July 25, 2025 • 22 mins
Ron welcomes NHL great Ray Broque.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Ron Barr, and this is today's edition of
Ron Barr's Sports Byline USA podcast on the eight Side Network.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Ray Bork joins us on Sports Byline.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Borke was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame his
first season of eligibility. His number seventy seven has been
retired by both the Bruins and the Avalanche, and he's
also one of only nine players whose jersey has been
retired by more than one club. He holds the records
for most career goals, assists, and points by a defenseman
in the NHL. He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy
(00:34):
as the NHL's best defenseman five times. He also twice
finished second in the voting for the Heart Memorial Trophy,
a rarity for a defenseman. He was named to the
end of the season All Star teams nineteen times. He
was also an Olympian with Canada and won two Olympic
gold medals in the Canada Cup, and he finished his
(00:55):
career with the Colorado Avalanche, winning his only Stanley Cup
champions and ship in his final NHL game in twenty seventeen.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
And he's been.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Named one of the one hundred greatest players in the
National Hockey League, and he's still active in hockey. He's
the head coach of the Boston three High team. First
of all, Ray, of all your hockey accomplishments that I mentioned,
which one means the most to you?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
You know, the ones I kind of think about or
kind of bookends. My first NHL game, you know, being
a kid from Montreal, dreaming about playing in the NHL someday,
being drafted and playing my first game in nineteen seventy nine,
I think it was October tenth or eleventh, that one.
(01:43):
And then my last game winning a Stanley Cup, the
seventh game, the ultimate for any NHL player, And there's
so many other things that happened in between, so it's
really hard to pick, but you know, those two things
to start in the end were pretty special. The way
it all started and how it all ended for me.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Let's talk about that first game.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Rolling out on the ice for that first game, what
did you think about the sport you were about to
play as a professional.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
I thought it was an amazing sport, one that I.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Wanted to be part of.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
And you know, I was very good player and got
off to a really good start and never doubted that
I could play at that level and had an amazing
first year and just try to improve and improve and
improve and maintain and maintain and maintain. And you know,
(02:43):
you go in thinking if I could play ten twelve years,
would be amazing, and you end up playing twenty two years,
and everything that happened during those twenty two years, I
just can't believe. I could never have jumped that big
in terms of the things I experienced, the success that
I've had, the people that I've met, the places that
(03:04):
I've seen. You know, my family and I just we
had an amazing time during those twenty two years. And
hockey has given my mind, myself, and my family so
much that I'm so thankful and grateful for. So it's
(03:26):
it's it's amazing that you know, I lived that life.
So it's been great. It's it's just amazing memories.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
I'm amazed for any athlete that can play any professional
sport for double digit years, and you made it more
than two decades. What did you have to do along
the way to be able to get through that period
of time, for that long period of time.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Well, I met a very special person when I was
fourteen years old. He was my high school gym teacher.
His name was been at Zick and he had a
track and field team in Montreal that four of his
runners went to the Olympics and he started training me
at the age of sixteen years old till I retired.
A very special man. He was a middle distance coach
(04:14):
for the Canadian Olympic team and soul in La so
very knowledgeable and fitness and I was always a really
good hockey player. He made me a superior athlete that
allowed me to play the minutes I did and to
be this tendure the seasons that you have to put
up with in the NHL, And so for me, he's
(04:37):
still one a guy that I speak through every week
and one of my very best friends even today. He
sent me seven years old and I speak to him
all the time, and not only the training, but the
mental toughness that he brought and kind of you know,
I learned from him and really, UH help UH become
(05:03):
or you become the player or the person that I
became as a hockey player.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Yeah, I was going there next.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
I know the physicality of playing a professional sport for
that long, but the mental aspect of it, Uh, what
did you do mentally that made you that tough, But
it had to be specific things that allowed you to
get through season after season, especially when you got older
and maybe got a few bumps and bruises along the way.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Well, I was always one that was very positive. My
glass was always hought full. Everything was always gonna We're
always going to find singutions, find a way. You know,
bad periods, it's we're going to find a way to
make it better, and it's going to be better. And
so that way, you know, I was always very strong
(05:52):
and very positive. I was very humble and and never
really it was never about me. It was always about
the team and for me. I you know, when I
look back on my career, the reason I think a
big reason why I had the success was I was
(06:15):
looking for perfection knowing that I was never going to
reach perfection. I was looking for perfection in the constructive way,
not a destructive way. For me, regardless of what I
did today, it had to be better tomorrow. And by
having that mindset allowed me to be the best I
(06:35):
could be every day and never sit on anything that
I've accomplished on one day, because you know, you just
did your job and tomorrow has to be better, and
regardless if it was an amazing day or not so amazing,
I was looking to be better the next day. So
that made me very consistent. The one thing I'm most
proud of is, you know, you look at my career
(06:57):
and my stats and everything, and you know there's no dip.
It's very very consistent throughout my whole career. And I
brought energy, passion, and fun to the rink every day.
So you know, they kind of look back and they say,
(07:19):
what do you miss most about not playing in the
NHL anymore? And I'm like, well, the pregame mail, the
pregame map, and acting like a fifteen year old every day. So, well,
you play a game for a living, and I never
took it for granted. I always appreciated where I was
when I was doing and then just tried to, you know,
(07:39):
show that to others. You know, I was always one
that led by example and how I approach the game,
my preparation, my mindset, and my work ethic and my passion.
So if you watch me and follow me, you're you're
going to be okay.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
You had twenty two seasons in the AHL, twenty one
with the Bruins. You finally won a Stanley Cup championship,
ring with the Avalanche in your last game in your
twenty second and last season in hockey.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
When you had a chance to reflect on it all,
what thoughts did you have?
Speaker 3 (08:14):
It's wow. I couldn't believe it. And I never you know,
I was never one to I always said, I always
plagued everything down, regardless you know how how good. It was,
very humble, and you know, so I always said, you know,
I'll look back once my career is done, and you know,
(08:35):
then I'll appreciate and recognize, you know, what I did.
And then I just went, wow, you know, I can't believe.
Like I mentioned earlier, I mean, I could never have
dreamt had that kind of career. So but I know
I know why it happened. And it's all the things
(08:57):
that I mentioned, you know, the hard work, the education,
the passion, all those things that you know, you have talent,
a lot of people have talent, but you know the
mindset that you need, the work, ethic, the passion, the preparation,
all the stuff that you have to be strong at
and this constant stuff that you have to do, not
(09:23):
just one year. But you know, every day, like the summers,
were you so important for me in terms of training
and getting ready for a long season, and you know,
and the sacrifices that you have to make as an individual,
but also you know the family where a lot of times,
(09:44):
you know, it's it's it's a selfish thing where you know,
the workouts have to come first. You got to take
care of what you have to take care of, and
you know during the season, yeah, you know, thank God,
and I have an amazing life and that was amazing
mother and an amazing job at home with the kids.
(10:05):
But you know, the good stuff and the winds and
the fun and the experiences that we've lived outweigh everything.
That's that's I jumped about doing that kind of stuff.
So living it and doing it, it was just just
(10:27):
a very lucky man.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Ray Borick is with us here on Sports Byline. We're
talking about his Hall of Fame career. He's also still
involved with hockey with the Three Ice League team and
the Boston team. We'll talk about that as we continue
across the country.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
And around the world.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
It's good to have you with us on America's sports
talk show.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
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Speaker 1 (11:47):
You're listening to Ron Barr's Sports Byline USA podcast.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Ray Borck has.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Joined us here on Sports Byline USA. There's a new
hockey leg, and it's an exciting one. It's the three
ice hockey leg. He is the head coach of the
Boston team after a Hall of Fame career in the
National Hockey League.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Ray, A couple of things I always remember about.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
You is the power of your shots, certainly your consistency
that you talked about, and your instinct for the action
and positions of the game.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Where did that come from.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
I was always a very responsible player, but I did
play you know, it seems like one year I played defense,
the next year I played forward, then I played defense,
and I played forward. I kind of did that till
the age of thirteen, and at the age of thirteen,
I strictly played defense from that point on. So I
think that really helped me and my offensive instincts that
(12:42):
had played forward. But I was always a very responsible
player that really played and all three phases of the game,
you know, or all three areas, the two hundred foot
game kind of thing. So I was one that really
took pride and playing good, strong defense. But I was
(13:04):
one that really always enjoyed, you know, getting involved in
the in the attack and supporting the offense, not so
much by leading rushes or stuff like that, but making
a good pass and then making an outland situation, my
(13:25):
staying close following up that pass that I made and
making it, you know, always being available. And my offensive
instincts were very good, but then my defensive instincts were
probably better. And I was, you know, a solid you know,
I was six foot two of five when I showed
(13:46):
up in Boston and I retired, I was two twenty five,
and I was a solid, strong skater. Really, I tried
to be physical all the time. I wanted I wanted everybody,
you know, people that I played against the best lines
all the time, and I wanted to make sure that
they knew that, you know, they were in for a
(14:09):
solid night playing against me, and so I knew that,
you know. I was always taken that kind of approach
in both areas of the ice, and I took a
lot of pride and both had so allowed me to
put up some amazing numbers and also to be very
responsible and one of the best to play defense.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
When I was up in Seattle, one of the games
that I did was for the Western Hockey League Seattle
Totems up there, and I'll never forget on exhibition game
that they had against the Russian national team, and I
think the Russians came into that game thinking, wow, this
is a minor league team and everything. Well, they found
themselves down rather heavily after two periods, and they went
(14:53):
back and got some of the key players and dressed
them for the third period. But what I remember about
that game, Ray, was that the Russians did not like
the physicality of American hockey, I mean the Ford checking
that went on as well. When the European players and
also the Russian players came into the National Hockey League,
how did it change the league?
Speaker 3 (15:16):
They were so skilled, you know, and I mean you know,
the Russians, the Tracks, the Swedes, the Fens, and now
it's you know, I mean you've got to give credit
to Garry Bettman in the NHL and growing the league
and making it just a world league now. And you know,
(15:36):
way back, I mean the Russians you had to you know,
it was so hard to get one of the Slovaks
or a check or Russian out of their country and
you'd have to sneak them out, and there was some
crazy stories, but they were so talented, and yeah, when
they would come you know, like I remember the Red
(15:58):
Army team would come and tour the NHL around Christmas
in New Year's and you know, they didn't like the
physical stuff, but they were so talented and you know,
yeah when they played Rod Street Bullies or the Bruins
or you know, but they were just so so fun
(16:19):
to watch because it was such a different game. How
they control the park, how they moved the park, and
it was quite so different than you know, how the
North Americans played, and and uh so it just brought,
uh they just enhanced I think our league in terms
of talent and and and they know now when they
(16:40):
come back, you know, and it's not as physical maybe
in some ways in terms of fighting and how it
used to be, but the game is still physical. When
all those players coming now they know and they they
felt that they you know, they know what they're getting into.
And but it's just it's changed the league in terms
(17:01):
of just the skill level and it just makes it
better to watch.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
As I mentioned, you're still involved with hockey as the
head coach of the Boston team and the three Ice
Hockey League now. Three Ice is the three on three
professional hockey league in North American designed to give the
fans the speed, skill and excitement that they love about it.
Tell me a little bit about your team. Tell me
a little bit about this new league.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Well, the game is the game played play format is
there's eight teams that are in the league, and four
teams play each week in a four game like both
both four teams both play two games, and the two
winners of the two games, the two first games play
(17:50):
each other in the championship game, and then the two
other teams played themselves in a constellation game. So you
know both teams. All teams play two games every night
and it's eight minute games non stop. There's two eight
minutes played non stop. The only the puckers dropped an
(18:14):
opening face off, and that's the only time that the
game stop other than a penalty shot. The penalty would
be a penalty shot where the player is from the
red line n and then both teams are lined up
on on the blue line that is chasing down the
player that's going for a penalty shot. When there's a
(18:35):
sad made, there's this area kind of like a muffin,
like a half circle, like a three point line. That
is the players have to clear after a save or
a goal. The goalie has to have room to pass
the puck to one of his teammates, so to continual
(18:57):
little slow there's no whistles other than if there's only
a pelling and there's really not a stoppers during that time.
They just go to the red line a Publi shot. Bang.
There's netting all the way around the ice surface. You know,
all Boks are in play. It hits the netting, it's
over the glass. Whatever it hits the netting, it's back
(19:18):
in play. You keep playing, so there's no stop. Every
team has six players and a goalie, so there's two
sets of trees. So it is you've got to be
an amazing shape because you get extended out there and
you're trying to catch your breath on the bench, and
next thing you know, your teammates come to change and
you haven't really fully recovered. So turning fortant to keep
(19:42):
the shift short and to really recognize that you can't
get too extended. There's a constant flow. If you've seen
tree and three in the NHL, it's among the most
exciting things they'll ever see. And that's when you know
the games are tied after three periods. The NHL go
(20:02):
they go into a five minute over time that's the
three and three and then you know, pretty much the
fans are you know, they can't sit. Everybody's standing and
watching because it's wisconstant back and forth and amazing chances.
So you know, a lot of goals scored and some
of these games. And you know the partnership that we
(20:25):
have now with the NHL Network broadcasting and and they're
doing all marketing for an awareness for our league now
and you know you can go to a uh fan
Dual Sports Network and nesson back in Boston, terris it
as well. So and we have you know, amazing coaches
that we have some Hall of famers and John Mclair
(20:47):
and Joy Mellon grants, your Geek Carboneau, Pierre Jo Ken, Danko,
Larry Murphy, so all all amazing players that have had
greats that are here coaching. So and it's the kids
are great to play with. These are all kids that
played in the American League, some played in the NHL,
(21:08):
A lot of them played in Europe ECHL. So there
are kids that played professional hockey that are still playing
or had just finished or trying to get back into
the professional rank. So we had a couple of guys,
you know, and people are watching because we had a
couple of guys signed to professional contracts from this league
(21:29):
last year, so you know, kids know this and they
have a blast and it's it's fun to be one
of the coaches involved in this.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Ray.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
I got to tell you, having watched your career, I
really appreciated not only for what you did on the ice,
but the way you were as a professional in hockey.
And I remember your great moments, saw many of them
on television as well. I want to thank you for
giving me some time to talk about your career and
your life, as well as this new three ice hockey league.
You were welcome here anytime, my friend.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Take care and we'll talk to you again on Sports Byline.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Oh, thank you very much. Thanks for having me on.
Keep up the good work.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Ray mork with us again.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame his first season
of eligibility. His number seventy seven has been retired by
both the Bruins and the Avalanche, and he's one of
only nine players whose jersey has been retired by more
than one club, and he holds the record for most
career goals assists and points by a defenseman in the NHL.
He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's
(22:29):
best defenseman. Out came on five times, but as you
heard him say, his consistency is one of the things
that he is most proud of.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
We continue across the country and around the world. It's
good to have you with us here on Sports Byline.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
You have been listening to Ron Bar's Sports Byline USA
podcast on the eight Side Network.
Hi, I'm Ron Barr, and this is today's edition of
Ron Barr's Sports Byline USA podcast on the eight Side Network.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Ray Bork joins us on Sports Byline.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Borke was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame his
first season of eligibility. His number seventy seven has been
retired by both the Bruins and the Avalanche, and he's
also one of only nine players whose jersey has been
retired by more than one club. He holds the records
for most career goals, assists, and points by a defenseman
in the NHL. He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy
(00:34):
as the NHL's best defenseman five times. He also twice
finished second in the voting for the Heart Memorial Trophy,
a rarity for a defenseman. He was named to the
end of the season All Star teams nineteen times. He
was also an Olympian with Canada and won two Olympic
gold medals in the Canada Cup, and he finished his
(00:55):
career with the Colorado Avalanche, winning his only Stanley Cup
champions and ship in his final NHL game in twenty seventeen.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
And he's been.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Named one of the one hundred greatest players in the
National Hockey League, and he's still active in hockey. He's
the head coach of the Boston three High team. First
of all, Ray, of all your hockey accomplishments that I mentioned,
which one means the most to you?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
You know, the ones I kind of think about or
kind of bookends. My first NHL game, you know, being
a kid from Montreal, dreaming about playing in the NHL someday,
being drafted and playing my first game in nineteen seventy nine,
I think it was October tenth or eleventh, that one.
(01:43):
And then my last game winning a Stanley Cup, the
seventh game, the ultimate for any NHL player, And there's
so many other things that happened in between, so it's
really hard to pick, but you know, those two things
to start in the end were pretty special. The way
it all started and how it all ended for me.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Let's talk about that first game.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Rolling out on the ice for that first game, what
did you think about the sport you were about to
play as a professional.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
I thought it was an amazing sport, one that I.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Wanted to be part of.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
And you know, I was very good player and got
off to a really good start and never doubted that
I could play at that level and had an amazing
first year and just try to improve and improve and
improve and maintain and maintain and maintain. And you know,
(02:43):
you go in thinking if I could play ten twelve years,
would be amazing, and you end up playing twenty two years,
and everything that happened during those twenty two years, I
just can't believe. I could never have jumped that big
in terms of the things I experienced, the success that
I've had, the people that I've met, the places that
(03:04):
I've seen. You know, my family and I just we
had an amazing time during those twenty two years. And
hockey has given my mind, myself, and my family so
much that I'm so thankful and grateful for. So it's
(03:26):
it's it's amazing that you know, I lived that life.
So it's been great. It's it's just amazing memories.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
I'm amazed for any athlete that can play any professional
sport for double digit years, and you made it more
than two decades. What did you have to do along
the way to be able to get through that period
of time, for that long period of time.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Well, I met a very special person when I was
fourteen years old. He was my high school gym teacher.
His name was been at Zick and he had a
track and field team in Montreal that four of his
runners went to the Olympics and he started training me
at the age of sixteen years old till I retired.
A very special man. He was a middle distance coach
(04:14):
for the Canadian Olympic team and soul in La so
very knowledgeable and fitness and I was always a really
good hockey player. He made me a superior athlete that
allowed me to play the minutes I did and to
be this tendure the seasons that you have to put
up with in the NHL, And so for me, he's
(04:37):
still one a guy that I speak through every week
and one of my very best friends even today. He
sent me seven years old and I speak to him
all the time, and not only the training, but the
mental toughness that he brought and kind of you know,
I learned from him and really, UH help UH become
(05:03):
or you become the player or the person that I
became as a hockey player.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Yeah, I was going there next.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
I know the physicality of playing a professional sport for
that long, but the mental aspect of it, Uh, what
did you do mentally that made you that tough, But
it had to be specific things that allowed you to
get through season after season, especially when you got older
and maybe got a few bumps and bruises along the way.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Well, I was always one that was very positive. My
glass was always hought full. Everything was always gonna We're
always going to find singutions, find a way. You know,
bad periods, it's we're going to find a way to
make it better, and it's going to be better. And
so that way, you know, I was always very strong
(05:52):
and very positive. I was very humble and and never
really it was never about me. It was always about
the team and for me. I you know, when I
look back on my career, the reason I think a
big reason why I had the success was I was
(06:15):
looking for perfection knowing that I was never going to
reach perfection. I was looking for perfection in the constructive way,
not a destructive way. For me, regardless of what I
did today, it had to be better tomorrow. And by
having that mindset allowed me to be the best I
(06:35):
could be every day and never sit on anything that
I've accomplished on one day, because you know, you just
did your job and tomorrow has to be better, and
regardless if it was an amazing day or not so amazing,
I was looking to be better the next day. So
that made me very consistent. The one thing I'm most
proud of is, you know, you look at my career
(06:57):
and my stats and everything, and you know there's no dip.
It's very very consistent throughout my whole career. And I
brought energy, passion, and fun to the rink every day.
So you know, they kind of look back and they say,
(07:19):
what do you miss most about not playing in the
NHL anymore? And I'm like, well, the pregame mail, the
pregame map, and acting like a fifteen year old every day. So, well,
you play a game for a living, and I never
took it for granted. I always appreciated where I was
when I was doing and then just tried to, you know,
(07:39):
show that to others. You know, I was always one
that led by example and how I approach the game,
my preparation, my mindset, and my work ethic and my passion.
So if you watch me and follow me, you're you're
going to be okay.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
You had twenty two seasons in the AHL, twenty one
with the Bruins. You finally won a Stanley Cup championship,
ring with the Avalanche in your last game in your
twenty second and last season in hockey.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
When you had a chance to reflect on it all,
what thoughts did you have?
Speaker 3 (08:14):
It's wow. I couldn't believe it. And I never you know,
I was never one to I always said, I always
plagued everything down, regardless you know how how good. It was,
very humble, and you know, so I always said, you know,
I'll look back once my career is done, and you know,
(08:35):
then I'll appreciate and recognize, you know, what I did.
And then I just went, wow, you know, I can't believe.
Like I mentioned earlier, I mean, I could never have
dreamt had that kind of career. So but I know
I know why it happened. And it's all the things
(08:57):
that I mentioned, you know, the hard work, the education,
the passion, all those things that you know, you have talent,
a lot of people have talent, but you know the
mindset that you need, the work, ethic, the passion, the preparation,
all the stuff that you have to be strong at
and this constant stuff that you have to do, not
(09:23):
just one year. But you know, every day, like the summers,
were you so important for me in terms of training
and getting ready for a long season, and you know,
and the sacrifices that you have to make as an individual,
but also you know the family where a lot of times,
(09:44):
you know, it's it's it's a selfish thing where you know,
the workouts have to come first. You got to take
care of what you have to take care of, and
you know during the season, yeah, you know, thank God,
and I have an amazing life and that was amazing
mother and an amazing job at home with the kids.
(10:05):
But you know, the good stuff and the winds and
the fun and the experiences that we've lived outweigh everything.
That's that's I jumped about doing that kind of stuff.
So living it and doing it, it was just just
(10:27):
a very lucky man.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Ray Borick is with us here on Sports Byline. We're
talking about his Hall of Fame career. He's also still
involved with hockey with the Three Ice League team and
the Boston team. We'll talk about that as we continue
across the country.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
And around the world.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
It's good to have you with us on America's sports
talk show.
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Speaker 1 (11:47):
You're listening to Ron Barr's Sports Byline USA podcast.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Ray Borck has.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Joined us here on Sports Byline USA. There's a new
hockey leg, and it's an exciting one. It's the three
ice hockey leg. He is the head coach of the
Boston team after a Hall of Fame career in the
National Hockey League.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Ray, A couple of things I always remember about.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
You is the power of your shots, certainly your consistency
that you talked about, and your instinct for the action
and positions of the game.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Where did that come from.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
I was always a very responsible player, but I did
play you know, it seems like one year I played defense,
the next year I played forward, then I played defense,
and I played forward. I kind of did that till
the age of thirteen, and at the age of thirteen,
I strictly played defense from that point on. So I
think that really helped me and my offensive instincts that
(12:42):
had played forward. But I was always a very responsible
player that really played and all three phases of the game,
you know, or all three areas, the two hundred foot
game kind of thing. So I was one that really
took pride and playing good, strong defense. But I was
(13:04):
one that really always enjoyed, you know, getting involved in
the in the attack and supporting the offense, not so
much by leading rushes or stuff like that, but making
a good pass and then making an outland situation, my
(13:25):
staying close following up that pass that I made and
making it, you know, always being available. And my offensive
instincts were very good, but then my defensive instincts were
probably better. And I was, you know, a solid you know,
I was six foot two of five when I showed
(13:46):
up in Boston and I retired, I was two twenty five,
and I was a solid, strong skater. Really, I tried
to be physical all the time. I wanted I wanted everybody,
you know, people that I played against the best lines
all the time, and I wanted to make sure that
they knew that, you know, they were in for a
(14:09):
solid night playing against me, and so I knew that,
you know. I was always taken that kind of approach
in both areas of the ice, and I took a
lot of pride and both had so allowed me to
put up some amazing numbers and also to be very
responsible and one of the best to play defense.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
When I was up in Seattle, one of the games
that I did was for the Western Hockey League Seattle
Totems up there, and I'll never forget on exhibition game
that they had against the Russian national team, and I
think the Russians came into that game thinking, wow, this
is a minor league team and everything. Well, they found
themselves down rather heavily after two periods, and they went
(14:53):
back and got some of the key players and dressed
them for the third period. But what I remember about
that game, Ray, was that the Russians did not like
the physicality of American hockey, I mean the Ford checking
that went on as well. When the European players and
also the Russian players came into the National Hockey League,
how did it change the league?
Speaker 3 (15:16):
They were so skilled, you know, and I mean you know,
the Russians, the Tracks, the Swedes, the Fens, and now
it's you know, I mean you've got to give credit
to Garry Bettman in the NHL and growing the league
and making it just a world league now. And you know,
(15:36):
way back, I mean the Russians you had to you know,
it was so hard to get one of the Slovaks
or a check or Russian out of their country and
you'd have to sneak them out, and there was some
crazy stories, but they were so talented, and yeah, when
they would come you know, like I remember the Red
(15:58):
Army team would come and tour the NHL around Christmas
in New Year's and you know, they didn't like the
physical stuff, but they were so talented and you know,
yeah when they played Rod Street Bullies or the Bruins
or you know, but they were just so so fun
(16:19):
to watch because it was such a different game. How
they control the park, how they moved the park, and
it was quite so different than you know, how the
North Americans played, and and uh so it just brought,
uh they just enhanced I think our league in terms
of talent and and and they know now when they
(16:40):
come back, you know, and it's not as physical maybe
in some ways in terms of fighting and how it
used to be, but the game is still physical. When
all those players coming now they know and they they
felt that they you know, they know what they're getting into.
And but it's just it's changed the league in terms
(17:01):
of just the skill level and it just makes it
better to watch.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
As I mentioned, you're still involved with hockey as the
head coach of the Boston team and the three Ice
Hockey League now. Three Ice is the three on three
professional hockey league in North American designed to give the
fans the speed, skill and excitement that they love about it.
Tell me a little bit about your team. Tell me
a little bit about this new league.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Well, the game is the game played play format is
there's eight teams that are in the league, and four
teams play each week in a four game like both
both four teams both play two games, and the two
winners of the two games, the two first games play
(17:50):
each other in the championship game, and then the two
other teams played themselves in a constellation game. So you
know both teams. All teams play two games every night
and it's eight minute games non stop. There's two eight
minutes played non stop. The only the puckers dropped an
(18:14):
opening face off, and that's the only time that the
game stop other than a penalty shot. The penalty would
be a penalty shot where the player is from the
red line n and then both teams are lined up
on on the blue line that is chasing down the
player that's going for a penalty shot. When there's a
(18:35):
sad made, there's this area kind of like a muffin,
like a half circle, like a three point line. That
is the players have to clear after a save or
a goal. The goalie has to have room to pass
the puck to one of his teammates, so to continual
(18:57):
little slow there's no whistles other than if there's only
a pelling and there's really not a stoppers during that time.
They just go to the red line a Publi shot. Bang.
There's netting all the way around the ice surface. You know,
all Boks are in play. It hits the netting, it's
over the glass. Whatever it hits the netting, it's back
(19:18):
in play. You keep playing, so there's no stop. Every
team has six players and a goalie, so there's two
sets of trees. So it is you've got to be
an amazing shape because you get extended out there and
you're trying to catch your breath on the bench, and
next thing you know, your teammates come to change and
you haven't really fully recovered. So turning fortant to keep
(19:42):
the shift short and to really recognize that you can't
get too extended. There's a constant flow. If you've seen
tree and three in the NHL, it's among the most
exciting things they'll ever see. And that's when you know
the games are tied after three periods. The NHL go
(20:02):
they go into a five minute over time that's the
three and three and then you know, pretty much the
fans are you know, they can't sit. Everybody's standing and
watching because it's wisconstant back and forth and amazing chances.
So you know, a lot of goals scored and some
of these games. And you know the partnership that we
(20:25):
have now with the NHL Network broadcasting and and they're
doing all marketing for an awareness for our league now
and you know you can go to a uh fan
Dual Sports Network and nesson back in Boston, terris it
as well. So and we have you know, amazing coaches
that we have some Hall of famers and John Mclair
(20:47):
and Joy Mellon grants, your Geek Carboneau, Pierre Jo Ken, Danko,
Larry Murphy, so all all amazing players that have had
greats that are here coaching. So and it's the kids
are great to play with. These are all kids that
played in the American League, some played in the NHL,
(21:08):
A lot of them played in Europe ECHL. So there
are kids that played professional hockey that are still playing
or had just finished or trying to get back into
the professional rank. So we had a couple of guys,
you know, and people are watching because we had a
couple of guys signed to professional contracts from this league
(21:29):
last year, so you know, kids know this and they
have a blast and it's it's fun to be one
of the coaches involved in this.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Ray.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
I got to tell you, having watched your career, I
really appreciated not only for what you did on the ice,
but the way you were as a professional in hockey.
And I remember your great moments, saw many of them
on television as well. I want to thank you for
giving me some time to talk about your career and
your life, as well as this new three ice hockey league.
You were welcome here anytime, my friend.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Take care and we'll talk to you again on Sports Byline.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Oh, thank you very much. Thanks for having me on.
Keep up the good work.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Ray mork with us again.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame his first season
of eligibility. His number seventy seven has been retired by
both the Bruins and the Avalanche, and he's one of
only nine players whose jersey has been retired by more
than one club, and he holds the record for most
career goals assists and points by a defenseman in the NHL.
He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's
(22:29):
best defenseman. Out came on five times, but as you
heard him say, his consistency is one of the things
that he is most proud of.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
We continue across the country and around the world. It's
good to have you with us here on Sports Byline.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
You have been listening to Ron Bar's Sports Byline USA
podcast on the eight Side Network.
Host
Ron Barr
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