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It doesn't take much to see that Wayne Gretzky and his former Oiler teammates share a special bond.
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For NHL legends, time stands still
By Shawn P. Roarke | NHL.com
November 21, 2003
EDMONTON -- While fans love watching the exploits of
their former heroes in old-timers games, the players
enjoy the behind-the-scenes reminiscing just as
much. Sure, they love playing in front of adoring crowds
that look past their diminishing skill sets and
balding heads. Who wouldn't? But, they really revel in rekindling the magical interplay they shared during their playing careers. Mark Messier still lives the NHL life as a player,
traveling all over North America with his New York
Ranger teammates. He still rides the bus from the
airport with them, he still shares a laugh before
practice, he still pulls the occasional practical
joke. So, perhaps, better than anyone, he understands
the attraction day-to-day life in the NHL can hold for
a player. Yet, he says that his former Oiler teammates still
enjoy that bond despite the fact that most have been
separated from each other for at least a decade, if
not longer. Related Links
Heritage Classic on TV- on the CBC (HD simulcast), RDS/SRC (Canada)
and NHL Center Ice, HDNet (U.S.) - 4:30 ET
Alumni Game - 7:00 ET
Canadiens vs. Oilers
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"Everybody just fit in where we left off," said
Messier, who joined the Edmonton MegaStars for Friday
morning's practice, just hours after playing a
Thursday night game against the Colorado Avalanche.
"Everybody sat in the same spots on the bus and the
conversation picked up right where it left off. "Time has stood still. I've seen most of these guys
over the years, some more than over, and it's amazing
that we can still fit in so well after all these
years." Teammate Dave Semenko is not as surprised. "We've done this in the past and it's always the
same," said Semenko. "We hook up together and it's
like time stood still. There'll be things said in the
dressing room from 20 years ago and guys will pick it
right up. People will remember who said it and what
was going on. It's pretty cool. There's a rhythm in
the room that never goes away." It was pretty much the same story in the Canadiens
MegaStars dressing room. Despite the cramped quarters,
the legendary Canadiens joked and traded barbs just
like they were once again sitting in their spacious
dressing room at the Montreal Forum. Hall of Fame defenseman Larry Robinson sat in the
middle of the fray, a smile on his face, as he took in
all the banter. He looked around and saw the faces
that traveled with him on his Stanley Cup journeys.
The voices of friends tugged at long-dormant memories
lost by the passing of time. "A lot of guys haven't changed," said Robinson as
wonder crept into his voice. "In some cases they have
a little less hair or a little more gray or white in
it. A few carry a few more pounds. But, they stay the
same. "You know what they say, 'You can take the boy from
the farm, but you can't take the boy from the farm.'
That's definitely the case here." Sometimes, when these distinguished gentlemen get
together, boy can be the operative word as the hijinks
pick up right where they left off. Both Robinson and fellow Montrealer Claude Lemieux
already had their eyes peeled in teammate Guy
Lapointe's direction. It seems that during their
playing days, Lapointe was the resident practical
joker. Friday, Robinson was regaling passers-by with
Lapointe's best pranks. Once, it seems, Lapointe was
at a junior game and he saw a scout looking at his
50-50 raffle tickets. He wrote down one of the numbers
and later approached the scout to ask if the scout had
won. The scout admitted he missed the announcement and
Lapointe said he had the winning number, reading off
one of the numbers from one of the tickets in the
scout's possession. When the scout ran down to claim
his winnings, Lapointe was waiting with a smile on his
face as the jackpot was handed to the true winner.  | |
Practice was a fun time for former teammates, like Jari Kurri and Esa Tikkanen, who was the brunt.
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Another time, Lapointe caught a ride to the rink
with an unidentified player. As they walked to the
building, Lapointe told the driver he forgot something
in his car and asked for the keys. Then, he moved the
car to the other side of the arena and returned the
keys without comment. After the game, the player
arrived at his parking spot only to find his car
missing. Lapointe let the player believe his car was
stolen for a few minutes before letting him in on the
prank. Lemieux admitted that he expects a similar exploit
this weekend from the wily Lapointe. "Let's put it this way," said Lemieux with a wink.
"I'll be looking around my locker and under my skates
tomorrow." No matter how much time has passed, Edmonton's
Randy Gregg says it will always be that way when
teammates reunite. That fact, he says, is part of the
reason the players lap up opportunities such as this
weekend's when they are presented. Gregg said he immediately picked up on teammate
Dave Hunter's habit of carping on anybody that holds
up the bus. He also admitted to missing Semenko's
unique commentary on all things. Other players
admitted to missing Esa Tikkanen's fractured English,
while still more just missed the laughter that might
break out at any time when one escapade or another is
brought back to life through a good story. "I think, basically, that it is a reflection of the
fact that we did a repetitive activity with most of
these same players for 10 years straight," he
explained. "Let's face it, we spent more time with
these guys than we did with our wives probably during
our careers. When you spend a lot of time with guys
like that, especially when you win championships like
we did, a special bond forms. That never goes
away." Especially when the players can enjoy quality time
together again after so many years like they have this
weekend in Edmonton.
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