In the Fall of 2004, Neil Conway was an underage rookie goaltender for the Owen Sound Attack.
Dan LaCosta was the established starter for the Attack, so early in his career, Neil was relegated to backup duties night after night.
The story goes that Conway’s billet family, the Bishops, felt Neil needed something to help pass the time while backing up LaCosta, so they gave him a bag of licorice to enjoy on the bench.
One night in Owen Sound while Conway was enjoying his licorice, Dan LaCosta was struggling in the goal and was eventually pulled.
Somewhat panicked, Conway rammed the licorice bag into his goal pads and headed out to make his Ontario Hockey League debut.
Sure enough, on the first stoppage, the game was delayed while the game officials and Neil Conway swept the crease clean of red licorice strips which had been dislodged and now were on the ice surface.
I thought of this incident recently while reading Jamie McLennan’s book, ” The Best Seat In The House. “
While backing up for St Louis one night at the Bell Centre in Montreal, McLennan wasn’t on the Blues bench, as the backup actually sits across the ice from the team.
Unable to resist the legendary hot dogs in Montreal, McLennan stuffed one in his mitt and artfully put his glove over his face from time to time as he devoured the dog, unseen by anyone.
Between periods, Blues coach Joel Quenneville called McLennan into his office and asked outright if McLennan enjoyed his hot dog.
McLennan was busted, but it’s one of many great hockey stories he relates during the ” Best Seat In The House. “
I’m Fred Wallace