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2015-03-18 16:44:04 UTC
http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/03/17/don-smokey-mcleod-remembered-by-former-teammates
Don 'Smokey' McLeod, likely the biggest fan favourite of the WHA's Calgary Cowboys, passed away on March 11.
He was 68.
"I'll tell you what -- my life wouldn't have been complete without his friendship," said Bearcat Murray, who was the athletic therapist and trainer for the Cowboys during their time in the Stampede City and had that role with the Calgary Flames for many years.
McLeod, who is survived by two daughters, three grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, was the backbone for the Cowboys for their pair of seasons here -- 1975-76 and '76-77 -- and was known for being a pioneer at playing the puck as a goaltender and one of the first netminders to use a curved stick.
"He never did score a goal, but I thought he would," Murray said. "He'd get the puck and shoot it overtop everybody. He could handle that puck like a darn."
McLeod, who hailed from Trail, B.C., thus the nickname, won the Memorial Cup with the Edmonton Oil Kings in 1966, defeating Bobby Orr and the Oshawa Generals in the best-of-seven series.
He turned pro with the Detroit Red Wings organization, finally stepping into the NHL in 1970-71 before being claimed by the Philadelphia Flyers after that season and spending one year split between the big leagues and the minors.
He jumped to the WHA for its inaugural season, 1972-73, and the following year led the Houston Aeros, who featured Gordie Howe, to the Avco Cup championship, a year in which he was named the league's top goalie and to the loop's all-star team.
"One thing I know for sure is you don't win a championship without a hot goalie, and he was darn good for our hockey club when we needed him," said Mark Howe, Gordie's son and a hall of famer who was part of the Aeros team as an 18-year-old rookie.
"Everybody talks about how goalies like Marty Brodeur and Ron Hextall handled the puck, but back in the '70s, Smokey was every bit as good as those guys at it, and I don't think he ever got the credit for it."
The following season, McLeod moved to the WHA's Vancouver Blazers, who relocated to Calgary a season later and became the Cowboys.
Butch Deadmarsh, his life-long friend who also hailed from Trail and played for the Cowboys, recounted his favourite story about McLeod's ability to shoot the puck, but it was in retaliation for a time Bobby Hull blistered a rocket just over his head. McLeod, after a whistle, told the Golden Jet he'd do the same and followed through on his promise minutes later.
"We just all laughed on the bench and said, 'Way to go, Smoke!' " said Deadmarsh, laughing at the memory. "Great guy who always wanted to have a super time at life."
McLeod retired after the 1978-79 season, which he split between the Quebec Nordiques and the Edmonton Oilers, but not before his reputation as a free spirt was solidified.
"He was a goalie, and most goalies march to the beat of their own drum, and he was no different," Howe said, before recalling his favourite tale about the netminder.
"In those days, streaking was a common thing, and I remember one time Smokey went streaking through a bar. The thing that was different was that most of the time with streakers, they went running by everyone, but Smokey went at his own pace, and it wasn't a fast pace. He was streaking at about two miles per hour. It was a sight to behold."
McLeod worked for Hershey Canada until he retired in 2003.
Don 'Smokey' McLeod, likely the biggest fan favourite of the WHA's Calgary Cowboys, passed away on March 11.
He was 68.
"I'll tell you what -- my life wouldn't have been complete without his friendship," said Bearcat Murray, who was the athletic therapist and trainer for the Cowboys during their time in the Stampede City and had that role with the Calgary Flames for many years.
McLeod, who is survived by two daughters, three grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, was the backbone for the Cowboys for their pair of seasons here -- 1975-76 and '76-77 -- and was known for being a pioneer at playing the puck as a goaltender and one of the first netminders to use a curved stick.
"He never did score a goal, but I thought he would," Murray said. "He'd get the puck and shoot it overtop everybody. He could handle that puck like a darn."
McLeod, who hailed from Trail, B.C., thus the nickname, won the Memorial Cup with the Edmonton Oil Kings in 1966, defeating Bobby Orr and the Oshawa Generals in the best-of-seven series.
He turned pro with the Detroit Red Wings organization, finally stepping into the NHL in 1970-71 before being claimed by the Philadelphia Flyers after that season and spending one year split between the big leagues and the minors.
He jumped to the WHA for its inaugural season, 1972-73, and the following year led the Houston Aeros, who featured Gordie Howe, to the Avco Cup championship, a year in which he was named the league's top goalie and to the loop's all-star team.
"One thing I know for sure is you don't win a championship without a hot goalie, and he was darn good for our hockey club when we needed him," said Mark Howe, Gordie's son and a hall of famer who was part of the Aeros team as an 18-year-old rookie.
"Everybody talks about how goalies like Marty Brodeur and Ron Hextall handled the puck, but back in the '70s, Smokey was every bit as good as those guys at it, and I don't think he ever got the credit for it."
The following season, McLeod moved to the WHA's Vancouver Blazers, who relocated to Calgary a season later and became the Cowboys.
Butch Deadmarsh, his life-long friend who also hailed from Trail and played for the Cowboys, recounted his favourite story about McLeod's ability to shoot the puck, but it was in retaliation for a time Bobby Hull blistered a rocket just over his head. McLeod, after a whistle, told the Golden Jet he'd do the same and followed through on his promise minutes later.
"We just all laughed on the bench and said, 'Way to go, Smoke!' " said Deadmarsh, laughing at the memory. "Great guy who always wanted to have a super time at life."
McLeod retired after the 1978-79 season, which he split between the Quebec Nordiques and the Edmonton Oilers, but not before his reputation as a free spirt was solidified.
"He was a goalie, and most goalies march to the beat of their own drum, and he was no different," Howe said, before recalling his favourite tale about the netminder.
"In those days, streaking was a common thing, and I remember one time Smokey went streaking through a bar. The thing that was different was that most of the time with streakers, they went running by everyone, but Smokey went at his own pace, and it wasn't a fast pace. He was streaking at about two miles per hour. It was a sight to behold."
McLeod worked for Hershey Canada until he retired in 2003.