HockeyBolland follows Shanahan's skate prints

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The venerable Blue Goose Tavern is in need of a revamping this summer.

The popular century-old watering hole in Mimico, Ont. has adorning its walls several pictures of the neighbourhood's favourite son, three-time Stanley Cup-champion Brendan Shanahan. There also are a few photos of another Mimico native, Dave Bolland, from his days with the London Knights and winning world junior gold with Canada in 2006.

But now that the 24-year-old Chicago Blackhawks centreman has become a Stanley Cup champion, he expects Blue Goose owner Terry Chemij to make room for a picture of Bolland with the prized trophy.

"There better be," Bolland said. "If there isn't I'll be pretty pissed."

Relax young man. Chemij has plans to honour you with a celebratory picture. At least, he stated as much when reached on Friday. Bolland, meanwhile, remarked that when he gets his day with the Stanley Cup this summer, one of his stops will be the Blue Goose.

Two days after Bolland's 11th birthday, Shanahan and the Detroit Red Wings partied with the team's first Stanley Cup championship. But despite the 17-year age difference Shanahan and Bolland are close.

Shanahan's brother Brian coached Bolland as a youth and informed Brendan that there was another kid from Mimico about to taken in the 2002 OHL draft. It was even better news when the Knights, the junior team Shanahan played for, selected Bolland eighth overall.

During Bolland's time in London, he and few of his teammates made the trip west to Detroit to take in Red Wings game and they had dinner with Shanahan.

"I'm just happy to see other players from Mimico succeed," said Shanahan, who has met with Bolland several times since to catch up and talk about life.

"When we get together it's not so much about talking hockey, but we just enjoy each other's company. We're from different generations, but we have a lot in common. There are no lessons I need to teach him.

"What I like is I have never seen a change in his attitude. He has always been polite and respectful."

Shanahan only asked in return that when Bolland gains veteran status he also takes younger players under his wing and show them the ropes. For Shanahan, he recalled how accommodating and supportive former Knights players like Rob Ramage and Brad Marsh were for Shanahan when he was finding his way.

"There were certain veteran players who helped me out throughout my career," Shanahan said. "I wanted to do the same and I expect David to do the same.

"It's easy to throw on the equipment and just go play. But I was struck by the level of professionalism these guys brought to the game. These were guys who had families, but they went out of their way to help out younger players."

Shanahan gets a kick out watching the hard-nosed Bolland perform on the ice. His third season was reduced to only 39 regular season games because of back surgery, but he made up for lost time with a wonderful effort in the playoffs. He scored eight times and piled up 16 points in 22 games.

In the series finale against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, Bolland made a wonderful pass to Patrick Sharp to tie the game at 2-2 in the second period.

Bolland doesn't quite have the scoring touch that saw Shanahan check in with a combined 716 regular season and playoff goals in his career, but Bolland does play with the same ruggedness that Shanahan did.

"I love his energy on the ice," Shanahan said. "I like the way he plays. I'm proud that he is from Mimico."

And what Shanahan's time has meant to the new Stanley Cup champion?

"He has had a big impact on my life along the way, him and his brother Brian," Bolland said. "They have done a lot of things for me. To have them give me advice in every step along the way has been great."

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