"THE GLORIOUS YESTERDAYS, WHEN WE COULD NOT LOSE"

Yes, I remember the Summit Series of '72, but the Canada Cup of '76 remains crystal clear. I remember the WHA.  I remember Bobby Orr, but Guy Lafleur, I idolized. I still hear Danny Gallivan, when the winning goal is scored. I remember boards and ice without advertising and watching the game in black and white on Saturday night. Playing minor hockey without a cage, and only a mouthgaurd. I remember clearing the ice with shovels before our games, outdoors. I remember trading hockey cards, sleeping over at a buddies, all while watching Sittler and his 10 point night. I remember really knowing, Montreal would find a way against Boston in 1979. I felt "cursed" about never finding Lafleur in my packs of hockey cards. I remember putting at least 15 pieces of gum from the packs, into my mouth, at once, only to find the flavour still only lasted 30 seconds. My hockey gloves were made mostly of leather, and my stick, completely of wood. I remember walking a couple of miles to get my skates sharpened, for $1.25. I remember "Showdown" and "Peter Puck" between periods. I still have my 1st trophy, from the 75-76 season, I started playing late, at age nine. I had an NHLPA lunchbox and thermos, with those fascimilie autographs, the thermos glass liner broke with milk inside, and I didn't tell mom for weeks...the smell, I will never forget. I had a Canadiens toque, that matched my "skate-a-thon" team jacket, and I had skated so many damn laps, it was nearly free. I dreamed of playing like Lafleur, but I knew, I looked more like Risebrough. I hustled hard, all the time. In the brief moments of our childhoods, everything seemed simpler and everything would be all right...after all...Montreal would win again.     Cheers to our glorious yesterdays, and may we never forget.   Mark Presley