And what a long year it was in Ottawa. With just a few games left on the schedule, the team had just nine wins to their credit and all of them had come at home. The team battled the New York Islanders on April 10, 1993, and, with the captain’s help, they finally got a road victory. In fact, he recorded a hat trick that included the game-winning goal and an empty-net insurance tally with just a second left on the clock.
“After I scored that third goal, I said to Jamie Baker ‘We’re going to Disneyland! We’re going to Disneyland!’ There was a lot of media there in Long Island, and after they left, the guys were waiting down by the bus and I came down and some of the guys were bowing down like they were in Wayne’s World saying ‘We’re not worthy!’”
Just four days later, Boschman appeared in his final NHL game against the Boston Bruins and scored for the last time. While he did not particularly enjoy what happened on the ice in Ottawa during their first year, he is still active with the club as an alumni member to this day.
“It wasn’t a positive end at all. It was very difficult way to end my career because we had a losing situation, but we loved the city. For what the Senators do for the community of Ottawa and how involved they are, we feel very pleased to be a part of that.”
Laurie Boschman
Doug Smail
A fan favourite with the Winnipeg Jets for over a decade, Smail spent part of the 1990–91 season with the Minnesota North Stars club that went to the Stanley Cup Final before he signed on with the Quebec Nordiques as a free agent. Following a rough year that saw him put up points at a decent clip but miss time because of injury, he signed the dotted line with the Senators as they headed into the NHL ice wars.
“I was obviously winding down my career and had an injury in Quebec, but I would have liked to spend some more time with them,” he said. “It was a little frustrating in Ottawa, but you knew that they were going to have to start building soon. I had been through the same thing in Winnipeg, but it was hard on some of the older guys.”
From the start, fans in Ottawa were in for a treat, as Smail scored two goals in their opening game against the Montreal Canadiens.
“It was good. We had a lot of young guys on the team and they were pumped up. It was a legitimate win and Montreal was coming into a bee’s nest.”
The reality from that point on, however, was grim. And despite his experience, the club was not using him to his full potential.
“It was just a hard year for a lot of guys. You weren’t getting the time on the ice you needed. I don’t have a lot of fondness for that year. The first night was great, but it was difficult. There were guys who could play, but you needed more veterans in order for the young guys to develop.”
Mercifully, Smail was released from his contract with about a month to go in the regular season, and his last NHL game came against the San Jose Sharks on March 2, 1993. From there, he joined the San Diego Gulls of the IHL for the remainder of the year. Part of the reason he went was because former NHL player Rick Dudley was looking to start a new league similar to the old World Hockey Association.
“They were planning on getting three or four NHL guys near the end of their career. It was going to be a nice fast-paced skating game. They were a decade ahead of their time. It might have evolved into something the NHL would have had to take a look at. It was kind of a hush-hush thing. If I recall, they had six commitments and needed eight. There was also the potential to get a television contract.”
When that league never materialized, Smail headed over to Great Britain for three seasons to finish out his professional career.
Brad Marsh
A defensive stalwart never known for generating a lot of offence, Marsh played it smart in his own end throughout his career and was extremely popular with fans wherever he went. In 1991–92, he hit the 1,000-game plateau in a Detroit Red Wings uniform but was sold back to Toronto at the end of the year. A little more than a month later, the Maple Leafs decided to move him to the Ottawa Senators.
In Ottawa, Marsh was named an assistant captain and was looked upon as a leader for their young blueline corps.
He caused some controversy in training camp, as the Sens wanted him to sign a waiver if he wanted to continue playing without a helmet. He initially refused, but he relented in time for the season opener. As a result of his popularity, a fan club was formed in Ottawa and he was a Commissioner’s Selection for the 1993 NHL All-Star Game. In that contest, he scored his only goal of the season and the crowd in Montreal roared when it happened.
“I thought to have him and Boschman there was a good idea,” said Doug Smail. “They were determined athletes and scared of nothing. I think John Ferguson might have had some influence in getting them and they could have been around for a few more years. They were heart-and-soul guys.”
Late in the season, Marsh suffered from back spasms and missed some time, but he earned his last NHL point on March 7, 1993, with an assist on a goal by Mark Lamb against Chicago. His last big-league game took place against Boston on April 14.
Although he had signed with Ottawa in the hopes of getting an assistant coaching position with them, the team declined to offer him a job at the end of the year — even though they claimed to the public that Marsh had turned them down. Fans were naturally upset that the organization had cut him loose, and he was eventually offered any position he wanted in the front office. He remained with the Senators for several years and is still active with their alumni association.
Brad Marsh
Peter Sidorkiewicz
The only goaltender in NHL history to hail from Poland, Sidorkiewicz was a junior standout in the early 1980s before he got an extended apprenticeship in the AHL. In 1988–89, he finally had a shot at regular NHL work with the Hartford Whalers and was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team. Over the three seasons that followed, he saw a lot of work in net, but with the rise of prospect Kay Whitmore, his time with the club drew to an end as they failed to protect him in the expansion draft.
There was little doubt from the start that Sidorkiewicz was going to be Ottawa’s top man in net, but nobody could have expected the grace he displayed for such a weak club. In the season opener against Montreal, he made 25 saves in the 5–3 win. But another victory did not come soon, as he went winless over his next 20 games.
“He was a horse for us,” said Chris Luongo. “He was under the gun every night, but he didn’t show frustration in my recollection. He went about his business and was able to move on to the next game.”
By the time the All-Star Game rolled around, Sidorkiewicz had a record of 4–32–3 with a 4.40 goals-against average. Those numbers were often regarded with disdain, but nevertheless his dedication to the game was rewarded with a spot on the Wales Conference squad. Since he was in the net for the second period and present when the game-winning goal was scored, he was credited with the win. His workload was reduced over the second half of the season, but unfortunately he injured his shoulder during the last game of the year. He underwent surgery right away, but the Senators made the puzzling decision to trade him away to the New Jersey Devils soon after. He was supposed to take over as their number one goalie the next year but was still recovering. As a result a young goaltender named Martin Brodeur took over, and Sidorkiewicz spent most of his remaining playing days back in the minors.
Peter Sidorkiewicz
EXPANSION YEAR RECORD: 23–54–7
(53 points — sixth in Norris Division)
COACH: Terry Crisp
GENERAL MANAGER: Phil Esposito
FIRST GAME: October 7, 1992 —
7–3 win vs. Chicago Blackhawks
FIRST GOAL: October 7, 1992 by Chris Kontos
TAMPA BAY
LIGHTNING
Hockey in Florida? To most NHL fans a little more than 20 years ago, that seemed as unrealistic as anything could possibly be. With the league expanding into new territories in the 1990s, though, it became a reality that, for better or worse, has had an impact on the game.
In the late 1980s, the NHL wanted to expand, as their membership had been relatively stable in recent years. Two groups from the Tampa-St. Petersburg area were interested in having a club at the time. The one headed up by future Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos and former goaltender Jim Rutherford had more financial stability, but they reportedly balked at the idea of paying the $50 million the league asked for up front. The other candidate, Phil and Tony Esposito’s group, did what it took to get the full amount ready and had in place financing from a group of Japanese businesses that included golf course and resort Kokusai Green.
Wanting the big cash infusion, the NHL gave the green light to the Esposito brothers, and Phil served as president and general manager while Tony looked after scouting. Then they hired former Calgary Flames coach Terry Crisp to run the bench, and the Lightning were ready to start building a contender. The 1992 NHL Expansion Draft was not exactly favourable to the two new teams coming in, but Tampa Bay made the best of it by getting some minor-leaguers with offensive potential along with enforcer Basil McRae and experienced players like Brian Bradley and Rob Ramage.
It became apparent early on that goaltending could be a problem, so they made trades to get J.C. Bergeron and Pat Jablonski, and they added some free agent skaters like Marc Bergevin, Rob Zamuner and John Tucker to give the team a little more depth. They also had the first overall selection in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft and took a Czechoslovakian defenceman named Roman Hamrlik who was viewed as a potential All-Star.
Once training camp began, the Lightning made headlines the world over when they signed female goaltender Manon Rheaume as a free agent. She had previously played in a game for the QMJHL’s Trois-Rivieres Draveurs and got her chance to make history during a pre-season contest against the St. Louis Blues. Appearing in one period, she surrendered just two goals and was later sent down to the minors to gain some pro experience.
The Lightning made their NHL debut on October 7, 1992, and sent more shockwaves through the hockey world when they defeated the previous year’s Stanley Cup finalists, the Chicago Blackhawks, by a score of 7–3. Chris Kontos, known as a bit of a streaky scorer, potted four goals that night at the Expo Hall. In fact, Tampa Bay had a very good start for an expansion club and even won five of six games during a stretch in early November.
That momentum was not going to last long, though, as they had some killer road trips because of being placed in the Norris Division alongside Chicago, St. Louis and Minnesota. They were also prone to long winless streaks and had at least six of them that lasted a minimum of five games each. As a result, they finished the year with just 53 points. But for most fans, it was quite the consolation compared to what the Ottawa Senators went through during the 1992–93 season. The most pleasant surprise for the team had to have been Bradley’s team-leading 42 goals, which stood as a club record for almost 15 years.
In 1993–94, the Lightning moved to the Florida Suncoast Dome for their home games and showed some improvement through the addition of goalie Daren Puppa. By 1995–96, they were playoff bound, but they lost in the first round. After that, five difficult seasons followed as a direct result of how the team was treated by Kokusai Green.
Throughout the team’s early years, there were often rumours that the Tampa Bay club was headed for bankruptcy, since their operating budget was limited at the best of times. It was also no secret that the club was for sale at almost any price, but the convoluted ownership structure made it difficult to know who actually owned the team. Any of the money invested into it came from loans, and cash shortages were common. The principal owner was Takashi Okubo, and he was a man veiled in mystery. Not one person from the team or the league saw him at a game or in any situation until the spring of 1998, and the NHL was not pleased that the team was swimming in debt.
The Lightning were eventually sold to Art Williams, who removed the Esposito brothers early in the 1998–99 season, despite telling them that their jobs were safe. He also boldly stated that 1998 first overall draft pick Vincent Lacavalier was hockey’s “new Michael Jordan” and was soundly humiliated in the press. The massive debt left behind by Kokusai Green was too much for him to handle, however, and he sold the team to Detroit Pistons owner William Davidson. After that, there were gradual changes made to the management team and prospects were allowed time to develop, and as a result the team eventually earned more respect from opponents. They won two straight Southeast Division crowns and captured the Stanley Cup in 2003–04.
In the years immediately after the lockout, Tampa Bay had limited postseason success and the team was up for sale once again. They finished last in the league in 2007–08, but were purchased by OK Hockey LLC, a group that included movie producer Oren Koules and former NHL player Len Barrie. The next season was even worse, despite the presence of star rookie Steven Stamkos, and they cleaned house once again in 2009–10 when the team was purchased by Jeffrey Vinik at the end of the campaign.
There was new hope for Lightning fans because the new owner hired Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman to take on the role of general manager. Guy Boucher was hired as coach and the team responded with a return to postseason glory. They made it to the seventh game of the Eastern Conference final before being eliminated by the Boston Bruins. The 2011–12 and 2012–13 campaigns saw them miss the playoffs, but the future finally looks bright once again for hockey in Tampa Bay.
JC Bergeron
Brian Bradley
When you’re getting only two minutes a game or playing almost exclusively on the power play, it can get a little frustrating for a player, so Bradley was able to breathe a sigh of relief when the Toronto Maple Leafs declined to protect him for the expansion draft.
“I just didn’t get the ice time and didn’t get to play much under coach Tom Watt,” he said. “There were times where I would sit on the bench for a period and a half. When I heard that I got picked in the expansion draft, I was playing golf with Al MacInnis out in Calgary. I was hoping that it was going to be Tampa Bay instead of Ottawa because I was hoping to have a change and go down to the States.”
His dream came true with a new home in Tampa Bay and scoring the first pre-season goal in franchise history. Despite the tremendous odds against first-year success, he recalls being optimistic at the time.
“We obviously knew that we were an expansion team, but when you looked around at the guys that were there, and we looked at our team and we felt that we were going to be able to compete every night and be competitive. We were in mostly all the games, and after the opening-night win over Chicago, we had the fans behind us. I think they appreciated the effort and that’s how the game grew to the next level.”
After going scoreless over the first two games of the season, Bradley put together a nine-game point streak that included a triumphant return to Toronto, where he had an assist in a losing effort on October 15, 1992. The next game was down the highway against the Sabres, but the Lightning encountered a bit of a problem when they got into town.
“We flew into Buffalo, and the ownership group never paid our hotel bill and the Hilton wouldn’t let us stay there! We had to go somewhere else at two in the morning!”
As the season progressed, Bradley proved the club’s top offensive weapon and he set league records for most goals and assists by a player on a non-WHA expansion club. He was also the first player to represent the Lightning at the NHL All-Star Game. It was a remarkable comeback and he ended up being regarded as one of the greatest players in franchise history.
“I played six or seven years down here and I don’t think I ever met the ownership group. For the first two or three years, we didn’t even know who owned the team. They were never at the games. That was really bizarre. In the end, it might have deterred some players from playing in Tampa, especially because we never had chartered flights. I know there’s a few guys who wanted to play down here but didn’t because of travel.”
Brian Bradley
Chris Kontos
A former first
-round pick of the New York Rangers, Kontos spent much of his professional hockey career in the minors, but he occasionally demonstrated flashes of greatness when playing at the NHL level. This was particularly evident in the postseason in 1988–89 when he set a league record by scoring six power-play goals in a single series. For the 1991–92 campaign, he decided to spend part of the year with Canada’s national team in pre-Olympic competition and then finished the year in Italy with the second-tier HC Courmaosta club.
A free agent, Kontos signed with the Lightning in an attempt to get back to the bigs and ended up winning a roster spot. Given a chance to finally be a key offensive performer, he made headlines on October 7, 1992, when he scored four goals for the debuting Tampa Bay club — one of them the first goal in franchise history. Four days later, he had two more in a rematch with the Blackhawks. He was one of the league’s top offensive performers over the first two months of the schedule, as he had an incredible 20 goals and six assists over his first 27 games.
His goal production began to slowly dip, but he managed to set more up over the rest of the season. Because of a strained knee, his year drew to an early close and he last appeared in the March 12, 1993, contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Chris Kontos
Rob Zamuner
Zamuner had a nine-game stint with the New York Rangers as a third-year pro in 1991–92, and although he had what seemed a respectable start to his NHL career, the club was not interested in extending their contract with him and he became a free agent at the end of the year.
Signed by the Lightning during the summer, Zamuner instantly doubled his career points total with three assists during the season opener against Chicago. He was one of Tampa Bay’s top point producers in the early stages of the 1992–93 campaign and had 19 points to his credit before going cold in December and January. He began to warm up a little toward the end of February and scored twice in a 3–1 triumph over Montreal on March 3, 1993.
Changing the Game Page 35
