BTW, too bad you missed out on the opportunity to talk with Tretiak. I hope you get another chance.

1) Terry Sawchuk
2) Jacques Plante
3) Gump Worsley

people like Brodeur, Roy, Hasek and Luongo are excellent no doubt … however I maintain that anyone who came after the “Michelin Man” era began some 20 years ago, shouldn’t be in the same conversation as true pioneers like Sawchuk and Plante …

Now granted Tretiak’s play was perhaps at times suspect during the final phase of that ’72 series, but so the same could be said for the entire Soviet team. Look, I’m Canadian and yet I readily admit like so many others, that by that point in the series, the whole thing had become a “goon show” with Canada willing to win at any cost. What Bobby Clarke did to Kharlamov was despicable and had nothing to do with hockey, but that was just the one glaring example. People like Bergman, Esposito, Mahovlich, Cashman and Goldsworthy all decided that it was “open season” on the Soviets and resorted to thuggery, threats, intimidation and cheap shots like there was no tomorrow, which there wasn’t. The Soviets simply couldn’t reply in kind as “dirty play” was an alien concept to them. So Canada won in the end, though it was with an asterisk. My point however is that Tretiak’s play like the rest of his teammates, must have been adversely affected by the “negativity and ugliness” which the Canadian team decided to bring to bear.

Anyway, Tretiak went on to have an illustrious career filled with championships the world over and he became beloved even here in Canada ! His playing style set the template for the way “all” successful NHL goalies would play in the future and he did it all while maintaining a class, dignity and poise that is second to none !

Blomfeld side bar: one of my biggest regrets ever was at a Toronto hotel in the fall of 1990. I was a young salesman at meeting there and I went out alone from the lobby for some fresh air, when all of a sudden right beside me is Vladislav Tretiak ! Well stupid me, I was just so nervous that I didn’t say anything to him part from “hi” … can you believe that ?

http://www.japersrink.com/2012/10/22/3537670/backstrom-will-be-the-swedish-nicklas-backstrom

When you were given bunch of numbers to choose, why did you choose number 99?

“Because I had a 9 in my 19 and 19 was taken and then I didn’t like the other numbers so 99 was the only one.”

So you will be like the Swedish Gretzky?

“No. I will be like the Swedish Nicklas Bäckström.”

So yeah, blown out of proportion. If the person who posted this blog post did some research this would be cleared up. Then again, maybe the blogger being vague was deliberate to incite Canadian insecurities.

Anyway, not a big deal.

I would not abide by a rule in any beer league that would prevent players from wearing 99. Matter of fact, I would encourage each team to appoint a player to wear that number in homage of the “Great One”. However, there would be guidelines provided to help select to most worthy candidate, and it would have nothing to do with talent. It would be about selecting the person who best exemplifies consistency, respect of the game, integrity, honesty, leadership, perseverance, and along with that this person (male or female) would be wearing the C. Fans, we need to always look at the betterment of a situation when possible opposed to constantly spewing negativity.

Friends, I will respond to you as follows:

Comrade 1943mrmojorisin1971: Despite the fact that I kid around here a lot at PHT, I’ll nonetheless have you know that absolutely “everything” I’ve said in my submission above is “pure” fact ! I could have also mentioned that I was a “bloody” good goaltender then too, however my belief in modesty prevents me from doing that.

Comrade Stakex: Now listen. I suspect that you’re a little bit younger than me and so I’m prepared to cut you some slack. Nonetheless, the three greatest hockey players off all time are as follows:

1) Bobby Orr
2) Vladislav Tretiak
3) Wayne Gretzky

And let me tell you friend that I know what I’m talking about ! All three of these magnificent players were “cutting edge” geniuses, who were many years ahead of their respective times. Orr introduced the era of “blitzkrieg” on ice, while Gretzky later took that one notch higher with his almost “Da Vinci” like creativity. Tretiak however was truly special. Oh I remember so well back to 1972, when the local Canadian press here was going on about the fact that Russian goal-tending was still in the Dark Ages, etc. Well man did that ’72 series ever make them change their tune, eh ? To this day, I will forever swear that the greatest goal-tending display which I’ve ever witnessed, was that given by Vladislav Tretiak against the lethal and high-flying Montreal Canadiens on New Years eve in 1975 ! … in fact I still get goose bumps when I think about it now ! Tretiak played with a style that is emulated by all NHL goalies today and therefore “his” is a glorious legacy which is beyond refute !

Relax big boy, backstrom is a stand up dude and i doubt would do it to mock the great one. I had the opportunity to meet him and he is certainly didnt appear to be the type to knock someone of such stature, however if ovi wore it… Ha im not sure i would be singin the same tune

Yeah I would ! I’ve only ever owned one sports jersey in my entire life and that’s my white Soviet “away” CCCP jersey with # 20 on the back. That’s right, Vladislav Tretiak who’s my favorite player of all time ! (ie: sorry Quick and Doughty). Anyway, I had to make this shirt myself, because nothing like that was available in Canada at the time (1984). I used to wear it while playing goal in a beer league back then. I recently wore it at the Olympics here in Vancouver, when we went to visit the Russian “Sochi” Pavilion. And man was I ever a hit there ! I had “hot” Russian chicks all over me like flies and I was even interviewed by a Russian TV channel !

ps: back in the mid 80′s I was wearing this jersey with goalie pads on underneath and it still hung loosely on me … today however, it seems to have become somewhat tight-fitting ? … I guess that’s probably due to shrinkage in the wash or something eh ?

Would anyone think anything of someone wearing Tretiak’s number here?