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For 15 seasons he was Captain Crunch, the gritty heart-and-soul of several NHL teams. Today, Wndel Clark is just the Zamboni driver. At his 40-acre spread 50 kilometres north of Toronto, Mr. Clark derives as much satisfaction laying a glassy finish behind his portable ice rsurfacer as he once did wristing pucks past helpless goalies. |
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Oilers' Gagner had his own rink of dreams |
CALGARY The roots of Sam Gagner ’s extensive success in the most-famous rinks North America – and, to a certain extent, the world – can be found, in part, on a small, outdoor rink that graced the Gagner backyard throughout his childhood. Sure, Sam Gagner has enviable offensive talent. And, yes, he does have impeccable bloodlines. His dad, Dave, was a first-round pick of the New York Rangers in 1983. |
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Gagner on home turf |
CALGARY -- It was here in Calgary where Sam Gagner got his first
real taste of hockey.
Here, as a seven year old, his love for the game developed on the
frozen pond at Lake McKenzie, where his neighbour was Theo Fleury
and his father was a veteran with the Flames.It was here he'd hang around the dressing room high-fiving his
dad, Dave Gagner, and Flames tekdellie
Teammates before they charged onto the
Saddledome ice -- the same ice he streaked across last night in his
seventh NHL game."It's obviously pretty special to be here -- a dream come true as
Calgary's where I got wrapped up in the passion people have for the
game," said the Edmonton Oilers' sixth pick overall in the 2007 NHL
Entry Draft. |
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Like hockey father, like son |
LEKSAND, SWEDEN -- Dave Gagner doesn't look any different than the other Canadian parents in the crowd cheering on their teenage sons at the world junior hockey championship.
But his mannerisms give him away. While others wildly root for Canada, bite fingernails and nervously rock back and forth, the former National Hockey League forward, who is now an assistant coach with the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights, sits in the stands with his arms folded across his chest like he is still behind a bench. |
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Sam Gagner's voyage from backyard rink rat to junior star |
While When Sam Gagner was growing up in Oakville, his backyard was a hockey rink of dreams.
It had steel nets and painted lines and floodlights. It had ads on the boards. And perhaps best of all, at a time when outdoor rinks seem like exotic anachronisms, its ice was refrigerated, which meant that even this December's balmiest days wouldn't have turned it to slush.
Toronto Star January 2, 2007
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Stars on Ice, on Careers TV |
Dave Gagner and Custom Ice are featured on Careers Tv on having a backyard rink. Also starring Wendel Clark and Brendan Lenko. The full length video is available on-line. |
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USHL appealing to Gagner, son |
HIS FATHER Dave played with the Maple Leafs, but Sam Gagner appears headed to one of his dad's previous National Hockey Leagues stops. One of the most-watched players at the Gus Badali minor midget all-star invitational, Sam Gagner |
Toronto Sun; March 31, 2005 |
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For the love of the game
While National Hockey League arenas stand idle across North America, many diehard fans are heading out to local ponds and backyard rinks for a friendly game of shinny. |
Toronto Star - Homes; February 5, 2005 |
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Home Ice Advantage |
For the typical Canadian father, few things loom so romantic as building a backyard rink for your kids.
But heretofore, making and maintaining a rink has been an onerous process. And Mother Nature's more recent doses of mild winter weather have made it a bit of a shell game. |
Good Live; November 2004 |
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Backyard on Ice |
Cold enough yet? After persuading homeowners to set up 'outside rooms' for summer, retailers are pushing backyard ski slopes, ice rinks and snowmaker's. |
Wall Street Journal, Friday, February 13, 2004 |
June Fletcher reports. |
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Marlie Bantams cruise to provincial championship. |
Kanata, Ont. - Like their Toronto Marbors Midget cousins competing just a couple hundred kilometers away, the Bantam AAA Marlboros ended their season by taking home a provincial championship... |
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THE REC DEPARTMENT; A small twist to hockey; Downsized rink helps keep game manageable. |
For little kids, it's usually the latter. After five or six strides, they're tired. For young hockey players, after five or six strides, the puck remains far away, and they're tired and frustrated. And maybe want to go home... |
Boston Herald; Boston, Mass.; Jun 1, 2003 |
By MICHAEL O'CONNOR |
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