Well - since we have a few days before games, I figured I would start to ramble a bit.

As my counterpart, Patrick Hickey (www.thedriveforfive.com) is doing, I will spend some time and talk about my favorite players.  I am going to try and do some pieces on guys that would not necessarily be on the top of people’s lists.  So without further ado, here is my first, Glenn Healy.

I can actually remember the day that the Isles made the acquisition.  I was at the NHL Booster Club convention in Chicago.  I was told that the Isles got a goalie from free agency from Los Angeles.  His name was Glenn Healy.  “Good, an new goalie!”, I replied.  We need someone to fill Kelly Hrudey’s shoes, and Mark Fitzpatrick is just not enough.

I have heard from people in LA that I knew, that Healy was an affable, friendly guy, that was just not as successful as they thought he would be.  I figured that a new start would be good for him.

At this time, I really began my following full time of the Islanders.  I was looking for the opportunity to get a new jersey, and was trying to figure out which number I was going to put on.  I really figured to be unique and have a number that no many others would put on.  So I figured Healy would be the one.

On my birthday, November 14th, I treated myself to a front row seat for the game.  I got a single seat right near the bench.  And since it was Hrudey’s first game back on Long Island since his departure, I figured I would wear my new Kings 32 jersey.  As I was standing up for the National Anthem, I turned my head to the right I see Healy looking at me with the Kings jersey on.  He basically put his hand to his nose, and give me a ‘raspberry’.  I was shocked, and then actually laughed.  Just to get back in the good graces, I quickly took off the jersey, and made sure that he saw my Islanders golf shirt that I wore underneath.  When he turned around, he saw the Islander blue on, and proceeded to give a ‘Thumbs up’.  I guess he approved!

A week later, my HEALY 35 jersey was ready, and I decided to head to Cantaigue Park for Islander practice.  As he came off, I asked him to sign the jersey, to which he asked me to wait a few minutes.  When he returned, he came back with a goalie stick and gladly signed the jersey.  He had told me that it was the first Islander Healy jersey that he saw (other than his own of course).  That made me feel real good.

Glenn was not the best goalie ever, in many cases, his stats were in the middle of the pack.  He was not blessed with Patrick Roy, or Dominick Hasek stats, but you can see that he was a blue-collar lunch pail player, who always gave his 110% every time he stepped out on the ice.  I can still remember the game that he had a 50 save shutout against the Vancouver Canucks.  It still rings in as one of the best outings I ever saw out of any goaltender, over a 60 minute game.  He was all over the place, making one stop after another, standing on his head, and gave the Islanders a reason to win that game, when in all honestly they really should not have.

I became such a supporter, that my license plate was ISLES 35 (see below - I still have the plate).

For the next three years, Healy was the 1A/1B goalie duo with Mark Fitzpatrick.  Then came 1993.  This was the first year, that I spent going to Islander games, and really enjoying.  This was the year, that once the playoffs were going, the team assumed a different identity.  There was the great season that Pierre Turgeon had, which extended into the Capital playoff series, until the most unprofessional, disgusting exhibit that Dale Hunter did.  Ray Ferraro was a unsung hero that shined when the Isles needed him.  And we all know what happened that day that David Volek got that shuffle pass from Ferraro to knock Mario and the Penguins out of the playoffs.  But to me, Healy was the primary reason that the Islanders got where they did that season.  He came up with clutch save again and again, especially in the overtime games against Washington.  He kept the team in the game, and in many key spots, was the reason the Caps were not successful in that series.

Unfortunately, the dream ended disappointingly against the eventual Stanley Cup Champ Canadiens.  To this day, I get peeved, thinking about how the Habs won game 3 when there were 9 Montreal players on the ice when they scored in overtime.  But that year was so enjoyable to me.

Who would have thought that would be the last time that I would see my favorite player in an Islander uniform?

That year, we lost Healy to the Mighty Ducks in the expansion draft, and then in a 3 team deal, he ended up going to the hated Rangers.

WHY?

What were you thinking of Don Maloney, leaving him available.  He led your team to a great finish, and you just dangle him out like a carrot?  You SCHMUCK!  I can never forgive you for that!

Well - our hero was on the OTHER SIDE!  My new girlfriend (who is my wife) both had a interest in Healy, and we really liked the funny side of him.  His “Heals and Flats” show was a scream, and showed the witty personality that is Glenn.  I got to sit with him and his lovely wife Susie at Booster Club dinners, and enjoyed his company.  He also knew that we appreciated his play, and still wished him well, even though he was now playing for “THEM!”

Claire even went to the glass to see him the first game he played with the Rangers at the Coliseum.  She had a poster that said, “Although you now wear Ranger Blue, we still wish the best for you!” (or something like that).  She got a stick from him, and said thanks.  We were happy for him when he won a cup that season, but he was the ONLY person that we were glad for.  It is something for a hockey player to realize that dream; and for that we were pleased.

He spent a few more season in Broadway Blue, before heading “HOME” to play for his Leafs. He spent a few years playing for Toronto, before retiring in 2001, and going to his ‘real’ calling; broadcasting.  He always seemed to be a person that could not make a difference, unless he was yapping up a storm.  He worked a couple of years, doing color on the CBC Hockey Night in Canada, as well as being an in-studio analyst for TSN.  Now, TSN is his full time gig.

I was so happy that when we (the NYIBC) made a trip to Ottawa in 2003, we happened to see Glenn walking around the mall, that is in downtown Ottawa near the Westin Hotel.  He recognized us and chatted for a period of time.  Also, when he was with Toronto, we asked one of the guys that work the Coliseum, if we could see Glenn after a game and get a jersey signed for us.  Years ago, I bought a game worn jersey from one of the first years.  It is still a little blood dripped from a puck hitting his old plastic mask.  It is one of my most cherished possessions.

I still am a Glenn Healy fan, even though he has in the past, made some derogatory remarks about Alexei Yashin, and the Islanders ownership.  I may not liked what he said, but what I respect about Glenn, is that he will stand on his soapbox and state his mind, no matter what, and not waver.  I respect that.

Well - this was fun.  I hope you enjoyed my rambling.  Tomorrow - I will do another one.  Happy Monday!

Gary

Posted under Ramblings