Reading and talking about ” The Making of Slap Shot ” by Jonathon Jackson last week revived a very special memory.
Worldwide, there are individuals who know every line of the dialogue from the movie and recite it and work into their own lives.
Such was the case of the Owen Sound Platers circa 1997.
Everywhere these guys went they uttered, ” we’re on the Road “, ” yeah, we’ve got a lotta losses ” , ” you see this nickel, Reg “, all of the classic lines.
One night at the Harry Lumley-Bayshore, well before game time I went into the press box to get ready for the game that night, as Plater captain Dan Snyder went through his ritual of running around the upper concourse as a warm up.
For some reason, I put a cd of Frank Pelico, the famed organist from Chicago Stadium, and blasted it over the sound system.
[CLIP]
As the organ rolled on, I suddenly heard the clanging of footsteps on the metal steps of the Press Box and a moment later, Snyder poked his head into the Press Box and admonished, just like Reggie Dunlop in ” Slap Shot ” , ‘ don’t EVER play Lady of Spain ‘.
Like ” Slap Shot ” itself, the good memories of Dan Snyder continue in Owen Sound.
I’m Fred Wallace