HockeyNewfoundland's hockey path is Cleary

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St. John's - For a province that long has been branded for its fishing, rugged beauty and wonderfully kind-hearted people, we can add hockey talent into the mix of Newfoundland's attributes.

In the past, the Rock has produced the occasional hockey hero. There always was the legendary Alex Faulkner and Keith Brown to fall back on. Newfies Dwayne Norris and John Slaney sent the country into a frenzy when they each scored crucial goals to propel Canada to gold at the world junior championship in 1990 and 1991, respectively.

But Newfoundland's presence in the hockey world has been nothing like it is now. Daniel Cleary brought the Stanley Cup to Newfoundland as a member of the Detroit Red Wings in the summer of 2008 and it was a celebration for the ages. Michael Ryder repeated the accomplishment just a few months ago with the industrious Boston Bruins.

Really, Newfoundland couldn't lose last year. When the Stanley Cup playoffs made its way to the conference finals, the province was well represented with Ryder in Boston, Ryane Clowe with the San Jose Sharks, Ted Purcell with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Darryl Williams.

There are others trying to gain a regular spot in the NHL this fall in Luke Adam (Buffalo Sabres) and Adam Pardy (Dallas Stars) as well as Ottawa Senators hopeful Colin Greening, who played 24 games with the Senators at the end of last season.

"It all stems from a guy like Danny Cleary," said Greening, who likely will suit up for Ottawa in the Kraft Hockeyville preseason game against the Winnipeg Jets at Mile One Centre in St. John's on Monday.

"A guy like me," Greening continued, "or Luke Adam or Teddy [Purcell] or even Michael Ryder or Ryane Clowe was inspired by Danny. It's sort of like if he can make it, than why not us if we work hard enough."

In a couple years, Cleary could become the all-time NHL games played leader for Newfoundland-born players. He begins this season 130 games behind Brown, who played most of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1980s and early 1990s before two final years with the Florida Panthers (see list of Newfoundlanders below who played in the NHL).

Besides Cleary's influence, another factor was when the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to move their AHL affiliate to St. John's in 1991. When they moved to Toronto 15 years later, Mile One had a new tenant in the St. John's Fog Devils for three seasons and now they have been replaced by the Jets farm team, the St. John's IceCaps, who have their home opener on Oct. 14 against the Hamilton Bulldogs.

"There are a lot more resources in the province now and there is a lot more exposure to hockey at a high level now, whether junior, AHL or NHL," Greening said.

"For me, growing up hockey was more of a leisurely thing. It was a fun thing to do and it kept you occupied. But over the last five years people have a real mentality for hockey and an invested interest for the game in Newfoundland."

The 25-year-old Greening has been told that he began to skate at age four, when his parents took him to a free public skate. But he disliked the athletic endeavour. Going around in circles was not for him.

The next year, however, his brother Adam, five years older, was enrolled in minor hockey. There was a deal that fall. For an extra $50, a family could register a second child. His father Fred, a retired CBC reporter and producer, and his mother, Joanne, a retired instructor at the College of North Atlantic, had their younger son lace up his skates again. But this time for hockey games.

"I guess with my Dad being a sucker for a good deal, I was enrolled into hockey," Colin Greening said. "I may not have liked skating in circles, but they say that as soon as they put a stick in my hand I loved it."

Colin developed into an outstanding player. His curiosity for the game was further enhanced when the Baby Leafs rolled into town. He found himself down at Mile One on most Fridays and Saturdays cheering on his favourite players.

The Baby Leafs player he focused on more than others was defenceman Nathan Dempsey. He later departed the Leafs organization to become a regular NHLer, but it was Dempsey's off-ice demeanour and all the time he spent in the community that made an impression on Greening.

It wasn't too long after Greening left Newfoundland, too, to further his hockey skills with Upper Canada College in Toronto and Nanaimo Clippers in the British Columbia Hockey League. He earned a hockey scholarship to Cornell University and a business degree after four years at the renowned Ithaca, N.Y. school.

He was not only noticed by the Senators, who selected him in the seventh round of the 2005 NHL entry draft, but the combination of advancing his skills on the ice, in the classroom and performing in front of the devoted Cornell faithful was an experience that has helped shape him as a thoughtful, well-balanced person.

"When I was having a tough time in school I could escape to hockey," he said. "When I was having a tough time in hockey I could escape to my studies.
"To have that balance has helped me develop as a person."

And another possible full-time NHLer for Newfoundland.

Newfoundlanders in the NHL:

Labrador City (name, born, NHL games)

Pascall Pelletier, 1983, 13 (Boston, Chicago)
Chad Penney, 1973, 3 (Ottawa)
Darryl Williams, 1969, 2 (Los Angeles)
Daniel Lacosta, 1986, 4 (Columbus)

Corner Brook

Keith Brown, 1960, 876 (Chicago, Florida)
Jason King, 1981, 59 (Vancouver, Anaheim)
Joe Lundrigan, 1948, 52 (Toronto, Washington)
Doug Grant, 1948, 77 (Detroit, St. Louis)

Deer Lake

Darren Langdon, 1971, 521 (NY Rangers, Carolina, Vancouver, Montreal, New Jersey)

Baie Verte

Brad Brown, 1975, 330 (Montreal, Chicago, NY Rangers, Minnesota, Buffalo)

Bishop's Falls

Alex Faulkner, 1936, 101 (Toronto, Detroit)

Grand Falls

Dave Pichette, 1960, 322 (Quebec, New Jersey, NY Rangers)
Tony White, 1954, 164 (Washington, Minnesota)
Don Howse, 1952, 33 (Los Angeles)

Bonavista

Adam Pardy, 1984, 147 (Calgary, Dallas)

Michael Ryder, 1980, 549 (Montreal, Boston, Dallas

Come-By-Chance

Bob Gladney, 1957, 14 (Los Angeles, Pittsburgh)

Carbonear

Daniel Cleary, 1978, 746 (Chicago, Phoenix, Edmonton, Detroit)

St. John's

Ryane Clowe, 1982, 319 (San Jose)
John Slaney, 1972, 268 (Washington, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia)
Ted Purcell,1985, 191 (Los Angele, Tampa Bay)
Harold Druken, 1979, 146 (Vancouver, Carolina, Toronto)
Colin Greening, 1986, 24 (Ottawa)
Jason Morgan, 1976, 44 (Los Angeles, Nashville, Calgary, Chicago, Minnesota)
Luke Adam, 1990, 19 (Buffalo)
Dwayne Norris, 1970, 20 (Quebec, Anaheim)
Terry Ryan, 1977, 8 (Montreal)

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