Bruins' Glen Metropolit overcomes the odds
Monday, December 10, 2007 | 12:17 PM ET
I had a great Sunday morning with Glen Metropolit of the Boston Bruins yesterday (I’m doing a piece on Metro for CBC's upcoming Hockey Day in Canada Feb. 9th).
We took Glen to his old stomping grounds in the Regent Park area of Toronto, a neighbourhood rife with drug dealers, subsidized housing and lack of opportunity. Growing up in this socially challenged area, Metropolit was able to resist making the wrong life decisions and turned himself into a fine NHLer who is proving to be a valued member of the Bruins. And since Patrice Bergeron went down with his concussion after the Randy Jones hit, Metropolit has found himself doing second-line duty behind Marc Savard.
We took Glen through his old 'hood where he showed us the wading pool he worked at for his first summer job, Moss Park arena, where Glen learned to play organized hockey, and then we took him to the outdoor rink in Regent Park, which is in the middle of the government subsidized housing complex where Glen grew up.
The rink was packed, as it often is on Sunday morning. You should have seen the kids' eyes light up when an NHL player from their part of town hit the ice to skate with them. That'll be a moment all those kids will talk about forever. I can recall being eight or nine years old, growing up in the west end of Toronto, and playing pick-up Sunday morning at High Park arena when Maple Leafs defencemen Borje Salming and Jim McKenny came out for a skate with their sons Anders and Jason. The entire rink stood still in stunned silence for a moment while everyone drank in the fact they were about to share the rink with professional hockey players.
That was the same look I saw on kids' faces in Regent Park yesterday morning. And the best part about the impromptu skate was I couldn't tell who was happier to be out there, the kids or Glen, who did not want to leave the rink and head to the Bruins' next game.
In an era where you see so many players making it all about themselves, their contracts, and their million dollar homes, it's refreshing to see someone like Metropolit, who has never let go of his roots and is not ashamed of his path to the NHL. He grew up not having enough money to buy top of the line equipment, he played in government funded leagues, had to take himself all over town to play hockey (his mother raised the family on her own and gave him fifty cents for every goal he scored), played in a rink where pushers sold drugs outside the penalty box, but he never once let any of those factors keep him from chasing his dream to play in the NHL.
Metropolit and the Bruins are in Buffalo to face the Sabres tonight at the HSBC Arena.
Hope you can join me for today's edition of Hockey Night in Canada Radio (Sirius Ch. 122 at 4 p.m. ET), as Calgary Flames coach Mike Keenan will be on the program.
We'll talk to former Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall, who sat as the head of the board of governors 15 years ago when the NHL welcomed the Florida Panthers and Anaheim Mighty Ducks into the NHL. Also, the Boston Globe's Kevin Paul Dupont talks about the Bruins.
Kelly Hrudey co-hosts for the full two hours and HNIC host Ron MacLean will join us live for the full first hour as he does each and every Monday.
We'll be all over the main news stories of the day, including the Atlanta Thrashers claiming forward Mark Recchi off re-entry waivers over the weekend, the inevitable Anaheim Ducks trade to clear salary cap space for Scott Niedermayer's return, and we'll preview the seven games on the go tonight around the league.
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About the Author
Jeff Marek, one of sports talk radio's brightest stars, is the host of the all-new HNIC Radio on SIRIUS Satellite Radio. A twelve-year sports-talk radio veteran, the Toronto native provides intelligent hockey talk, insight and debate during the two-hour national daily drive-time hockey program.
Well known for his previous work on Leafs Lunch on AM 640 Toronto Radio, Marek is one of sports talk radio's most respected personalities. He joined AM 640 in 2000, hosting The Jeff Marek Show, a nightly open-line talk show, while working as the stations' morning news anchor. He quickly became the director of sports news and joined host Bill Watters on Leafs Lunch.
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Comments
Danny
Toronto
what the story fails to show is not only
has glen done such a great job of making it to the show!
glen also had to fight demons related to his brother who was in some serious trouble.his brother was involved in some serious trouble with the police at 1 time or another.
Glen is an inspiration to us all and its great to see him succeed.
heres hoping the leafs make an effort to bring him to toronto during the leafs rebuild :)
Posted March 11, 2008 11:08 PM
Eddy Brooks
I had the chance to play with Glen in a BCJHL all-star game in Junior and his personality then was of someone who gravitates people towards himself. I know today that I couldn't name more than half of the players on that team but I always remembered Glen. That speaks more of the person he is than the player. Way to go Glen!!!!!
Posted February 9, 2008 02:26 PM
Rob Lee
Toronto
Glen has come along way since his days with the Richmondhill Riot, a great guy that deserves the success of all his hard work. Way to go Glen, and it is great that you come home and show kids that if you really put your heart into something you can live your dream.
Posted February 9, 2008 12:26 PM
Peter
I've lived at Regent Park for three years, with both good and bad experiences.
My bike was stolen the first year. A car parked in the drive-way was smashed at night the second year. The house was broken into during the day just last month.
However, I LOVE the area. I've experienced far more good things. For example, my landlord bought me a new bike after my 10-dollar second-hand bike was stolen. I've also enjoyed my new friends in the neighbourhood and various community supports.
Recently I took up skating, and practised at South Regent Park outdoor rink. I love the crowd there. Maybe we don't have the most fancy skates and other equipments, but we certainly have the most fun. The kids are very friendly and well-behaved. I'm an absolute beginner, and some kids will stop and teach me how to skate.
It's so nice to hear Glen Metropolit's story. So many good things at Regent Park need to be discovered.
Posted February 7, 2008 12:06 PM
Ben
Barrie
Sounds like a good guy...Cool last name.
Posted December 12, 2007 01:35 PM
bobmac
Halifax
Nice to see the underdog (both Metro and the Bruins) getting some recognition. That team has been down so long, it is good that Metro is helping to bring them back to life.
It seems everything gets lost with all the hype around Sid. He is great, but there are some others out there with good stories like this one.
Posted December 12, 2007 10:06 AM
Thom Williams
I've known Metro for 12 years and you will not find a more genuine person. Who not only loves the game but loves his family, friends and fans. He is the ultimate PRO!! Thanks Metro for all the highlights on the ice and in life.
U.T.
Posted December 12, 2007 12:28 AM
Ian
I remember seeing Metropolit in those Spengler cup games and thinking some team in the NHL should pick him up. Fortunately someone did.
Posted December 11, 2007 04:29 PM
Darren
Victoria
It should be mentioned that Metropolit played in Europe for a while. He was on Team Canada in the Spengler Cup a few times.
Posted December 11, 2007 01:32 PM
NateJ
attaboy, Metro...great story.
Posted December 11, 2007 09:10 AM
droc
victoria
wow what a heartwarming story. as a father with a son in minor hockey it is important to hear what the game means to different people with different life experiences and different reasons for being there...
Posted December 11, 2007 04:23 AM
Craig Fortier
Glen Metropolit is well deserving of the praise he has received in this article for his hockey skills and for his recognition of his community roots in the Regent Park community. I am dismayed however by the position of the author who completely falls into the trap of stereotyping and disrespecting the Regent Park community.
Clearly this is a story that seeks to discuss the "youth who made it from the ghetto" but in its ambitiousness, fails to discuss the challenges of the Regent Park Community. For one, it fails to acknowledge that the housing crisis in Regent Park is partly spurred on by the gentrification in the area which has undoubtedly pushed many people out of the community. (i.e. While the "redevelopment is said to provide mixed housing - in reality it has reduced the stock of social housing in the downtown core).
Moreover, the author's description of Regent Park as "a neighbourhood rife with drug dealers, subsidized housing and lack of opportunity" fails to take into consideration the considerable history of social progress that has taken place in Regent Park including the work of such immigration settlement institutions as Central Neighbourhood House and innovative youth organizations like Regent Park Focus. This narrow and ill-researched article on the "big bad ghetto" of Toronto should be criticized for falling into the easy trap of stigmatized poor areas.
Glen Metropolit's road to the NHL has definitely been unusual and this story is worth merit in highlighting his success, however, not at the expense of stigmatizing a community like Regent Park.
Posted December 11, 2007 02:05 AM
haywire
Edmonton
I can relate to the story of Glen Metropolit which is very moving and what I like most of all, is that he shows the utmost humility by returning to the area where he grew up. I wish all other players of that calibre can make the same contribution and return the glamore to the kids who need it most. Those who idolize the professionals, need them to come back to the backyard rinks, outdoor rinks and neighborhoods such as this to show the appreciation for the fan base.
As a former athlete, I wish Glen Metropolit and players like him to continue to revisit their previous environment.
Posted December 10, 2007 10:28 PM
Max Perren
Cabbagetown
My son takes skating lessons at Moss Park and there is now a picture of Glen taped to the lobby wall. It says, "To Moss Park Arena, Thanks for making my dreams come true..." Yes, a real classy NHLer that many kids in the neighbourhood would and are benefitting from. I hope he keeps coming back for their sake.
Posted December 10, 2007 08:40 PM
Jim Murray
Metropolit is an inspiring story. Thanks for insights. He brings that hunger to the rink every game for the Bruins and I believe is a major part of their success so far this season.
Posted December 10, 2007 05:35 PM
Greg Bereza
Edmonton
Just goes to show that it's not where you come from but where you are going that matters. And he's a darn good hockey player too!
Posted December 10, 2007 05:29 PM
Ray
Winnipeg
What a class act Metro is. A true 'Beauty' as we like to say in the hockey world.
Posted December 10, 2007 04:15 PM
Kelly
Peterborough
A great story about Glen Metropolit, overcoming all the odds to fulfill his dream of playing in the NHL. It is great to read these stories of perseverance and truimph over adversity, as we all too often read about the people who succumb to the temptations and negative lifestyle choices that can be found in a place like Regent Park.
I hope that Glen's story will be an inspiration to all from that community that anything is possible if you have the will and determination to reach your goals.
Posted December 10, 2007 03:36 PM
Edgar Styles
newfoundland
Classy NHL'er. So many forget their roots. Great story.
Posted December 10, 2007 01:44 PM