to move up and down
This sums it up: Leafs goaltender James Reimer laid face-down on the ice for minutes after Patrice Bergeron scored for the Bruins in overtime — capping an amazing comeback after Toronto held a 4-1 lead in the third period. (Photo: Charles Krupa/The Associated Press)
Yes, yes the Elisha Cuthbert eye roll is dominating the news today, which is kind of surprising given the OT thriller between the Leafs and Bruins on Wednesday night.
But we cleared a few things up: No, Cuthbert was not giving the stink eye to James Reimer’s wife April. OK? OK. You may now continue your life/stop making “Kim Bauer” jokes. Phew.
‘Classless’ fan toting ‘Toronto Stronger’ sign, mocking ‘Boston Strong,’ at Leafs-Bruins game causes outcry
A Toronto fan sparked social media outrage on Monday night by toting a “Toronto Stronger” sign at the Leafs-Bruins playoff game.
The slogan appeared to be a mocking reference to “Boston Strong,” used to boost spirits in the wake of the Boston Marathon Bombings.
Boston fans quickly took to Twitter to berate the fan — and lost no opportunity to poke fun at the opposing team’s less-than-stellar record. (Twitter)
Since it has been awhile since the Leafs have been made the playoffs has a refresher on the protocols.
(via nationalpostsports)
Toronto Maple Leafs even managed to bungle Brian Burke’s firing. (Cartoon: Gary Clement/National Post)
The end? An unexpected bomb appears to have dropped on the eve of training camp, with multiple reports suggesting the Toronto Maple Leafs have fired general manager Brian Burke.
Burke was named general manager on Nov. 29, 2008. The Leafs hold the NHL’s longest active post-season drought, having not made the playoffs since 2004.
Several Leafs officials could not be reached for comment, but the team scheduled a news conference promising a major announcement at 1:45 p.m. ET.
This toilet is probably too expensive for your tastes.
An Ontario lawyer is now the proud owner of a toilet from the Toronto Maple Leafs’ former dressing room.
Jim Vigmond, of Barrie, Ont., bought the unusual item for $5,300 at auction after the piece he really wanted — the 1967 Stanley Cup banner — got too expensive.
The toilet was offered up along with more than 100 items from Maple Leaf Gardens, which was home to the NHL team until 1999.Vigmond plans on putting the toilet in his sports memorabilia room, where he wants to sit on it, light up a Cuban cigar, open a bottle of 30-year-old single malt, and hopefully, watch a Leafs game sometime soon.
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke marches in the city’s Pride parade on July 1 with his son Patrick and comedian Rick Mercer.
Burke’s son Brendan died in a car accident in February 2010. Two months before he died, he told the world he was gay. Burke had promised to march with him in the Pride parade that year, and he kept his promise.
The Post’s Bruce Arthur wrote about the first parade Burke marched in to honour his son. This piece was nominated for a National Newspaper Award.
What’s this? It looked like we posted the wrong version of the Leafs letter. Here is the correct version. (Illustration: Steve Murray/National Post)
Raptors did it, Canucks did it, and now Leafs: Apologizing to frustrated fans
In an open letter to fans published in newspapers across Toronto, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum signed his name at the bottom of a mea culpa: “We are disappointed with the results of this season.”
“We have fallen short of everyone’s expectations, and for that we are sorry,” the letter reads. “We take full responsibility for how this team performs on the ice, and we make no excuses. The way the year ended was unacceptable. Results are the only measure of success in sports and the results speak for themselves.”
Same old song
Bruce Arthur: The last time the Toronto Maple Leafs won a game in the sterile and lucrative confines of the Air Canada Centre it vaulted them to seventh in the Eastern Conference, four points behind the fourth-place Philadelphia Flyers, who were coming to Toronto a few days later. “You have to go through a hard time to realize what it takes to win,” said Leafs goaltender James Reimer that night, presuming the hard times were behind them. Well, we all make mistakes.
That was 43 days before Tuesday night’s 5-2 loss at home to the New York Islanders, which came one day after Boston dug the Leafs a new sub-basement with an 8-0 thrashing. The Leafs managed 13 shots on Monday. They managed 14 shots on Tuesday. The past two games, the lights have gone out.
Photo: Mike Cassese/Reuters
The 2013 Winter Classic will feature …
The Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, who will play at Michigan Stadium (a 100,000 seat venue). Bring your thermal underwear.
Maple Leaf Gardens time capsule opened
A small ivory elephant found in a 1931 time capsule during the overhaul of Maple Leaf Gardens has the new owners of the building baffled.
Experts contacted by Loblaws and Ryerson University for insight were unable to explain why the elephant was there.
The small carved trinket, made with fragments of blue ribbon, was among a dozen items — including hockey rule books and newspapers that look aged but remain legible — in the time capsule unveiled on Thursday in the engineering building at Ryerson.
To solve the elephant mystery, the public is being asked to suggest why it might have been included in the handmade copper box. The box itself is 30 centimetres by 20 cm by 20 cm and its inner lid is engraved with a name, address and date: M.B.Campbell, 124 Lindsay Ave, 9/21/31. Photos: Aaron Lynett/National Post; MLG exterior: Peter J. Thompson/National Post
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke was honoured by PLFAG Canada (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) with the “Ally Award” on Monday. Here is part of his speech via MapleLeafs.com (Photo: Mark Blinch/Reuters):
I believe that the PFLAG “Ally Award” has great significance, and I was flattered to accept it on Monday night on behalf of the Burke family. But I hope the day comes, and soon, when this award is retired as obsolete.
A parent’s unconditional love and acceptance of their child is unremarkable, and should be automatic. It deserves no accolades or praise. Make no mistake, the hero here was Brendan. What Brendan did took courage. Coming out in arguably the most macho of the professional sports. Now that was worthy of an award.
Most walls in society have been breached or levelled over time. But not this one – professional sports in North America has no gay presence. And certainly the NHL does not. These walls have not been breached, have not been levelled. Bias, suspicion and prejudice still prevail. Our goal has to be to continue to level these barriers.
Great progress has been made. But much hard work still lies ahead. Gradual change has been interspersed with radical statements and positions. Brendan’s lot as a gay man in general was far better than it would have been in 1980. But the process must continue. Today, we are talking about battling ignorance, fear and bias. And I am going to ask everybody to agree to take three steps going forward – and to eliminate homophobia.
Why am I receiving this award? Because my son was gay. And I lost him in a car accident on February 5, 2010. Brendan came out in a very public way shortly before we lost him. He changed lives, and he has inspired me to do the same.
