"Remembering" Gordie Drillon

October 23, 1913 - September 23, 1986
Gordon Arthur Drillon

(Photo;findagrave.com)
Born in Moncton, New Brunswick.
A professional hockey player, Drillon played the position of Right Wing for the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets of the Eastern Hockey League from 1935 to 1936, and the Syracuse Stars of the International-American Hockey League, from 1936 to 1937. From 1936 through to 1942 he was part of one of the NHL's most prolific scoring lines as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He won a Stanley Cup during the 1941–42 season.

Drillon played only seven seasons in the NHL, six of those with Toronto and one with the Montreal Canadiens. A winger noted for his deadly accurate shot, he created a specific style of play that made him a leading scorer. Drillon's strong frame made it difficult for opposing defencemen to clear him from the front of the net. Drillon was able to securely park himself in front of the opposing netminder to re-direct shots or pick up rebounds. This style of play would earn him a league scoring title in the 1937–38 season. Future stars such as Phil Esposito, Dino Ciccarelli and Dave Andreychuk emulated his innovative style with great success.

Traded to the Montreal Canadiens for the 1943 season he finished second on the team in goals scored. At season's end, Drillon cut short his hockey career and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving for the remainder of World War II. After the war, he played for the Valleyfield Braves, of the Quebec Pro Hockey League, from 1944 to 1945. He worked as a hockey coach in Grand Falls-Windsor Newfoundland in 1948/49 season and returned to his native New Brunswick where he ended his playing career with the the Saint John Beavers, of the Maritime Senior Hockey League, from 1949 to 1950. After his playing career ended he was employed as a scout for the Maple Leafs, covering the Maritime provinces. He eventually accepted a job with the New Brunswick civil service.

 He was the recipient of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1937 to 1938. Drillon was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 1970, Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975, Moncton Sports Wall of Fame in 1986, the Canada Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, and the Saint John Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Drillon was also a softball pitching star. He led the Drydock Royals (1953), East Saint John Royals (1957) to New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island championships, His pitching skills were reconized by his induction into the Softball NB Hall of Fame in 2002.

Gordie Drillon died in Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1986 and was interred there in the Ocean View Memorial Gardens cemetery.

(Photo;findagrave.com)

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"Former NHL Player" Hilliard Graves Born In Saint John - October 18, 1950

October 18, 1950

Hilliard Graves

(Photo;pinterest.com)

Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Graves spent two years with the Charlottetown Islanders of the PEI junior league. He was signed as a free agent by the California Golden Seals prior to the 1970-71 season then split his time between the NHL and AHL before injuries ended his season.

Right-winger Graves spent parts of nine NHL seasons with four different clubs in the 70s and 80s. He was an above average goal scorer who could handle defensive assignments effectively.

After a solid year with the AHL's Baltimore Clippers in 1971-72, Graves scored 27 goals in his first full NHL season. He formed the club's most consistent line with Ivan Boldirev and Gary Croteau. After a sub-par sophomore season he was traded to the Atlanta Flames for John Stewart. Graves spent a little over two seasons in Dixie as a versatile forward then was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in December, 1976. In 1977-78 he registered his second 20-goal season while playing with linemates Ron Sedlbauer and Chris Oddleifson.

Graves' totals dropped off in 1978-79 and he was left unprotected in the Expansion Draft following the WHA/NHL merger. The veteran winger was claimed by the Winnipeg Jets and was a utility player in 35 games during the 1979-80 season before retiring. He played 556 games in the National Hockey League, scoring 118 goals, 163 assist, 281 points and 209 penalty minutes. During his career he was known for having a devastating hip check.

Beautiful Evening In Saint John - August I, 2017

 

 

 

Former "Saint John Chief of Police" Charlie Breen Passes Away - July 26, 2017

February 3, 1934 - July 26, 2017

Charles William "Charlie" Breen

Born in Saint John, N.B.

Charlie retired as the Chief of Police for the Saint John Police Department in 1988, a career that was very important to him. He was a gifted athlete, playing fastball for the Saint John Alpines and made it into the Saint John Sports Hall of Fame.

Resting at Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB (634-7424) with visiting on Monday, July 31, 2017 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm. A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 12:00 pm from Brenan’s Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will take place at Greenwood Cemetery. For those who wish, remembrances may be made to the Canadian Neuropathy Association, Canadian Cancer Society or any charity of the donor’s choice.

www.brenansfh.com

Donald Sutherland Born In Saint John - July 17, 1935

July 17, 1935

Donald Sutherland

(Photo;biography.com)

Born in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Sutherland is a Canadian actor whose film career spans more than five decades. He is the son of Dorothy (McNichol) and Frederick Sutherland, who worked in sales and ran the local gas, electricity and bus company. His teenage years were spent in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. He obtained his first part-time job, at the age of 14, as a news correspondent for local radio station CKBW.

Sutherland graduated from Bridgewater High School. He then studied at Victoria College, University of Toronto, where he graduated with a double major in engineering and drama. He had at one point been a member of the "UC Follies" comedy troupe in Toronto. He changed his mind about becoming an engineer and left Canada for Britain in 1957, studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Sutherland rose to fame after starring in series of successful films including The Dirty Dozen (1967), M*A*S*H (1970), Kelly's Heroes (1970), Klute (1971), Don't Look Now (1973), Fellini's Casanova (1976), 1900 (1976), Animal House (1978), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Ordinary People (1980) and Eye of the Needle (1981). Since then, he established himself as one of the most respected, prolific and versatile character actors of Canada.

He later went on to star in many other successful films where he appeared either in leading or supporting roles such as A Dry White Season (1989), JFK (1991), A Time to Kill (1996), Without Limits (1998), The Italian Job (2003), Cold Mountain (2003), Pride & Prejudice (2005), Aurora Borealis (2006) and The Hunger Games franchise (2012–2015).

Sutherland has been nominated for eight Golden Globe Awards, winning two for his performances in the television films Citizen X (1995) and Path to War (2002); the former also brought him a Primetime Emmy Award. Sutherland has also received a Canadian Academy Award for the drama film Threshold (1981). Several media outlets and movie critics describe him as one of the best actors who has never been nominated for an Oscar.

Sutherland was made an Officer of the Order of Canada on December 18, 1978. He is an inductee of Hollywood Walk of Fame and Canadian Walk of Fame.

He is father of actors Rossif Sutherland, Angus Sutherland, and Kiefer Sutherland. He maintains a home in Georgeville, Quebec.

(Photo;thefashionspot.com)

Kiefer and Donald Sutherland

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"MLB Player" Matt Stairs Born In Saint John - February 27, 1968

February 27, 1968

Matt Stairs

(Photo;nbsportshalloffame)

Born in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Growing up in Fredericton, Stairs showed athletic ability at an early age, playing Beaver League baseball a year before his age eligibility; he also excelled in hockey. After playing Bantam & Midget baseball, at age 16 and 17, he played for the local Marysville Royals of the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League and was voted "Rookie of The Year" in 1984 and the league's Most Valuable Player in 1985. He was also named Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League MVP in 1987 and '88 while playing for the Fredericton Schooners.

He attended the National Baseball Institute in Vancouver, British Columbia for one year and played for Canada at the 1987 World Amateur Championships in Italy where he was named to the "World All-Star" team. In 1988, he joined the Canadian Junior National team after graduating from Fredericton High School. From there he went on to play for the Canadian Olympic Team at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

On January 17, 1989, Stairs was signed as an international free agent by the Montreal Expos. In his career, Stairs played for more teams than any position player in MLB history. He played for franchises, but technically 13 teams, as he played for both the Montreal Expos and Washington Nationals.

He was the second Canadian-born player ever to hit more than thirty-five home runs in a season, and only the second to hit more than 25 home runs and drive in more than 100 runs in back-to-back seasons. He ranks either first or second in power hitting categories for Canadian major leaguers. Stairs also holds the all-time MLB record of home runs hit as a pinch-hitter with 23. His ability to pinch hit made him a valuable asset to several teams and earned him the nickname "Matt Stairs – Professional Hitter". Stairs, Larry Walker, Justin Morneau, Jason Bay and Joey Votto are the only Canadian MLB players to hit at least 200 career home runs.

On August 30, 2008, Stairs was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. Stairs hit his first career postseason home run on October 13, 2008 in Game 4 of the 2008 National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers off Jonathan Broxton, allowing the Phillies to take the lead and win the game. He won the first World Series ring of his 16-year career on October 29, 2008, when the Phillies won the series against the Rays, 4 games to 1. During his time with the team, T-shirts were marketed which touched on Stairs' pinch-hitting prowess in clutch situations. They used a warning which can be found in many elevators: "In Case of Emergency, Use Stairs."

On June 9, 2012, Stairs was elected to the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame. On February 4, 2015, Stairs was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. On November 21, 2016, Stairs was among those nominated and placed on the ballot for the 2017 Baseball Hall of Fame.

In November 2016, he was hired by the Philadelphia Phillies to be their hitting coach.

(Photo;reddit.com)

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"Stomping" Tom Connors - Humour

Stomping Tom Connors - Live at Rama

For more on Stomping Tom; click here

Wet & Soggy "Canada Day 150" At Market Square

Wet And Soggy "Canada Day 150" In Kings Square

 

"Stompin" Tom Connors Canada Day Welcome

Canada Day 2011

Casino Rama - "Stompin" Tom at 75 years of age.

For more; Remembering "Stompin" Tom Connors

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You know you are from the Bay of Fundy if:

If you've worn shorts and a parka in the same day.

You've worn long john’s to the beach.

You know several people who have hit a deer more than once.

Driving is better in the winter because the pot holes are filled with snow.

You go for a drive and notice the rather unsettling amount of road signs that appear to have been shot.

When you don't hunt, yet come home with a 5 point buck, and no car.

You go for a 2 hour hike in November and hit rain, sleet, snow and sunshine before you get back.

Instead of having trouble getting strangers to say hello you have trouble getting them to shut up.

If someone in the local hardware store offers you assistance and they don't work there.

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number.

You have switched from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again.

You install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked.

You carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them.

You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction.

You have more miles on your snowmobile than your car.

You find 0 degrees "a little chilly."

You pull into crappy tire and see three people doing oil changes in the parking lot.

When the seagulls outnumber the people 3 to 1.

If your snow blower spends more time in the driveway than your car does.

You know more people who own boats than who have air conditioners.

You know more people who heat with wood than with oil or electric.

In winter, you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark while only working eight-hour days.

You are not fazed by "Today's forecast: showers followed by rain," and "Tomorrow's forecast: rain followed by showers".

You cannot wait for a day with "showers and sunny breaks."

You put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 10, even if there’s still snow around.

You switch to your sandals when it gets about 15.

You know people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists.

The burger and pizza places outnumber the other restaurants  3 to 1.

You think subdivision is part of a math problem.

When you take a load to the dump and bring back more than you took.

Someone accidentally stepped on your foot and you apologized.

You know schools don't issue a snow day unless there is a severe blizzard.

If you would like to share any of your own jokes please send to: fundybayblogger@hotmail.com

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Beautiful Day In Saint John - June 21, 2017

Digby Ferry Leaving

Lighthouse From Market Square Boardwalk