A Rookie Reporter Looking for a Scoop

Preface

I felt compelled this morning to share this excerpt from an article I published awhile ago because I will always remember interviewing Ron for the first time and how nervous I was to be in his presence. Ron was so giving of his time and patient with this want to be broadcaster. One of my fondest memories from that interview was how he described being around Glenn Hall for the first time as a young reporter during his first NHL training camp while searching for a scoop here in Moncton.

A Rookie Reporter Looking for a Scoop

From coaches and players to reporters, it seems like all the future stars of the NHL have touched down in Moncton from one time or another.

Television’s iconic host of Hockey Night in Canada Ron MacLean has fond memories of the City of Moncton, the Coliseum and the honorary host of the Calgary Flames Training Camp, Charlie Bourgeois. 

MacLean’s first NHL Training Camp as a reporter was in the Hub, covering the parent club and the Moncton Golden Flames.  

“It was 1985, and Charlie Bourgeois was our host/ambassador, he showed us a lot of great times during that Camp, going to Fishermen’s Wharf and Shediac. I just remember all the scenes,” MacLean said. 

“The first evening we arrived, there was a big spread put on by the six owners of the Golden Flames. For the first time in my life, I saw champagne bottles on ice, next to lobster claws, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” explained MacLean. 

“At that get together I was sitting with Al MacInnis, and he turned to me and said, ‘Ron do you think I’m being traded,’ I thought to myself you have to be kidding Al, you are one of the greatest players in the history of hockey and you are worried about getting traded.”

“I’m a kid from all over Canada, of course being an Air Force brat, and there I am sitting with Glenn “Freaking” Hall,” said MacLean. 

 “It was a great memory of Moncton, the Coliseum and Ziggy’s bar and going to Shediac for a big lobster feast, it was a special time,” MacLean said.

Bourgeois who was born and raised in Moncton is featured in the last chapter of MacLean’s bestseller ‘Hockey Towns’. “I think it’s the best chapter of the book and the most compelling story. When we were there for Hometown Hockey a few years back, it was neat to see Charlie again.”

The then “rookie reporter” was searching for a scoop. The pride of Red Deer, Alberta wanted the low down on who was going to be the Flames back up netminder.  The Flames Goaltending Consultant/Coach at that time was the aforementioned legendary goaltender and Hockey Hall of Famer Glenn Hall.

“I wanted to sneak a look into Hall’s binder.”

“There were three kids back then trying to make it to the NHL as the Flames back up to Reggie Lemelin, Doug Dadswell, Rick Kosti and Marc D’Amour,” explained MacLean.

“I wanted to see how they were being ranked, so I just thought I would slide in two rows behind him and look over his shoulder into the binder.”  In big block letters with black sharpie marker there was a big “FU” written on page. “He knew what I was up to,” MacLean said bursting into laughter.   “That was a great memory of that Training Camp.”

Ron MacLean along with the entire Hockey Night in Canada panel will touch down in Moncton for Hockey Day in Canada next week. It’s an event not only to pay tribute to the game of hockey across our country, but to remember the impact all of the small cities and towns make to our great game from grassroots to hockey’s highest level. The game of hockey like no other has an unique way of connecting us all.

The hockey world lost a true legend of the game in Mr. Glenn Hall. I never had the honour or privilege of meeting Mr. Hall, but some of the stories I have heard over the years about the player, but more importantly who he was as a person are truly remarkable. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.