The Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast
The Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast Hosted by Mark Willand. "The Voice of Hockey Legends"
Episodes
Eddie was one of the NHL's all-time great defensive forwards
My guest on episode 72 is Eddie Westfall and 18-year NHL veteran and one of the most respected players of his generation. A four-time NHL All Star and Masterton Trophy winner, Westfall is regarded as one of the greatest defensive forwards the game has ever seen.
Eddie spent the 1960s with the Boston Bruins and was known as “The Shadow” for his prowess in shutting ...
Our guest on episode 71 is Wayne “Swoop” Carleton, who was an important part of the Boston Bruins 1969-70 Stanley Cup championship team. In fact, he was on the ice when Bobby Orr scored his famous Cup-clinching goal in the fourth game of the 1970 Stanley Cup Final.
Carleton played junior hockey for the Toronto Marlboros, from 1961-1966 and he played a starring role in the Marlboros 1964 Memorial Cup championship. After a brief st...
A tribute to departed legends
Episode 70 of the Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast is a tribute to three NHL and WHA players who passed away recently: Tom “Hawkeye” Webster, Pat “Whitey” Stapleton and John “Tank Hughes.
We begin with a look back at the remarkable career of Tom Webster.
Tom was my favorite Whaler in the early days of the franchise. In fact, in my very first trip to Whalers Gift Store in 1975, I purchased a Whalers #8 repl...
The "Magician" has written his memoirs.
Episode 69 of the Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast features the return of one of our favorite guests -- WHA scoring king Andre Lacroix. Andre has written his memoir -- “After the Second Snowfall”, which details his amazing hockey journey through pro hockey in the 1960s and 1970s and his fascinating life after leaving the game.
Andre, of course, was an original Philadelphia Flyer in the NH...
Nobody had a more lethal wrist shot than Tom Fergus.
Episode 68 of the Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast features Tom Fergus, who played 726 NHL games with the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks in the 1980s and early 90s.. Fergus was known for his sensational wrist shot, which helped him record back-to-back 30-goal seasons with Boston and Toronto en route to a total of 235 goals for his career.
Tom is entertaining...
NY Islanders Legend Bob Bourne: Speed, Skill and Character
Episode 67 of the Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast features New York Islanders Hall of Famer Bob Bourne, whose speed, skill and versatility were key components in the Islanders’ four Stanley Cup wins in the 1980s. In his 14-year NHL career, Bob scored 30 goals twice and 20 goals three times, was a member of Team Canada in 1984 and was awarded the Masterton Trophy for dedication t...
As we learned in our recent interview with Steve Baker, an exciting three-on-three professional hockey league is set to debut in North America in 2021
Dubbed 3ICE, the league was founded by today’s guest EJ Johnston, the son of former NHL goaltender Eddie Johnston and Craig Patrick, the former GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins. EJ Johnston serves as CEO of 3Ice and Patrick is its commissioner.
Inspired by the NHL’s exciting three v ...
#65: Danny Gare: Two-Time 50-Goal Scorer and the Captain of the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings
Danny Gare shared the NHL Goal scoring title in 1980 with 56 goals
Episode 65 of the Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast features 14-year NHL pro and captain of the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings Danny Gare.
In this episode Danny takes through his youth in Nelson, B.C. to the rough-and-tumble junior days in Calgary and right through his outstanding NHL career in which he twice scored 50 goals, played in two NHL All Star games and was...
In an era that was as much about violence and mayhem as scoring and finesse, Allan Globensky's battered fists were more valuable than his hockey stick.
Episode 64 of the Pro Hockey Alumni podcast features Allan Globensky, a feared enforcer with the WHA Quebec Nordiques in the 1970s.
In the early 70s, Globensky was a member of the incomparable Montreal Junior Canadiens, where her served as a popular and self-described goon on...
The KC Scouts and WHA Whalers? It's a 70's hockey free for all!
Episode 63 of the Pro Hockey Alumni podcast features a look back at the Kansas City Scouts NHL franchise with author Troy Treasure and my review of the historic New England Whalers upset of the Soviet National team on December 27, 1976.
Troy Treasure’s book “Icing on the Plains” is the story of Kansas City’s attempt to integrate major league hockey into its ...
He might be hockey's most interesting man.
Episode 62 of the Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast features Robin Burns — one of the most entertaining and impactful people to ever play in the NHL.
As a left wing for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Kansas City Scouts in the 1970s, Burns was know as a fun guy, a natural comedian and the life of the party. But Robin was also a visionary, who would eventually pioneer one of the most important h...
Denis Herron won both the Vezina and Jennings Trophy during a stellar 14-year NHL career.
Goaltender Denis Herron is our guest on episode 61 of the Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast.
From 1972 to 1986 Denis played 14 NHL seasons, which included the three stops with the Pittsburgh Penguins, a "trial by fire" stint with the expansion Kansas City Scouts and three solid campaigns in Montreal, where he won both the Vezina and Jennings...
Only 20 men in NHL history have scored 60 or more goals in a single season.
A sometimes forgotten member of this select club is an undersized, take-no-prisoners centre named Dennis Maruk. And it’s only fitting that Dennis is our guest on episode 60 of the Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast.
As a junior in the OHA, Maruk was the one of the greatest players in London Knights history, but his 5-8 height scared off NHL teams until the second ...
Ed Giacomin, Gilles Villemure, John Davidson are just a few of the goalies George Grimm features in his new book "Guardians of the Goal."
Episode 59 of the Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast looks back at the great NY Rangers goalies of the 1960s and 70s and features an overtime session with classic hockey news and notes.
Today’s guest is author and NY Rangers historian George Grimm, whose outstanding new book — “Guardians of the ...
Goaltender Steve Baker had some great moments for the early 80s New York Rangers.
Episode 58 of the Pro Hockey Alumni features goaltender Steve Baker, who played with the New York Rangers between 1979 and 1983.
Baker was a standout at Union College coached by legendary Ned Harkness. He was drafted by the Rangers with the 44th pick overall in the 1977 NHL Entry Draft.
He began his NHL career losing only one of his first ten g...
From Smithers B.C. to NHL All Star and Flyers Stanley Cup Champion
Episode 57 of the PHA Podcast features the man who has been a Philadelphia Flyer since day one: Joe Watson —- who delivers over an hour of amazing and humorous hockey stories about his remarkable 14-year NHL career with the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Colorado Rockies.
A two-time NHL All Star and a member of the BC Hockey HOF and the Flyers HOF, Watson’...
Remembering 22-year NHL and five time All Star Dean Prentice
Welcome to episode 56 of the pro hockey alumni podcast — a special edition of the show in which we’ll look back at the life and career of 22-year NHL veteran Dean Prentice, who passed away on Nov. 3rd, 2019.
Between 1952-53 and 1973-74, Dean Prentice played in 1,378 regular season National Hockey League games with the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings,...
Episode 55 of the PHA Podcast features part 2 of our two-part discussion with Gary"Suitcase" Smith, one of the NHL’s premier goaltenders — and most fascinating characters — of the 1960s and 1970s.
In the episode, Gary gives us amazing and humorous insights into the second half of his career with eye-opening tales from his days with the Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, Minnesota North Stars and th...
The inside scoop on the 1960s Toronto Maple Leafs and the California Seals from one hockey's most colorful characters.
Episode 54 of the PHA podcast features part one of our two-part discussion with Gary"Suitcase" Smith, one of the NHL’s premier goaltenders — and most fascinating characters — of the 1960s and 1970s.
In the episode, Gary gives us amazing and humorous insights into his first two big league stops in Oa...
Brett Hull, Steve Yzerman, Zdeno Charo, Patrice Bergeron and Nicklas Lidstrom are among his HOF teammates
Episode 53 of the the Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast has a Boston Bruins focus.
First we’ll talk with Mark Mowers — a 7-year NHL forward with Nashville, Detroit, Boston and Anaheim — about his playing career and his current role as a scout for the Minnesota Wild.
Before embarking on his pro career, Mowers was a Hobey Baker final...
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