organisers decided to take the time at three kilometres before the line as police struggled to contain hundreds of Palestinian flag-waving protesters in Bilbao. The Israel-Premier Tech team were also stopped on the road by a group holding Palestinian flags during last week’s team time trial in Figueres.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 37 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #37.
Let's take a look.
Mattias Timander - 2001-02 - Timander was drafted in the 9th round of the 1992 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins.
Timander was taken by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft. After playing for the Jackets during their first two years of existence, he was traded to the New York Islanders in 2002. He finished his CBJ career by playing in 154 games and totaling 22 points.
When the lock out of 2004-05 happened, Timander left for his home country of Sweden, where he played until he retired in May of 2013.
Darrel Scoville - 2003-04 - Scoville was undrafted out of Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
Scoville played in 10 games as a Blue Jacket during the 03-04 season and had 1 point. He spent the majority of his time playing for the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL.
He left for Europe in 2005 and played the next five seasons in Poland. He then left and played a single season in Italy before retiring in 2011.
Joe Motzko - 2006-07 - Motzko was undrafted out of Bemidji, Minnesota.
After playing four years at St. Cloud St. University, the Columbus Blue Jackets signed Motzko. He would go on to play a total of 11 games for Columbus and total one point. He spent the majority of his time playing for the Syracuse Crunch, where he had back-to-back 60-point-plus seasons.
On January 26, 2007, He was traded by the Blue Jackets along with Mark Hartigan to the Anaheim Ducks for Curtis Glencross and Zenon Konopka.
In 2009, he would leave for Europe and play six seasons before retiring in 2016. He played in Germany, Poland, and Italy.
Darcy Campbell - 2007 - Campbell was undrafted out of
Airdrie, Alberta.
Campbell was signed as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 19, 2007, and made his NHL debut on March 30th. That would be the only NHL game Campbell would play in.
On January 22, 2008, Campbell was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for Mark Rycroft. He would never play in another NHL game after leaving Columbus. From there, he would play in the AHL, ECHL, CHL, Finland, Czechia, Germany, and Italy.
He retired in 2014.
Sean Collins - 2015 - Collins was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets 7th round of the 2008 NHL Draft.
After Collins left Cornell University, he would spend the next three seasons playing for the AHL's Springfield Falcons. He got called up by Columbus a few times, totaling 19 games and three points.
On July 1, 2015, Collins left the Blue Jackets as a free agent and signed a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals.
In 2016, Collins left for Europe, where he's played ever since. He's played in the KHL, DEL, LIIGA, Switzerland, and the last three seasons in Austria. He is signed on to play his third season for Black Wings Linz in the ICEHL in Austria.
Markus Hännikäinen - 2018-19 - Hännikäinen was undrafted out of Helsinki, Finland.
Hännikäinen had signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 20, 2015. Over parts of four seasons, he played in 91 games for Columbus and had 15 points, which included 8 goals. He spent most of his time playing for the Lake Erie/Cleveland Monsters.
In February of 2020, Hännikäinen was traded by Blue Jackets to the Arizona Coyotes, ending his time with Columbus.
Hännikäinen left for his native Finland when the COVID pandemic hit and never returned. He's played in the KHL(Finland), DEL, SHL, and is signed with HC Litvínov in Czechia for 2025-26.
Cameron Butler - 2024 - Butler was undrafted out of Ottawa, Ontario.
Butler signed an ATO with the Cleveland Monsters late in the season of 22-23. On March 16, 2023, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
He played in one career NHL game for the CBJ. In that game, he only played 54 seconds due to him arriving at the game just minutes before the start of the game after being called up from Cleveland due to a late Boone Jenner scratch.
He spent most of his time playing for the Monsters. After playing 37 games in 2024-25, Butler was traded to the Minnesota Wild on June 26, 2025, for ex-Monster Brendan Guance.
With 37 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena, the anticipation for the season is in full swing. Take a look at the schedule of events below.
Blue Jackets Participate in 2025 Prospects Challenge in Buffalo
The Blue Jackets will take part in the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo from Thursday, Sept. 11 to Sunday, Sept. 14. They’ll play three games and have one day off.
The schedule looks like this:
Thursday, Sept. 11 7 p.m. vs. New Jersey Devils
Friday, Sept. 12 `No Game Scheduled
Saturday, Sept. 13 7 p.m. at Buffalo Sabres
Sunday, Sept. 14 3:30 p.m. at Pittsburgh Penguins
This will be the second year Columbus has participated in the Prospects Challenge. Before that, they played in the NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City. As for the roster, it won’t be released until closer to the tournament.
Blue Jackets’ 2025-26 Training Camp and Pre-Season
Next up is training camp, which kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Camp will run until the pre-season begins and then transition directly into the full pre-season schedule. Here’s what the Blue Jackets have lined up so far.
After the first few days of camp, most rookies who received an invite will be cut and sent back to their junior teams. From there, the cuts will come more often as pre-season play gets underway.
The pre-season schedule is as follows:
Sunday, Sept. 21 vs. St. Louis Blues, 5 p.m. ET
Monday, Sept. 22 vs. Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Sept. 24 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Sept. 30 vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET
* Games in bold are home games *
Let us know what you think below.
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Nobody was shocked Friday afternoon when the Montreal Canadiens announced they had traded Carey Price’s contract and a fifth-round pick to the San Jose Sharks for right-shot defenseman Gannon Laroque. Price was expected to move after the final signing bonus of his eight-year, $10.5 M AAV contract was paid off on September 1.
Despite GM Kent Hughes saying the Habs didn’t need to trade the winningest goaltender in franchise history, it was only a matter of time before he pulled the trigger. The Canadiens had to get compliant before the start of the season, and while putting the netminder on LTIR would have done the trick, it wouldn’t have been excellent cap management.
By getting rid of the legendary goaltender’s contract, Hughes gave himself some room under the cap, the Canadiens now have just over $4.5 M to spend. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they will, but they do have the option.
The Habs brass made no secret of the fact that they would have liked to find a second-line center on the trade market this offseason, and obviously, it didn’t happen. As we’ve heard so many times in the Marc Bergevin era, trading for a center is hard. Hughes has done it a few times already, acquiring Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, but neither has panned out at a pivot yet.
The truth of the matter is, they will not get an impact second-line center with that kind of cap hit. In fact, former Hab Christian Dvorak had a $4.45 M cap hit, and he was never a second-line center for Montreal. Of course, if they find a trade partner who’s looking for wingers or defensemen, a trade could be done that would result in having more cap to dedicate to the center.
It’s impossible not to state at this point that Mason McTavish remains unsigned in Anaheim, and if the situation carries on for much longer, perhaps Ducks GM Pat Verbeek will be looking for a trade partner.
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Retiring Gold Coast champion David Swallow has kicked a behind with nine seconds remaining to lift his team to a thrilling one-point elimination final win over Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
Fremantle fought back from 26 points down late in the third quarter to take a six-point lead with three minutes remaining in Saturday night’s blockbuster in front of 57,507 fans.
The two recently met for the first time in person, and they shared a wholesome exchange shared to social media Saturday.
“I like you. We’d never met before last weekend,” Barkley told Kittle, sitting next to his wife Claire in what appears to be a video call. “And you remind me of me when I played basketball. When I watch you play football, I’m like, ‘That dude loves playing football.’ “
“I do,” Kittle replied with a massive grin on his face.
Barkley played in the NBA for 16 seasons on three teams. He was an 11-time NBA All-Star, 11-time All-NBA member and one-time league MVP.
He followed up his already impressive playing career with a jump as one of the most admired and beloved basketball analysts, most notably on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” alongside Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal and Ernie Johnson Jr.
Barkley’s humor and wit have made him one of the best at what he does, and just as he described Kittle on the gridiron, you can see through the TV screen just how much Barkley loves his job now and loved his job when he was on the court.
“The one thing I wanted people to understand [was], man, I loved playing basketball,” Barkley said. “I felt I was so lucky and blessed to do something so stupid for a living. We’re not like teachers. We’re not firemen. We’re not policemen. We’re not somebody in the armed service. I said, dude, we hit the lottery of life. And all you got to do is go out there and bust your hump.
“And when I finally got a chance to meet you last week, I’m like, hey man, I really wanted to meet you this weekend because when I watch you play football, I know you love your job.”
For those watching, it’s quite obvious to see Kittle loves what he does.
And he might love it a whole lot more if the 49ers can bounce back from a down 2024 season and continue their Quest for Six in 2025.
The hockey world is mourning a hockey legend as former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden has passed away at age 78 following a battle with cancer.
The Canadiens revealed the news in a press release late Friday. Dryden’s entire hockey-playing NHL career spanned from 1971-1979, helping lead the franchise to six Stanley Cups. The goaltender also played a pivotal role for Canada in net against the USSR in the 1972 Summit Series.
"Ken Dryden was an exceptional athlete, but he was also an exceptional man. Behind the mask, he was larger than life. We mourn today not only the loss of the cornerstone of one of hockey’s greatest dynasties but also a family man, a thoughtful citizen, and a gentleman who deeply impacted our lives and communities across generations. He was one of the true legends that helped shape this Club into what it is today”, Geoff Molson, Owner and President of the Montreal Canadiens said in a statement. “Ken embodied the best of everything the Montreal Canadiens are about, and his legacy within our society transcends our sport. On behalf of the Molson family and our entire organization, I would like to extend my most heartfelt condolences to his family, his friends, and all who had the privilege to cross his path and know him on a personal level.”
Dryden served as President of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1997-2004 in what has been seen as their most successful period of hockey in recent times. During that period, he hired Pat Quinn to coach the club. He also spearheaded Toronto’s move to the Eastern Conference in 1999.
Beyond hockey, Dryden pursued a law degree from McGill University. He became a best-selling author, writing several books, including ‘The Game’. And served as a Member of Parliament from 2004-2011 in the federal government.
In the release, the Canadiens state that the Dryden family is requesting privacy at this time. At their suggestion, those wishing to honor Ken’s memory are encouraged to make a donation to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, or the Concussion Legacy Foundation.
We at The Hockey News Toronto extend our condolences to Ken’s family and friends at this time.
On a day when the Montreal Canadiens’ fan base was reminded that nothing is eternal when GM Kent Hughes traded Carey Price (or his contract), the face of the franchise for much of the 21st century, the organization also had to announce the passing of another goaltender, the legendary Ken Dryden, after a battle with cancer.
As good and dominant as the Canadiens were in the 1970s, that dynasty wouldn’t have happened without Dryden. The 6-foot-4 netminder was a giant both literally and figuratively on the ice; his poise and unflappable demeanor drove opponents crazy. Always in control, Dryden used to wait out stoppage in play by leaning on his stick like a farmer enjoying a fresh breeze leaning on his pitchfork in a field. That's just how calm and relaxed he looked on the ice.
A Boston Bruins draft pick at the 1964 draft, Dryden was traded to the Canadiens alongside Alex Campbell for Guy Allen and Paul Reid, two players who never made the NHL. While the Hamilton, Ontario native made the Habs wait before turning pro, opting to play three seasons with Cornell University (posting a 76-4-1 record with save percentages of .945, .938, and .936), he was very much worth the wait.
He took the league by storm when he joined the Sainte-Flanelle. After just six regular-season games, he was named the starter for the playoffs and backstopped the Canadiens to a surprise Stanley Cup in 1970-71, earning the Conn Smythe trophy in the process. The following year, he was awarded the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, the last Montreal player to claim the title before Lane Hutson’s win last season.
After two complete seasons and another Stanley Cup, Dryden is stuck in a contractual dispute and elects to leave hockey for the first time to work in a Toronto law firm. The hiatus will only last one year before he is signed to a contract worth $150,000 per year, and he rejoins the fold. He went on to play five more seasons, winning the Cup in his last four.
At just 31 years old, the goaltender shocks the hockey world by retiring. While some enjoy being at the top of their game and dominating a sport for years, Dryden was craving a new challenge and decided he had played enough. He retired with a 258-57-74 record, a 2.24 goals-against average, and a .922 SV. Although very short, his career was simply remarkable, getting 258 wins in just 397 games is already quite an achievement, but winning six Stanley Cups and a myriad of other Trophies in just seven complete seasons is extraordinary.
After hanging up his pads, he worked in various fields, commentating on hockey at the 1980, 1984, and 1988 Olympics. He was the color commentator when Team USA accomplished its “Miracle on Ice” in 1980. He also wrote numerous books, including The Game, which is widely recognized as the best hockey book ever written. Through his books, he also became an advocate for change in the game in light of the seriousness of head injuries; his book Game Change: The Life and Death of Steve Montador and the Future of Hockey is a masterpiece that must be read at least once.
In 1997, he was named president of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the role was eventually abolished, and he departed his new functions to enter politics. A Liberal party MP, he was eventually named Minister of Social Development and stayed on until he was unseated at the 2011 federal elections.
A great athlete and an even greater mind, Dryden will remain in our memories as a man who loved to excel in all aspects of life and will forever be an inspiration to those who crave to make an impact in more than just one field. I was honoured to speak to him last season when the Canadiens paid tribute to their dominant '70s team, and I experienced firsthand just how imposing a presence he was. Thank you for inspiring us all to aim for greatness, Mr. Dryden. You will be sorely missed.
The Philadelphia Phillies invited a young fan to meet Harrison Bader following their 9-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Friday night after an apparent dispute over a home run ball hit by the center fielder during the game.
Bader hit a solo home run into the left field stands in the fourth inning at loanDepot Park. Several fans scrambled for the ball before a man came up with it and walked over and gave it to the boy and hugged him. Both were wearing Phillies gear.
Moments later, a woman, also wearing Philadelphia apparel, approached and appeared to shout at the man, who then grabbed the ball from the boy and gave it to her.
It isn’t clear from videos circulating on social media who initially secured the ball when it landed.
Later in the game, a member of the Marlins’ staff was seen giving the boy a prize pack, and he ended up going home with a signed bat from Bader, who met with him outside of the Phillies’ clubhouse after the game.
The bizarre scene quickly went viral on social media and comes just days after another viral memorabilia-snatching moment in which a man took tennis player Kamil Majchrzak’s hat from a young fan at the U.S. Open and was widely criticized for the act.
He apologized on social media on Monday and said he has returned it.
Man in viral video speaks out
NBC10 caught up with the man in the viral video, Drew Feltwell, who was the Phillies fan who scrambled to grab the home run ball for his son, Lincoln.
Feltwell shares that he grew up in Burlington County, New Jersey, but now lives in West Palm Beach, Florida, with his family.
According to Feltwell, he was attending the game with his wife, daughter, and Lincoln for Lincoln’s approaching 10th birthday.
“We’re just trying to make this week about him,” said Feltwell.
Feltwell shared that he was hoping to give that home run ball to Lincoln and get them on TV.
“I felt like super dad putting that ball in his glove and giving him a hug,” Feltwell said.
As seen in the video, once Feltwell handed Lincoln the ball, an unknown woman came up and shouted at them. That’s when he could be seen giving the ball back.
Feltwell said that the woman was screaming six inches from his ear, “That’s my ball!” and it made him jump.
“Still in disbelief that she walked down there like that,” said Feltwell.
Feltwell added, “Just trying to set an example of how to de-escalate a situation in front of my son, I guess.”
Feltwell explained that he apologized to his son for giving the woman the ball. He shared that the woman was eventually booed out of the stadium, leaving five minutes after she took the ball.
After it happened, Feltwell said a representative of the Phillies sat with the family to invite them to meet with the players. He noted that the Marlins staff was also “super,” giving his son a goodie bag.
“I wish I had the ball for my son to put in his room next to the bat, but if I had the ball, I probably wouldn’t have gotten the bat, so it worked out fine,” said Feltwell.
Feltwell said Harrison Bader was a class act. Bader spoke with Lincoln, signed the bat and took pictures with everyone.
“We ended up having a good night because of good people, said Feltwell.
Feltwell expressed that he partially regrets giving the ball to the woman because of what it meant to his son, “Putting the ball in his glove and then taking it back out killed me.”
He adds that if the woman came forward and offered the ball, we would respect it: “I hope that ball means a lot to her.”
Feltwell said they’re going to get a bat display for Lincoln’s wall to put Bader’s bat on the wall.
The Philadelphia Phillies invited a young fan to meet Harrison Bader following their 9-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Friday night after an apparent dispute over a home run ball hit by the center fielder during the game.
Bader hit a solo home run into the left field stands in the fourth inning at loanDepot Park. Several fans scrambled for the ball before a man came up with it and walked over and gave it to the boy and hugged him. Both were wearing Phillies gear.
Moments later, a woman, also wearing Philadelphia apparel, approached and appeared to shout at the man, who then grabbed the ball from the boy and gave it to her.
It isn’t clear from videos circulating on social media who initially secured the ball when it landed.
Later in the game, a member of the Marlins’ staff was seen giving the boy a prize pack, and he ended up going home with a signed bat from Bader, who met with him outside of the Phillies’ clubhouse after the game.
The bizarre scene quickly went viral on social media and comes just days after another viral memorabilia-snatching moment in which a man took tennis player Kamil Majchrzak’s hat from a young fan at the U.S. Open and was widely criticized for the act.
He apologized on social media on Monday and said he has returned it.
Man in viral video speaks out
NBC10 caught up with the man in the viral video, Drew Feltwell, who was the Phillies fan who scrambled to grab the home run ball for his son, Lincoln.
Feltwell shares that he grew up in Burlington County, New Jersey, but now lives in West Palm Beach, Florida, with his family.
According to Feltwell, he was attending the game with his wife, daughter, and Lincoln for Lincoln’s approaching 10th birthday.
“We’re just trying to make this week about him,” said Feltwell.
Feltwell shared that he was hoping to give that home run ball to Lincoln and get them on TV.
“I felt like super dad putting that ball in his glove and giving him a hug,” Feltwell said.
As seen in the video, once Feltwell handed Lincoln the ball, an unknown woman came up and shouted at them. That’s when he could be seen giving the ball back.
Feltwell said that the woman was screaming six inches from his ear, “That’s my ball!” and it made him jump.
“Still in disbelief that she walked down there like that,” said Feltwell.
Feltwell added, “Just trying to set an example of how to de-escalate a situation in front of my son, I guess.”
Feltwell explained that he apologized to his son for giving the woman the ball. He shared that the woman was eventually booed out of the stadium, leaving five minutes after she took the ball.
After it happened, Feltwell said a representative of the Phillies sat with the family to invite them to meet with the players. He noted that the Marlins staff was also “super,” giving his son a goodie bag.
“I wish I had the ball for my son to put in his room next to the bat, but if I had the ball, I probably wouldn’t have gotten the bat, so it worked out fine,” said Feltwell.
Feltwell said Harrison Bader was a class act. Bader spoke with Lincoln, signed the bat and took pictures with everyone.
“We ended up having a good night because of good people, said Feltwell.
Feltwell expressed that he partially regrets giving the ball to the woman because of what it meant to his son, “Putting the ball in his glove and then taking it back out killed me.”
He adds that if the woman came forward and offered the ball, we would respect it: “I hope that ball means a lot to her.”
Feltwell said they’re going to get a bat display for Lincoln’s wall to put Bader’s bat on the wall.
All Blacks bounce back from shock defeat to Argentina with 24-17 win
New Zealand’s unbeaten run in Auckland extends to 51 matches
New Zealand stayed firm at their Eden Park fortress to claim an attritional 24-17 win over South Africa in a heavyweight clash between the world’s top two rugby sides.
Under pressure after conceding a first-ever defeat on Argentine soil against the Pumas two weeks ago, the All Blacks responded with a performance of grit and discipline to stretch their unbeaten run at their Auckland stronghold to 51 matches.
