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Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
2013.55.30 B |
Object Name |
Video Recording |
Title |
Vic Hadfield Interview |
Interview Summary / Résumé d'entrevue |
Vic Hadfield, Order of Sport recipient, inducted in 2005, born in Oakville, Ontario, shares insights into his career as an ice hockey player. Vic recalls growing up in Oakville in the 1940s and 50s and how his primary focus was playing in the National Hockey League. The Toronto Maple Leafs were the local favourite, with Brian Cullen being a personal hero for his willingness to engage with the local youths. Vic explains how he was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks and played for them in Junior B, winning the Memorial Cup with the St. Catharines team before being drafted by the New York Rangers, where he played for 16 years. Reflecting on his career, Vic highlights the 1971-72 season, emphasizing team achievements over individual success, and he discusses his typical goal-scoring strategy. The interview also focuses on his experiences during the 1972 Summit Series, noting various challenges, including adapting to the Russian playing style. Discussing life lessons he learned from playing ice hockey, Vic emphasizes teamwork, respect, and hard work. Reflecting on his time in New York, he celebrated the Rangers' 1994 Stanley Cup win and cherishes being a member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Vic Hadfield, récipiendaire de l'Ordre du sport, a été intronisé en 2005 et est né à Oakville, en Ontario. Il partage ses perspectives sur sa carrière de hockey sur glace. Vic se remémore son enfance à Oakville dans les années 1940 et 1950 et raconte que sa principale ambition était de jouer dans la Ligue nationale de hockey. Les Maple Leafs de Toronto étaient l'équipe préférée de la région. Le joueur Brian Cullen, qui interagissait avec les jeunes du coin, était d'ailleurs un héros pour Vic Hadfield. Vic explique comment il a été recruté par les Blackhawks de Chicago et a joué pour eux en Junior B, remportant la coupe Memorial avec l'équipe de St. Catharines avant d'être repêché par les Rangers de New York, où il a joué pendant 16 ans. En réfléchissant à sa carrière, Vic met en avant la saison 1971-72, en soulignant les réalisations de l'équipe plutôt que les succès individuels, et il discute de sa stratégie pour marquer des buts. L'entrevue parle également beaucoup de ses expériences lors de la Série du siècle de 1972, notant divers défis, notamment l'adaptation au style de jeu russe. En discutant des leçons de vie qu'il a apprises en jouant au hockey sur glace, Vic met l'accent sur le travail d'équipe, le respect et le travail acharné. En réfléchissant à son expérience à New York, il célèbre la victoire de la coupe Stanley des Rangers en 1994 et chérit le fait d'être membre du Panthéon des sports du Canada. |
Scope & Content |
Vic Hadfield interview, 1 November 2006. Digitized MP4 from Sony 40 Advanced ME DVCAM. Viewing time 00:31:31. 00:31Childhood: Oakville minor hockey in the 1950s, his ultimate goal was to play in the NHL, education was secondary for him; looking back it was scary if hockey did not work out without an education; it was exciting, given opportunities to play hockey 02:21Idols: living in Oakville the Toronto Maple Leafs were the big team; (02:15) "I just had that tremendous desire to one day put on an NHL sweater"; Brian Cullen, who played for the Leafs, appeared at a banquet when he played minor hockey, "never ever forgot that, he is a true gentleman... as far as a hero, he was my hero for taking the time to come and out and spend time with kids" 03:29Point at which he said "I know I can" in reference to playing in the NHL: age 16, had to go outside of Oakville to advance to different levels, Bob Wilson, chief scout of the Chicago Blackhawks watched him play, played Junior B in Dixie, sponsored by the Blackhawks, then went to St. Catharines, "at the point I figured I can make this thing go; took a while to really have that confidence...had desire to make it, played there and won Memorial Cup with St. Catharines..." and then drafted by New York and was there for 16 years. 05:52Do you remember your first game? "I'll never forget putting that Rangers sweater on and it was kind of like I made it", tougher to stay, was not the fastest or best puck handler but had the desire and respect for the other players in the NHL 06:511971-72 season: Emile Francis had put together a good team, Vic was on the line with Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle, his job to be a little aggressive and get the puck out, "we never dwelled on individual accomplishments; it was a team effort, and the thing is... we never won the Stanley Cup and so there is that void... But other than that, I came out if it relatively healthy and very, very fortunate to have had that opportunity to play in the National [Hockey] League" 08:37What was a typical goal like? "Used to park myself in front of the net... used to yell the loudest and somehow the puck would come to me and I'd bang it in" 09:35On the 1972 Summit Series: it was an honour to be chosen to represent Canada, "we all understood our roles... we understood not all would play;" scouts on the Russians, they had no idea what to expect, not well prepared, it was the middle of summer, "we were not fully aware of what to expect and we got hammered; that first night really set us back, expecting the Russians to fall down and intimidate them, you couldn't do any of that, they were sneaky in their preparation and they caught us by surprise, it went the full course before we were able to win it, Paul Henderson, but we learned a lesson" 11:27On different hockey styles between Russians and Canadians: "look at hockey today and that's the way the Russians played in the 1960s and 1970s; puck control... beautiful passes... they used all the ice surface, we had a difficult time adjusting to their style but we had to do that... credit to the guys, we were able to succeed" 12:43On his line during the first game of the Series: "we were totally shocked.. can't say his line was better, we were all reeling from the experience, not knowing how to adjust... some players doing things they hadn't done before in terms of being aggressive and chasing them... final outcome we were able to do it and very, very satisfied" 14:14On Game 2 of the Series: made changes in lineups which players understood, "no one thought they were going to play every game..." it was very important to win, they had some experience as a unit, "it was a very big game and Peter [Mahovlich] came through as you know" 15:46Playing in Moscow during Summit Series: same line mates as in New York; different culture, talks about things Russians did such as late buses, stolen food, delayed practice times, meant to distract them but brought the guys together, we are professionals, we can make the adjustments, we're going to win 18:46Why didn't you play in Moscow? Understanding from training camp that not everyone was going to play, in Russia the team was split and he was one of the players who were not going to be used at that point; decision to stay and cheer or go home, the Rangers wanted him back if he could not play or practice; talks about Alan Eagleson having a press conference to explain why the players who were not going to play in Russia were returning to North America but he failed to have one; went back to New York and no one played any differently; proud of the players that stayed together and were able to pull it out 22:00What he is doing now: talks about the Daniella Maria Arturi Foundation that was started to raise awareness and support for families with children suffering from a rare blood disorder (Diamond Blackfan Anemia) 26:06What life lessons learned from playing hockey: "what sports does for you, it gives you an opportunity to work together with other kids... The team effort, you work as a team, you respect each other, getting along, working hard at what you are doing..."; talks about street hockey as a child and what he learned 27:20Funny moment: talks about Emile Frances and tricking him during a tight game, had the dressing room laughing and they won the game Talks about New York being a wonderful city and being there when the Rangers won the Cup in 1994, sitting with the alumni and "we all felt we still had that sweater", one of the highlights of his life 30:40On being a member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame: "It means a tremendous amount. I was never able to be on a team that won the Stanley Cup and I'm not a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. I take it very seriously and it is a tremendous honour." |
Date |
2006/11/01 |
People |
Hadfield, Vic Esposito, Phil Ratelle, Jean Gilbert, Rod Francis, Emile Cullen, Brian |
Search Terms |
Interview Vic Hadfield Ice Hockey NHL National Hockey League New York Rangers Pittsburgh Penguins 1972 Summit Series |