Brothers: The Phil and Tony Esposito Story
follows the Esposito brothers back to their hometown of Sault
St. Marie for a nostalgic visit to the outdoor rink where
they learned to play hockey; to the family home they haven't
been in since they were teenagers; to their National Hockey
League hometowns of Boston and Chicago; and finally to Florida
where they joined forces to start the Tampa Bay Lightning
NHL expansion team in 1992. Early years and personal
life are revealed through interviews with past teammates Bobby
Orr and Ken Hodge, Tony's wife Marilyn, and Phil's daughter
Carrie and sister Terry.
Off the ice, the two brothers were different people with
different lives. Phil, the showman, was outgoing and
outspoken, characteristics which often got him into trouble.
Tony was introverted, more business-minded. Each endured
the costs of fame. Phil would twice divorce. And
while Tony's 34-year marriage would survive, his family would
bear the brunt of his intense devotion to the game.
The documentary takes a behind-the-scenes look at the brothers'
rise to the top of the NHL. Elder brother Phil (Espo)
broke every record in the NHL for scoring goals and Tony (Tony
O), one year younger, broke the record for stopping them.
In 1971, Phil set an NHL record with 76 goals and a staggering
total of 152 points. In his first year in Chicago with
the Blackhawks, Tony shut out the opposition 15 times, an
unprecedented record that still stands. In their long
careers, time and again at the goal crease, with less than
brotherly love, one would face the other in the rough and
tough NHL. But in 1972, the time came for Canada to
take on the ice arch-enemy of the time, the Russians.
Together the brothers answered the patriotic call and became
heroes of the day.
Original Air Date - October 12, 1999
Links
National
Hockey League
Tampa
Bay Lightning
The
Official Site of Phil
and Tony Esposito
Tony
Esposito Bio and Stats
Phil
Esposito Bio and Stats
(Note: CBC does not endorse the content of external
sites)
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