All Star Game

I caught the last 5minutes, the 5minute overtime and the shootout of the NHL All Star game last night. What was that? 11-10 sounds more like a football game than hockey. So there were a bunch of goal, and some great saves - but it was just some guys throwing the puck around without anyone trying to stop them. Whatever it was - it was not real hockey. I can go down to the arena... actually the community centre is closed in Orillia & the local OJHL team - The Couchiching Terriers - plays in Rama [that's another story] - but that is better hockey than what passed for All Star hockey last night.

The Toronto Star quotes from The Ultimate Book of Hockey Lists By The Hockey News, edited by Sam McCaig (Transcontinental, 262 pages, $19.95)

"It has been suggested that hockey is a religion and not a sport in Montreal. Fans dissect every game, practice and transaction as though their lives depended on it; at the same time Canadiens fans have more fun at a game than anybody on the planet. Oh yeah, they lead the universe in Stanley Cup celebrations, too."

And this wonderful line:

No.2? Yup, it's Toronto. "All you need to know about the Leafs is, they have not won the Stanley Cup since 1967 and have not had an unsold seat since Moby Dick was a minnow."

And just for those who are counting

Stanley Cup appearances & wins

• Montreal Canadians 34 / 24
• Jean Béliveau / 17
• Toronto Maple Leafs 21 / 13