Coaches take time to Remember
Saturday, November 10, 2007
By Jim Lang, Sportsnet.ca
Growing up in a military family, Remembrance Day always had special meaning in my life. This year, I sent an e-mail to a number of head coaches around the NHL to ask them for their thoughts on Remembrance Day.
My question to them was very simple: "What does Remembrance Day mean to you?"
Brent Sutter, New Jersey Devils:
"Remembrance day to me is an opportunity to honour the people who put their lives at stake for our country." Andy Murray, St. Louis Blues:
"It is all about the ultimate sacrifice for ones country."
Ken Hitchcock, Columbus Blue Jackets:
"My father was in the Navy. Remembrance Day means the world to everyone who has had a loved one in the military. It's obviously a time of reflection and it always was for our family." Glenn Hanlon, Washington Capitals:
"For me, although my father is still alive, I remember what he went through in World War II in the Navy. I also give thanks for all the people who have protected our freedom, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice."
Craig MacTavish, Edmonton Oilers:
"Remembrance day has become more widely recognized because of the conflicts all around the world then in the past ... Our soldiers are in Afghanistan and we need to support them as well."
NOTE: On November the 24th, the Oilers have asked their fans to donate tickets back to the team so they can distribute them to the military, which has a huge base in Edmonton. John Paddock, Ottawa Senators:
"I think it's a new appreciation of deeper values of what men and women did before us. As you become older you read stories and see movies about what people did for our country and for other countries. You start to have an appreciation for it. You get a real appreciation for the past, rather than looking at it as a half day off school or a holiday, and not really remembering. "
Ted Nolan, New York Islanders:
"Remembrance Day has always meant a great deal to my family whether we are living in Canada at the time or in the States. It's a time to think about all the sacrifices so many of our fellow Canadians have made for the good of our country. In sports we talk a lot about commitment, but nothing compares to the commitment made by the men and women who represent what Remembrance Day is all about." Mike Keenan, Calgary Flames: "A time to honour the men and women who fought for world wide freedom and democracy. It's a day of appreciation. A day for us to show our respect and gratitude for the sacrifices they made to allow us to live in a free country."
Mike Keenan had immediate family who fought in both World Wars. A grandfather in WWI, an uncle in WWII, a father-in-law in WWII and two of his wife's uncles fought in WWII. On top of this, Keenan's brother-in-law served in the forces. To top it off, one of his wife's uncles was killed at the Battle of the Bulge.
The Battle of the Bulge was one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Over 19,000 Americans died during vicious fighting in the Ardennes forest during the bitterly cold winter of 1944.
For me, I remember the men and women who fought and died for our country.
I also remember my dad. My dad served in the Canadian Air Force between 1957 and 1990. While he never saw combat, I will never forget what he did for our country. I can't even begin to tell you how many times my dad braved the cold winds howling off of Lake Ontario in mid-January just so he could service a C-130 Hercules that was preparing to take off on another mission.
My dad served in the Canadian military during the height of the Cold War. Three times a year, Dad would be assigned to the ground crew of a C-130 Hercules that would take off from CFB Trenton, then they'd fly to a remote US Air Force base in Thule, Greenland, then it would be on to Canadian Forces Station Alert in Nunavut. CFS Alert is the most northern permanently inhabited settlement in the world, where temperatures of minus-40 were the norm for the unsung heroes of the Air Force who serviced aircraft.
Sportsnet image
June 1944: Consolidated B24L Liberators of the 832nd Bomb Squadron, 486th Bomb Group, US 8th Air Force, flying from their base at Sudbury, England. (Getty)
I also remember my Dad would be up all night working on aircraft engines, then he'd come home and sleep a couple of hours before getting up to drive me to hockey practise.
It wasn't war, but I always felt it was pretty darn heroic all the same.
To all the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces, past and present, thank you.
I only ask one thing: Like the coaches around the NHL, at 11 a.m. on November the 11, please take a moment to give thanks for our freedom.
Lest we forget.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
By Jim Lang, Sportsnet.ca
Growing up in a military family, Remembrance Day always had special meaning in my life. This year, I sent an e-mail to a number of head coaches around the NHL to ask them for their thoughts on Remembrance Day.
My question to them was very simple: "What does Remembrance Day mean to you?"
Brent Sutter, New Jersey Devils:
"Remembrance day to me is an opportunity to honour the people who put their lives at stake for our country." Andy Murray, St. Louis Blues:
"It is all about the ultimate sacrifice for ones country."
Ken Hitchcock, Columbus Blue Jackets:
"My father was in the Navy. Remembrance Day means the world to everyone who has had a loved one in the military. It's obviously a time of reflection and it always was for our family." Glenn Hanlon, Washington Capitals:
"For me, although my father is still alive, I remember what he went through in World War II in the Navy. I also give thanks for all the people who have protected our freedom, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice."
Craig MacTavish, Edmonton Oilers:
"Remembrance day has become more widely recognized because of the conflicts all around the world then in the past ... Our soldiers are in Afghanistan and we need to support them as well."
NOTE: On November the 24th, the Oilers have asked their fans to donate tickets back to the team so they can distribute them to the military, which has a huge base in Edmonton. John Paddock, Ottawa Senators:
"I think it's a new appreciation of deeper values of what men and women did before us. As you become older you read stories and see movies about what people did for our country and for other countries. You start to have an appreciation for it. You get a real appreciation for the past, rather than looking at it as a half day off school or a holiday, and not really remembering. "
Ted Nolan, New York Islanders:
"Remembrance Day has always meant a great deal to my family whether we are living in Canada at the time or in the States. It's a time to think about all the sacrifices so many of our fellow Canadians have made for the good of our country. In sports we talk a lot about commitment, but nothing compares to the commitment made by the men and women who represent what Remembrance Day is all about." Mike Keenan, Calgary Flames: "A time to honour the men and women who fought for world wide freedom and democracy. It's a day of appreciation. A day for us to show our respect and gratitude for the sacrifices they made to allow us to live in a free country."
Mike Keenan had immediate family who fought in both World Wars. A grandfather in WWI, an uncle in WWII, a father-in-law in WWII and two of his wife's uncles fought in WWII. On top of this, Keenan's brother-in-law served in the forces. To top it off, one of his wife's uncles was killed at the Battle of the Bulge.
The Battle of the Bulge was one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Over 19,000 Americans died during vicious fighting in the Ardennes forest during the bitterly cold winter of 1944.
For me, I remember the men and women who fought and died for our country.
I also remember my dad. My dad served in the Canadian Air Force between 1957 and 1990. While he never saw combat, I will never forget what he did for our country. I can't even begin to tell you how many times my dad braved the cold winds howling off of Lake Ontario in mid-January just so he could service a C-130 Hercules that was preparing to take off on another mission.
My dad served in the Canadian military during the height of the Cold War. Three times a year, Dad would be assigned to the ground crew of a C-130 Hercules that would take off from CFB Trenton, then they'd fly to a remote US Air Force base in Thule, Greenland, then it would be on to Canadian Forces Station Alert in Nunavut. CFS Alert is the most northern permanently inhabited settlement in the world, where temperatures of minus-40 were the norm for the unsung heroes of the Air Force who serviced aircraft.
Sportsnet image
June 1944: Consolidated B24L Liberators of the 832nd Bomb Squadron, 486th Bomb Group, US 8th Air Force, flying from their base at Sudbury, England. (Getty)
I also remember my Dad would be up all night working on aircraft engines, then he'd come home and sleep a couple of hours before getting up to drive me to hockey practise.
It wasn't war, but I always felt it was pretty darn heroic all the same.
To all the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces, past and present, thank you.
I only ask one thing: Like the coaches around the NHL, at 11 a.m. on November the 11, please take a moment to give thanks for our freedom.
Lest we forget.
