I like to walk.
This summer on a lengthy junket along the Owen Sound shoreline, I ran into Curtis Sanford and we engaged in a lengthy conversation at the edge of his driveway.
Actually, in somewhat of a rarity, Sanford, a man of few words, did most of the talking.
At the time of the discussion, Curtis Sanford was a goaltender without a team.
His contract with the Montreal Canadiens had expired and the message Sanford was receiving was that there likely wouldn’t be a new contract with the Habs, or with their American Hockey League club based in Hamilton.
Truthfully, Sanford admitted he didn’t mind playing in Hamilton, in fact, he lamented the alteration in minor pro hockey where once there was some permanence attached to an AHL roster, where in this day and age, it’s more like one and done.
But that was July, maybe August.
In the ensuing period of time, Curtis Sanford was signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets, and it appeared Syracuse, New York would be his new place of employment with the AHL Crunch.
But, thanks to a 1-9 & 1 start, the door at Columbus opened wide and tonight when the Blue Jackets host Vancouver, Sanford could make his 13th consecutive start in goal for the Jackets.
It’s not quite Cinderella as the Columbus is still last in the NHL West, but there has been a ray of hope provided by Owen Sound’s Curtis Sanford, who didn’t see much hope of NHL opportunity only 4 months ago.
I’m Fred Wallace