Hockey Night in Toronto

CBC broadcast snubs Geoffrion

Regan Sarmatiuk Staff

I never thought the day would come when my love affair with Canada’s most storied sports broadcast would hit the rocks, but it has, and in a big way. Due to a recent crime against hockey committed by Hockey Night in Canada’s decision-makers, I must say that the CBC’s most popular program is in danger of becoming a farce — and there are many who would say it has been for a long time.

The crime in question occurred on Saturday, March 11, when hockey legend Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion’s number was retired in a ceremony that took place before the Canadiens were to take on the Rangers, and most of English-speaking Canada was forced to watch the mediocre Maple Leafs play the Tampa Bay Lightning instead.

Never mind the fact that Geoffrion died from stomach cancer earlier that day and, as HNIC so diligently reported, it was his wish that the ceremony that saw his number raised to the rafters go on even if he passed away on the same day — this offence was indicative of a systemic disease at HNIC.

It’s no secret that HNIC is ridiculously Toronto-centric. It is, however, a great mystery as to exactly why that is.

The most obvious answer to this mystery would be that the Leafs are the only “English” Canadian original-six team. But does this really mean that all of English-speaking Canada wants to be subjected to watching them every Saturday night? Certainly not.

While many a Western Canadian NHL rink has seen its fair share of hometown traitors who stick with their childhood roots and cheer for the perennially lousy Leafs every time they roll into town, anyone who has attended a Habs game outside of Quebec can tell you that there are arguably just as many Canadiens faithful who are also willing to betray the home team for an evening.

It is easy to understand why a hometown traitor might don a Habs jersey for an evening — a simple glance at the glorious history of the franchise explains it all. Twenty-four Stanley Cups, including five straight in the late 50s and a four in a row in the 70s, not to mention some of the most hallowed names in hockey history, including that of Geoffrion, are enough to inspire awe in even the most casual of hockey fans.

And while it’s obvious that those dynasty days are long gone, the Habs have managed to maintain a degree of dignity as one of Canada’s original-six franchises by winning Stanley Cups in 1986 and 1993.

Hogtown has a different history altogether. The Leafs may have been an impressive club in the 60s, with four Cup wins, but they haven’t managed to repeat any of that former glory. Their last Stanley Cup victory was in 1967, and they haven’t even been to the big dance since. Darcy Tucker is their leading goal-scorer this year. Come on.

Certainly, most Canadian baby boomers grew up with two real options when deciding where to bestow their fan faithfulness — the Leafs or the Habs. Today, however, the CBC insists on limiting viewing options in the severest sense, offering up a steady diet of Maple Leaf mush every Saturday night at 6 p.m. CST. (I won’t even bother to get started on the absence of Senators games from HNIC’s Western broadcast.)

Talk to any of those living in “Leafs Nation” about the fact that their team, well, sucks, and they will divert and deflect to the umpteenth degree. I fully expect to receive letters telling me how great Eric Lindros is and that I’m “just bitter that the Jets are gone.” This denial of reality has infested the HNIC broadcast for far too long now.

So what is a disgruntled hockey fan to do? Take up arms and engage in a radical form of hockey activism? Unfortunately, many have given up.

One friend of mine, in protest, has given up watching the early game altogether, while another has become more apathetic — he doesn’t bother to get angry about it anymore, he just wishes that the Leafs would someday become a decent team, because he knows he will always be forced to watch them. And he is probably correct in that assessment.

If a ceremony honouring the hall-of-famer commonly credited with the invention of the slap shot isn’t enough to draw the HNIC cameras away from the centre of the Canadian universe for just one week, it is doubtful that anything ever will.