“Tell Em’ Lanny sent ya!”
Written By Mark Payne
@hockeypayne
www.paynesplayers.ca
10/09/2024
True to form, the Legend Lanny McDonald. Personable as always McDonald held court at the Belmont Diner in Willow Park shooting a commercial. He was joined by another long time Toronto Maple Leafs hero Darryl Sittler. Both were high draft picks, Lanny 4th overall in 1973 and Sittler 8th overall in the 1971 NHL draft class.
I had to check the stats. In the 1982-83 season while a member of the Calgary Flames #9 scored 66 goals. Meanwhile #27 Sittler a long time Leafs Captain still holds an NHL record. 10 points in one game, a record that likely will never be matched.
My first question for McDonald a Hockey Hall of Famer from Hanna Alberta was a simple one. “How are you feeling?”. In stride Lanny expressed he felt great after a health scare at the Calgary International Airport only a few short months ago. Then right to sports of course. Golf not Hockey however, I had to tell him that I had a front row seat around this time of year last season when he had a Hole in One at the Calgary Flames ambassador golf tournament at Country Hills.
In a life that included so many highlights its was truly another remarkable tale for #9 to share. As a 17-year-old he plied his trade and unique offensive style as a scorer for the WHLs Medicine Hat Tigers. Sittler on the other hand came up through the OHL ranks with the London Knights.
I also had to share with Lanny that many summers ago I was asked to be security for Sittler at Stampede. However, when several prominent ranch owners accompanied Darryl Sutter into the bar, I corrected the management that it was indeed “Sutter party of 50”, not Sittler.
Only a few hours after the commercial had wrapped there was the former Flames Captain at the podium on the steps of the Scotiabank Saddledome speaking to thousands of Flames fans mourning the loss of star player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew. McDonald expressed his hopes that with the “untimely passing of these young men will force people to stop for a second” a powerful reminder and perspective of a veteran leader for the community not just the hockey team.
“And I pray it leads to people to make different choices in the moment so that no other family will have to endure what the Gaudreau’s now face.” Leave it to the Hockey Hall of Famer to provide leadership and a true-life lesson for thrones of hockey fans across the National Hockey League.
When heaven’s gates opened in early September you could be remised to think of the words “Tell Em’ Lanny sent ya!”. Gone too soon but never forgotten #1