Old Farts Thread

[BENNETTWOLF]

I just wanted to wish all the old farts only the very best for you and yours during the holiday season and, of course, beyond. Speaking of which, we're not quite in the clear today as the world was supposed to end although there is some debate about the exact time.............................

Take care gentlemen. Only the very best to all.

[Maggie3and Me]

I would like to take this time to thank all of you for the gifts you have given to this thread trough out this past year. By stopping by here and posting your thoughts, ideas, and memories, you have enriched us all. This thread would be nothing without the gifts you bring to it.

May you all receive the gifts you have always wanted. May the gifts you give bring joy and happiness to those that receive your presents.

May your hearts be warm and filled with the spirit and meaning of Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you all.

P.S. May one of the gifts we get be NHL Hockey.

[smashem]

Originally Posted by Maggie3and Me

If I was alive back then, the way my luck has been running, I'd have termites.

You mean Carpenter ants, Only joking have a great holidays and everyone else.

[canuckfan]

Hey boys - I know its been a while, but I just wanted to pop in, visit my favorite thread, and take a moment to wish everyone here a Merry Xmas and a happy holiday! I hope you're all healthy and doing fine and wish you and your families all the best for 2013!

I'd like to say that I'm looking forward to some NHL hockey in the new year and a resolution to this current mess that we've found ourselves caught in the middle in, but honestly, I just don't care any more. For me, I guess 4 work stoppages in 20 years has finally taken its toll...

Anyhow - gonna try to come by more often and contribute more in the new year - for for now, Merry Christmas to all!

[Killah_punk]

Just wanted to say Merry Xmas, Happy Hannukah, Joyeuses Fêtes, Felices Fiestas, Trevlig Helg, Boas Festas, Mutlu Bayramlar, Sarbatori Fericite, Jie Ri Yu Kuai, Bones Festes, Tanoshii kurisumasu wo, Buone Feste, Ii holide eximnandi, Forhe Feiertage, Prettige feestdagen, Hau'oli Lanui, Beannachtaí na Féile, Vesele Praznike, Selamat Hari Raya, and Sretni praznici! I think that covers it.

[NJDevils17]

Originally Posted by canuckfan

Hey boys - I know its been a while, but I just wanted to pop in, visit my favorite thread, and take a moment to wish everyone here a Merry Xmas and a happy holiday! I hope you're all healthy and doing fine and wish you and your families all the best for 2013!

I'd like to say that I'm looking forward to some NHL hockey in the new year and a resolution to this current mess that we've found ourselves caught in the middle in, but honestly, I just don't care any more. For me, I guess 4 work stoppages in 20 years has finally taken its toll...

Anyhow - gonna try to come by more often and contribute more in the new year - for for now, Merry Christmas to all!

Glad to have you back on here!

I hear ya with this lockout. It sucks. I want to feel apathetic about it, but I can't deep down and I really want hockey back now.

[mikebflorida]

Originally Posted by Killah_punk

Just wanted to say Merry Xmas, Happy Hannukah, Joyeuses Fêtes, Felices Fiestas, Trevlig Helg, Boas Festas, Mutlu Bayramlar, Sarbatori Fericite, Jie Ri Yu Kuai, Bones Festes, Tanoshii kurisumasu wo, Buone Feste, Ii holide eximnandi, Forhe Feiertage, Prettige feestdagen, Hau'oli Lanui, Beannachtaí na Féile, Vesele Praznike, Selamat Hari Raya, and Sretni praznici! I think that covers it.

I think you forgot Happy Kwanza!

Cheers everyone, Happy Holidays!

[Maggie3and Me]

To fill some time and space while we are sitting here waiting for the Hockey Gods to smile on us once again, I thought I would go through my archive and put some stuff up again.

Here is a repost of something I put up awhile back on one of my favorites from his era.

Orland Kurtenbach

If a person would look up the statistics for Orland Kuttenbach, you would see nothing to indicate that he was anything but an adequate journeymen hockey player.

13 Seasons, 639 Games, 119 Goals, 213 Assists, and 628 PIM. None of these numbers, by themselves, jump out at you.. They hardly begin to tell the story of one of the better, steadiest and disciplined players of the 60’s and early 70’s. He is overshadowed by many of the games superstars from the “Original Six Era”.

At 6’ 2” and 190 pounds, he had good size for a for a center, or any player, when he came up to the Rangers in the 1960 season. Ironically, he played in only 10 games for New York in that year garner just 6 assists and 2 PIM. He was claimed by the Boston Bruins, in June of 1961 Intra-League Draft.

He would play for a few years for the Bruins, move to Toronto for a year, then back to the Rangers. He would play the last 5 years of his career in Vancouver. He was the first captain in the history of that franchise.

I saw him come into the league, but, he only played in a handful of games in his first two seasons. I watched him play a bit on the 63 and 64 season. I picked his career up again in 1970. He was not a great skater or exceptional scorer. He was big, strong, and hard to move off the puck. He usually was on the second or third line, as with his size and ability, he was an extremely good checker and a physical force to be dealt with. You could say the actual start of his career was the 1963 season. From then to 1974 he scored all but 6 of his points and all but 6 of his PIM.

While I was away, Kurtenbach needed back surgery at the end of the 1968-69 season calling for a spinal fusion. I picked him back up in the 1970 season. I was surprised to see he was a team captain, Vancouver’s first, and how well his overall game had improved. He scored 153 of his points and 163 of his PIM.

Again numbers alone do not give a fair or complete of Mr. Kurtenbach. I mentioned the discipline with which he played. From all the information I could gather, including DYG, he had 40 actual fights. That would be about 200 minutes of his, total 1/3 of his 628 total PIM. For a guy who was not known as a fighter, that’s a pretty good number. The low total number of penalties minutes for a guy who would fight and the way he played the game, show the control with which he played.

Speaking of his fights, he was a Jekyll and Hyde. He fought as he played, with great passion. Did he win every fight? No. Did he knock out or knock down all of his opponents? No. Did he go out of his way to fight or hurt someone? No. Could he handle himself well, a resounding Yes.
His intensity made him a respected foe, that a lot of players did not want to piss off.

Some of his opponents from the 1963 to1973 period of time frame were:

Terry Harper X 3
Ted Harris X 3
Derek Sanderson X2
Carol Vadnais
John Ferguson
Bobby Hull
Wayne Cashman
Keith Magnuson
Dan Maloney
Doug Jarrett
Ken Hodge
ew
He had two fights in the 1974 season. By this time NHL play and his back had taken a toll on him. In a fight in January of 1974, with Dave Lewis, he was knocked out. He played in only 52 Games that year and only 42 the year before. Mr. Kurtenbach retired after the 1974 season.

I thought I would leave you with some words about him from Joe Pelletier from:
Quote, Greatest Hockey Legends

Orland saw his experience in Vancouver as a fresh start. He became the first captain in the franchise history (1970), a position he held with great dignity until 1974. Orland quickly became a fan favorite and had an exceptionally fine first season for the Canucks. He scored 53 points (21+32) in 52 games, which was easily his best season ever in the NHL to that point. The next season (1971-72) he topped that and scored 61 points (24+37).

"I can't explain it," Orland said at the time of his new found success. "It's true that now that I'm the team captain I'm in a slightly different role. Before, I was always the third center, specializing in checking assignments. Now, I'm getting a chance to spend more time on the ice and to work on power plays. That's made a difference, simply because I'm getting more opportunities. Shots are going in for me. My passes are getting to where I want them to go. It's just the way it is in sports."


Orland wasn't a spectacular player and he bounced around a lot over the years, but he played hard every night and his approach to the game was perfect. He once said. " I'm a hockey player by profession. I like hockey and make a living at it. I will play my best no matter where I land. " And that's exactly what he did.

In my opinion, he was a hard working blue collar player who knew what his job was, did it and did it well. A grinder and player you would love to have on your team.

P.S. His quotes are from various sources, including Hockey News and papers.

[bustoff]

Didn't see much of Kurtenbach but Bob Plager said he was a mean s.o.b. so I take Bobby at his word.

[I like Boobs]

All the old guys say he was one of the best pure fighters of all time, and a guy you wanted to leave alone. Thanks for the great post Mags.

[Killah_punk]

Happy New Year everyone! Stay safe and all the best wishes for 2013. Who knows maybe we will get some NHL hockey, not that i am going to hold my breath for it thou.

[fansince65]

Originally Posted by Killah_punk

Happy New Year everyone! Stay safe and all the best wishes for 2013. Who knows maybe we will get some NHL hockey, not that i am going to hold my breath for it thou.

With 5 games to attend this week starting with last nights game that the London Knights lost 6-5 in OT to the Sarnia Sting too end their win streak at 24 games I just dont have time for the NHL , are they still talking or have they finally canceled the season ????
Just Kidding , if they cant get it done this week the season will definitely be canceled ..

[Maggie3and Me]

Well boys, it looks like we are going to have some NHL hockey this year after all.

Both sides are talking a 50 game schedule, but 48 is more realistic. Let's not bring the players in then cut their careers short by playing to many games to soon. I'd rather have fewer games with the players in better "hockey" (NHL) shape. That way we can keep the tragedy of what happened this season to a minimum.

Not complaining, but came down with a second round of the flu on Christmas Eve. This time I got bronchitis to go with it. Just got back from the doc's and he said two to three more weeks before I get it out of my system.

I mention this to let you guys know why I haven't been on the boards lately. If I miss some time, I will be back as soon as I can.

Happy New Year to you all and to your families.

[Flyer_Frank]

Thank God It's Over!

[fansince65]

Originally Posted by Maggie3and Me

Well boys, it looks like we are going to have some NHL hockey this year after all.

Both sides are talking a 50 game schedule, but 48 is more realistic. Let's not bring the players in then cut their careers short by playing to many games to soon. I'd rather have fewer games with the players in better "hockey" (NHL) shape. That way we can keep the tragedy of what happened this season to a minimum.

Not complaining, but came down with a second round of the flu on Christmas Eve. This time I got bronchitis to go with it. Just got back from the doc's and he said two to three more weeks before I get it out of my system.

I mention this to let you guys know why I haven't been on the boards lately. If I miss some time, I will be back as soon as I can.

Happy New Year to you all and to your families.

I had a bout of the flu right at Christmas time , the bronchitis is an ongoing thing with me as well , just have to live with it .
Some fans are talking about signing up for the NHL center ice pack again , not me , I canceled my pack in September and am not renewing it , that is my way of showing my displeasure with the lockout , not wearing anything to do with the NHL as well , my leather Bruins jacket has been retired for the season and their is no way am I going to spend any money to attend any games this shortened NHL season , the junior hockey I have season tickets for takes up most of my time anyway , I have been attending 3 to 5 games a week as it is , no shortage of good hockey around here , just hope they dont call up any junior players , dont want the Knights too lose any players like Harrington or Maatta when the London Knights are the team to beat right now ..