CBC-Sports

"May Day" once again

April 7, 2009 02:41 PM | Posted by   Craig Simpson  

The only thing more fitting for Brad May’s 1,000th NHL game would be for it to be played where it all began, in Buffalo at the Auditorium. Unfortunately, the Aud’s days as an NHL building are a distant memory and May, of course, is now a Toronto Maple Leaf.

For May, there will be a kaleidoscope of memories swirling through his mind April 8 as he laces up his skates for number 1,000, but none more memorable than the one at the Aud that he and long-time play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret made so famous.

The year was 1993 in the first round of the post-season. For May, it was just his second season in the NHL, but his historic one-on-one undressing of Ray Bourque and goaltender Andy Moog to score the series-clinching goal against the Boston Bruins is still one of the best and most memorable calls by an announcer. Jeanneret’s renowned “May Day, May Day, May Day, May Day, May Day” are words that will forever associate Brad May with the Buffalo Sabres.

How fitting it is that on a night when he becomes the 21st player to play his 1,000th NHL game in a Maple Leafs jersey that his opponent will be the Buffalo Sabres, the team it all started with. In a classy move, the Leafs will leave May out of the lineup against the New Jersey Devils Tuesday in order to make the Sabres the opponent on his historic night.

Work ethic, positive attitude

For a local kid who grew up in Stouffville, Ont., played minor hockey in Markham and junior in Niagara Falls before being selected 14th overall by Buffalo in the 1990 draft, the connection between Toronto and Buffalo in May’s big night is appropriate.

In May’s rookie season in 1991-92, he had a modest 11 goals and 17 points. His best year in the NHL came in 1994, his third season with the Sabres when he had 18 goals and 45 points. Scoring goals and getting points are not the reason Brad May has been able to survive through 17 NHL seasons for Buffalo, Vancouver, Phoenix, Colorado, Anaheim and Toronto. It’s his work ethic, his determination, his selflessness, his understanding of his role, and above all his positive attitude that has carried him through to game 1,000.

Bill Hunter, the former owner of the WHA Edmonton Oilers, had a saying that I think fits Brad May to a T. He would always tell the players: “It’s your attitude, not your aptitude that gives you altitude.” That kind of spirit is what makes Brad May a good teammate. It makes him a good competitor and a good mentor. And, despite not scoring goals or adding offence, it’s made him a valuable member of the Maple Leafs.

At times the phrase, “one of the true good guys in the game” can be overused when describing players, but not in May’s case. Congratulations Brad on 1,000 NHL games. Most of those nights were spent doing things the hard way, like digging in the corners, finishing checks, battling for loose pucks, driving to the net and dropping the gloves to defend a teammate.

Enjoy your night, and you never know, maybe April 8, 2009, will be another special “May Day”.

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