A wonderful Carbo story

While Google-searching a while ago, I found this story.  It cannot be verified, of course -- but I believe it because I have read/heard similar stories about Guy and his kindnesses towards his fans.  Reading this will certainly brighten any Carbonneau fan's day.  Enjoy!

Carbo to Cunneyworth: learn French

Hello everyone.  We've gone a long while between updates, but I'm busy with a new full-time job and there just hasn't been that much to report.  

Over the weekend, there was huge news in Habs-land:  coach Jacques Martin was fired and replaced with the unilingual English-speaking Randy Cunneyworth.  Since then, the decision by Canadiens management has been clouded by controversy.  At his exiting press conference as Habs coach, Carbo famously said that it doesn't matter if the coach speaks Chinese if he can win, but he has weighed in here via the Associated Press:

Guy Carbonneau understands Randy Cunneyworth's plight, but the former coach of the Montreal Canadiens also knows that the new man in that job should learn to speak French as quickly as possible.

"He's living a dream, which is doing what he loves for one of the best franchises in the NHL, and he's caught in a storm," Carbonneau said. "It's premature. You have to give him a chance to show what he can do and if he's willing to learn.

"But there's no doubt in my mind that the coach of the Montreal Canadiens has to speak both languages, at least to some extent."

The Toronto-born Cunneyworth, the Canadiens' first English-only speaking coach since Al McNeil in the 1970-71 season, landed in a swirl of controversy when he was made interim head coach after Jacques Martin was fired on Saturday.

Cunneyworth has said he hopes to learn French. Until then, the debate is likely to rage on.

Many see the Canadiens as not only a hockey team, but as an institution representing the French-Canadian people, and that its coach should speak the language of the majority of its fans.

Former general manager Serge Savard blasted the move, saying the team "belongs to the people." Team owner Geoff Molson issued a statement that underlined the job is "interim" and that next season there will be a French-speaking coach, whether it is Cunneyworth or someone else.

"Its one thing to say he's willing to learn it and another to actually learn it," Carbonneau said. "The job he has now is really demanding. You have to prepare the team. You have to eat and sleep. I don't know where learning French is going to fit in his schedule."

The struggling Canadiens lost their first two games under the new coach, which hasn't helped Cunneyworth's cause. The French-language newspaper Le Journal de Montreal rubbed it in by printing its front-page headline in English: "Another Loss For Cunneyworth" to make sure he understood.

Some suggested that Quebec residents would be more willing to accept an English-speaking coach if it was a big name with a proven winning record, such as Detroit's Mike Babcock, but not a first-timer like Cunneyworth.

Meanwhile, Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette makes the case for Carbo's return behind the Habs bench here in a blog post.

A marvelous old image of Guy

Via eBay.  This is a very young Carbonneau, in his rookie season with the Canadiens.  Excuse the watermark.

Ah, to be 22 again...

News roundup.

First of all, congratulations are in order to Carbo's former teammate and Habs assistant, Kirk Muller, on being hired as the Carolina Hurricanes' new head coach.  Muller is a rookie NHL head coach, replacing Paul Maurice behind the bench (who has been fired by the Canes for the second time in a decade).  Best of luck to you, Kirk!

Some Carbonneau news items:

• On November 23, Guy took part in the seventh annual CN Hockey Greatest Stars challenge, which raised $335,000 to help charitable organizations supported by the CN Employees' and Pensioners' Community Fund.  Guy played on a squad of former Montreal Canadiens that also included Steve Begin, Patrice Brisebois, Mathieu Dandenault, and Stephane Richer.  

(photo source:  CN)

• Guy is included in a box set of 12 prints by the artist Pierre Pivet, featuring Habs legends.  These prints are signed and come in a limited edition of 875, priced at $2,950.  More information about these prints can be found here.
• On Thursday, December 1, starting at 6:30 PM, Carbo will be at Bar Au Diable Vert (18+ only), located at 4557 rue Saint-Denis in Montreal, for a showing of Game 5 of the 1993 Stanley Cup Final between the Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings.  The coach of that winning Habs team, Jacques Demers, will also be at the event.  Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door.  All proceeds are being donated to the Great Food Drive. 
• On Friday, December 2, Carbo will be at the Sportplexe 4 Ice Pierrefonds, as part of a tour sponsored by Canadian Tire, helping young people with their hockey skills.  Stephane Richer, Gaston Gingras, and Patrice Brisebois will also be in attendance.  A total of 3,000 young hockey players aged 7 to 12 years, from Novice, Atom and Peewee, try their luck across Canada. The top five boys and five girls in the best overall ranking in each category will participate in the grand finale presented on the Rideau Canal, Saturday, Jan. 28. 

Carbo and Stastny

One of Carbo's tasks as a defensive forward during the great Canadiens-Nordiques rivalry was to check Nords superstar Peter Stastny.  A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Stastny arrived in Quebec City in 1980 with his brother Anton after defecting from Czechoslovakia.  A third brother, Marian, arrived the following year and the three Stastnys became one of only three trios of brothers to play professional hockey on the same team.

In 1985, the year following the infamous "Vendredi Saint" brawl that saw the Habs defeating the Nords in the playoffs, the Nordiques exacted revenge when Carbo lost a faceoff to Stastny in overtime in the seventh game of the Adams division final, and Stastny scored on the play.  Carbo remembered in a Hockey Night in Canada interview in 2008, "I was upset.  I let the team down, I let the city down."

The following year, Carbo said of Stastny:  "For me and Stastny, it wasn't love."

So imagine my surprise when, the other day, I learned something that I hadn't known before.  I consider myself an expert in most things Carbo, but even I didn't know that Guy and Peter Stastny spent a brief time as teammates.  Stastny's final NHL team was the St. Louis Blues.  Carbo, of course, was traded to St. Louis in August 1994 and spent only that season with the team.

Hence this rare photo.

Rest in peace, Eddy Palchak

Eddy Palchak, former longtime Montreal Canadiens trainer and equipment manager, passed away on November 16 at the age of 71 following a long illness.  His funeral service was held today in Dorval, Quebec.  Carbo was at the service, sharing a pew with fellow Habs alumni Guy Lafleur, Yvan Cournoyer, and Rick Green.  With a sly grin, he said of Palchak's time with Les Glorieux:

“There was a lot of history in the old skate-sharpening room at the Forum.  If those walls could talk, they’d have told good stories and bad stories.”

Palchak was not only a trainer and equipment man, he was a member of the Habs family who left a great impact on those who went on to become legends.  (Montreal Gazette)

From the photo files.

Carbo's friendship/professional partnership with Kirk Muller is long-standing.  The number-two draft pick in 1984 (behind Mario Lemieux), Muller joined the Habs in a trade in 1991 that saw Stephane Richer dealt to the Devils.  Of course, Carbonneau and Muller's greatest achievement together was that Stanley Cup win in 1993.  The two became teammates again in the 1999-2000 season, when Muller joined the Dallas Stars.

That's why, in 2006 when coach Carbo was putting his staff together, Muller was a natural for the position.

Said Guy at the time:  “We’ve been through a number of battles together and not many players can match Kirk’s passion for the game.”

So, as I was going through my photo files tonight, I found this rare and notable image:

Carbonneau and Muller, before they were teammates.

Carbo joins Playground Poker Club

This morning, the Playground Poker Club in Montreal -- one of the top poker rooms in Canada -- announced the addition of Guy to its Players' Club.  Guy joins top poker players Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Laak, Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, Greg “FBT” Mueller and Erik Cajelais, among others, as the faces of Playground's charity events.  Carbo is the first former National Hockey League player to join the club.

David Montour, Playground's Chief Operating Officer:

“Guy Carbonneau is the last player to take the Montreal to the Promised Land by captaining them to a Stanley Cup in 1993.  He’s a born leader and a natural choice to be the first former NHL player named to the Playground Players’ Club.”  (canadapoker.com)

Some updates.

Carbo had some kind words about this year's Hockey Hall of Fame inductees:

What's it like to be here this weekend to help honor two of your ex-teammates (Belfour and Nieuwendyk) that you went through so much with?

"It's unbelievable. I always say you make a lot of friends just by playing hockey but probably your best friends will always be the players you won the Cup with. I remember '86, '93 and '99 was a great season for everybody. Having a chance to play against all four guys that are inducted, and especially with Joe and Eddie in '99, it's a thrill."

What was it like to go against Gilmour in those Montreal-Toronto rivalry games?

"He was a great competitor. He was a lot more offensive than I was, but we played the same style. Neither of us wanted to give an inch and those are great memories. Any time you play against a great competitor makes you raise your game a little bit and that's what I always enjoyed."  (nhl.com)

It is also time for another State of the 'Stache report!

Guy showing off his moustache at the Playground Poker Club in Montreal recently.  (image credit:  Playground Poker Club)

Carbo to participate in Alma Legends game

As part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Alma Provincial Midget Hockey Tournament in Alma, Quebec, Carbo will be participating in a Legends game this Friday, November 11.  Other Canadiens alumni taking part in this game are Patrice Brisebois, Stephane Richer, Mathieu Dandenault, and Guy Lafleur, who will be acting as coach.  

As of October 31, less than 100 tickets were still available.  The game takes place at 7PM at Centre Mario Tremblay.  Everyone is invited to Mario Tremblay's Restaurant and Bar after the game to meet the players and take part in an auction.  Tickets are $15 (free for children 12 and under) and are available at Jean Coutu, Dupont Auto Alma, Alma Bell Store and Mario Tremblay's Restaurant and Bar.  (Journal Lac St-Jean)

2011 Haggar Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Classic

Carbo is slated to play in the Haggar Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Classic at the Air Canada Centre this Sunday, November 13 at 2:00 PM.  This game pits Team Bourque against Team Salming.  Carbo will be playing on Team Bourque, which also includes Raymond Bourque (of course), and former teammates Steve Shutt and Joe Nieuwendyk, who is a 2011 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.

This year's other inductees are Doug Gilmour, Mark Howe, and Ed Belfour (another former teammate).  The author will avoid going on a long rant about how Mr. Carbonneau deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame as well, but yes, she has very strong feelings on that subject.

Further info on the Legends Classic:  here.

Carbo at the 2011 FestiFan

Carbo took part in the second annual Habs' FestiFan this afternoon at the Bell Centre.  The event included inflatable rides, skill-testing games, and a meet-and-greet with Canadiens alumni.  Proceeds from the event were donated to the Canadiens' Children's Foundation and Ronald McDonald House, to benefit children in the province of Quebec.

Which brings us to...our second State of the 'Stache report!  This photo was taken at FestiFan:

Yes, Carbo certainly has more moustache growth now.  Lookin' good!  (photo credit:  Montreal Canadiens)

Carbo joins the Movember effort

I am back from visiting my late friend Liz's family and attending a Sens game, and I cannot speak enough about the kindness and hospitality that was shown to me.  I think Liz's wonderful family are a large reason why she was, and still is, an inspiring and exemplary human being.  Thank you Randy, Linda, and Scott.

While I was away, I was alerted to the news that Carbo is growing a moustache for Movember (of course, this is to raise awareness and money for prostate cancer research).  This pleases the author greatly; my brother has also joined the effort which makes me very proud.  Anyway, with this comes a new feature to the blog:  the first State of the 'Stache report.

As you can see in this screencap from L'Antichambre, Carbo's moustache is in its very early stages.  It's almost hard to tell that he's trying to cultivate something there.  There will be more reports as Movember (and Carbo's moustache) progresses!

This is something of a return to Carbo's roots; he also sported a moustache while playing for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.  

Remembering Liz.

I've been fairly quiet the past few days.  To be honest, there just isn't that much Carbo news to blog about.  Tomorrow afternoon I am headed to Ottawa to attend a Sens game.  This is pretty rare for me; I don't get to attend games much.  It is due to this person:

This is my friend, Alice Ervin.  I knew her as Liz -- her middle name was Elizabeth -- a devoted Sens fan who eventually took on moderator duties of the Ottawa Senators community on LiveJournal.  Liz had a rare skin disorder known as epidermolysis bullosa (EB).  This disorder affects less than 200 people in Canada, and affects the connective tissue between skin layers, leaving those who have it prone to cuts and infections.  Liz was a bright student, attending Ottawa's Canterbury High School and eventually graduating from Carleton University's journalism program.  She had dreams of becoming a sportswriter.  

She developed skin cancer -- those with EB are at a higher risk of skin cancer than others -- and passed away this past March 20 from an infection that could not be controlled.  I did not know that she even had EB until she passed away.  That was Liz -- she didn't want pity, she just wanted to be treated the same as everyone else.  That was the determination that got her through Canterbury -- graduating at the top of her class -- and the journalism program at Carleton, one of the most competitive in the country.  Even though her disability limited her; she had to limit human contact and because her mouth was so small, she received her nutrients through a feeding tube.

I am also a fan of the former Sens goaltender Pascal Leclaire.  In 2009, even though Liz was already battling the skin cancer at that time, she went to the Sens store with her mother to pick me up a Leclaire shersey.  Because I am 90 minutes away from Ottawa, and there were none in the stores where I am.  She was utterly, completely devoted to her friends.  I still have the shirt; it is very worn now.

To keep this post on topic, Liz used to tease me about my love of Carbonneau.  She was among the first to commiserate with me when he was fired from the Canadiens in 2009; she thought the firing to be stupid and premature.  Although her first team was the Senators, she also considered herself a Habs fan.

And so, her family has invited me to attend a Sens game.  I consider this a great honor.  I have enjoyed getting to know her mother, Linda, via e-mail these past months, though I wish it had been under different circumstances.  It is a testament to Liz's indomitable spirit that those who knew her online and offline; through hockey, and through the fictional fandoms she was involved in -- will certainly never forget her.

Further reading:

• Genetic disease won't stop her dreams (Ottawa Sun)
• Courageous young woman succumbs to rare disease (Ottawa Sun)
• Alice Ervin's spirit soared where her body failed (Ottawa Sun)
• The Spoon Theory (which Liz was constantly referring to)
• DEBRA Canada (non-profit organization to provide support for families facing EB; Liz was a board member)

Did he or didn't he?

One of the enduring Carbonneau myths is that, during a Stanley Cup party in 1999 at the house of Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, Guy threw the trophy off Paul's balcony into the pool.  Lord Stanley missed the pool slightly, leaving a three-inch ding.

What is known for sure is that the Cup was dented while the Stars had it.  But the organization never explained how the dent got there.

Carbo denies the story.  Vinnie Paul claims it is true.  So does teammate Craig Ludwig, who was also at the party.  I prefer to believe that my hero didn't dent the Stanley Cup, and if did...I can't blame him for denying it.  Who would want to admit to something like that?

Guess we'll never know.

Further reading:  Stars put mystery dent in Stanley Cup (CNN/Sports Illustrated story, July 7, 1999)

A few news items

• Former Habs enforcer Georges Laraque, currently promoting his new book, had some pointed words regarding Carbo on TSN 990 Radio in Montreal this afternoon.  Of this, I have to say:  of course Guy had his faults as coach, and he would be the first to admit that.  But I believe that he truly did his best, bringing his strong passion for hockey to coaching in Montreal.  It should also be noted that since his firing, he has not had a negative word for the organization or any of his former players.
• Also this evening, on RDS Hockey 360, Carbo stated that he would come back behind the Habs' bench if asked.  This is really nothing new; he said the same on the Quebec talk show Tout le monde en parle in 2009 shortly after his firing.  One move made by the Canadiens organization today:  assistant coach Perry Pearn was let go.
• And finally, there's less than a week to get your bids in for the Carbonneau game-worn jersey.  The current high bid is $862.  It's been fun for me, as a Carbo fan and someone who's interested in game-worn hockey memorabilia, to see this thing climb.  

Hockey, strength and blogging

I have already once blogged about the strength shown by Guy during the 1999 playoffs when his father, Charles-Aime, died suddenly.  I feel the need to revisit it again because it is something that speaks to me directly.

If I may talk about myself personally for a moment, some may wonder why I blog about Carbonneau.  It might seem odd to blog about an NHL player, even more so to blog about a former NHL player.  I started this blog not only in tribute to Guy, but also as something of an escape.  On June 27, my own father died of a sudden heart attack.  Guy lost his father the same way -- he said at the time that it "took everyone by surprise."  It is also true with me.  There were no warning signs.

To say that I miss my father is a huge understatement.  The two big heroes in my life are Guy Carbonneau, and my father.  It is an enormous loss.  And I find strength from Guy's example because there are plenty of days when I feel very sad and wonder if I can even keep going.  I cannot speak for Carbonneau's experience of grief -- but he played hockey through his loss, and won that Stanley Cup for his dad.  It inspires me.

It is funny because my dad hated hockey.  (He did, however, correctly predict the outcome of the 2010 Canada-USA gold medal game.)  He'd probably shake his head at me finding solace in hockey, and Carbo, and blogging.  But I do, and in part it's why I write this blog.  Not only because I feel that Guy deserves it, but it keeps me distracted, gives me something to focus towards.  

I hope that those of you who read this blog enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it.

Guy Carbonneau, Stanley Cup Champion

Of course, Carbo is a three-time Stanley Cup champion.  This entry is about his first, in 1986.  On a Montreal Canadiens team loaded with rookies -- most notably, goaltender Patrick Roy -- Guy notched seven goals and five assists in the '86 playoffs.  The Habs won the Stanley Cup on May 24, beating the Calgary Flames in five games.

My boyfriend Erik uploaded this video, of Carbo being interviewed in French after his first Cup win.  Enjoy.

Hockey figurines

May I use my blog space for a moment to lament the lack of a Carbo McFarlane figurine?  This annoys me supremely because many of Guy's contemporaries from that era have had figurines made (the latest being Wendel Clark).  Carbo may not have been a superstar, but he was still one of the most recognizable players from that time!  The other option is to make a custom figurine which I may try my hand at someday (someone did make a Carbonneau custom once, but that has since disappeared online).

Unfortunately, figurines just didn't exist during Guy's playing career.  The closest were the Kenner Starting Lineups.  However, Provigo (a supermarket chain in Quebec) did a series of Canadiens figurines in 1989 and I own the Carbo figurine:

There he is on my shelf, along with a few other Carbo things.  The resemblance is striking -- they certainly got the nose right. 

Still, this doesn't excuse you, McFarlane Toys.  Get with the program!

This day in Carbo history

On this day in 1982, rookie Carbo scored his first NHL goal!  The goal was scored on Daniel Bouchard during a 9-5 Canadiens win against the Quebec Nordiques at the Forum.

Other facts about Guy's rookie season:  Dan Daoust was traded to the Leafs to make room for Carbonneau on the roster, a move which initially earned the consternation of Canadiens fans when Daoust became a quick success in Toronto.  Initially spending a lot of time on the bench as a fourth line center when coach Bob Berry usually only played three lines, he became a defensive forward when teamed with Bob Gainey to play against the opposition's top lines.  Guy quickly showed his mettle, playing 77 games and notching 18 goals and 29 assists.

That year, Guy was tied for most shorthanded goals by an NHL rookie with five.  He also scored the first of his two career hat tricks on January 6, 1983 against Los Angeles.  

Looking back on Guy's firing

This season, the Canadiens have been off to a rocky start.  They have lost six of their last seven games, and some reports have surfaced out of Montreal that coach Jacques Martin's job may be in jeopardy.  Which has led me to ponder and reminisce about the last Habs coach firing; which, of course, was our Carbo.

March 9, 2009 was a day that I -- as a Carbo fan -- will never forget.  I remember exactly where I was when I learned of the firing.  I had just come back from a walk to the post office (where, perhaps ironically, I had received a new Carbo hockey card for my collection).  I sat at my computer and opened my friends page on LiveJournal, where there was a post from my friend Kaitlyn offering condolences to me with a link to the TSN story.  That was how I heard the news.

It was, even before that, a rough time to be a Carbo fan.  I found myself defending him in various hockey communities from disenchanted Habs fans who wanted to see him fired (a task that is no burden to me; I decided when I threw my lot in with this man that I'd have his back no matter what).  It has been said that being a coach in Montreal is the hardest job in hockey, and the Habs had high expectations that year with celebrating their centennial season.  The results were disappointing, the team was 8-11-1 in the twenty games prior to Guy's firing.

Still, that January, he had earned a place behind the bench at the All-Star Game in Montreal, which gave me great pride.

The day before Carbo was fired, the team played Dallas, and won.  I could see the pride in his face at his successful return to the Lone Star State.  Then, on March 9, he was driving home from picking up his dogs after the team flight from Dallas landed when he received a call from Bob Gainey asking to meet.  He would be the coach of the Canadiens no longer.

I admit, I shed some tears.  Even with my personal bias put aside, it seemed to me that the firing was premature.  After all, Guy had a winning record:  230-124-83.  He had been nominated for the Jack Adams Award just the previous year.  To many, perhaps even to Carbonneau himself, the reasons for being let go are still murky.  Perhaps we'll never know.

(photo credit:  Hockey Inside/Out)

Nine days later, on his 49th birthday, Guy sat down at the Bell Centre to bid the Canadiens farewell.  With that same class that won my admiration, and certainly the same class he always exhibited as coach and player -- never saying a bad word about Gainey, the organization, or the media.  Then, later that evening, he went to a quiet birthday dinner with his family.

It is always a sad thing when someone has to lose their job.  But in coaching, it is of course expected.  It is early in the season, and I do hope the Canadiens can turn it around.

Carbo in the world of hockey cards

As mentioned previously, I've been collecting Carbonneau memorabilia for about four years.  In my collection I have about 100 of his hockey cards.  In the beginning, most of these were his old issues -- when the card companies started coming out with "legends" cards, Guy just wasn't getting his due.  But in the last few years, many new Carbo cards have been issued, which delights me.  Here are a few of my favorites from his recent issues.

This is Guy's most recent offering, a 2011-12 Parkhurst Champions card.  I like this one because of the picture the company used -- it's an older one -- plus the card has sort of a holographic look to it, which I also like.  Over the years, the amount of "spiffy" cards Guy has had have been very few.

This is a 2009-10 O-Pee-Chee card.  Again, I like this one because of the picture -- an action shot of Guy from the 1993 Stanley Cup Final.

I am very torn on the subject of "game-worn jersey" cards.  On one hand, it gives those who otherwise might not be able to afford such memorabilia a chance to own a piece of a jersey.  On the other...Carbo's game-worn jerseys are being cut up to make cards, which breaks my heart.  This is a 2008-09 SPX Flashback Fabrics card.

This is a rare and unusual card.  It incorporates a piece of Carbo's fight strap.  Also, it's a game-worn card featuring him in a Dallas uniform, which you just don't see at all.  There were only two of these cards made, and it is a 2009-10 SP Famous Faceoffs card.

This last card, I am featuring because it is signed by Guy in addition to being a game-worn card.  This card has a piece of his jersey nameplate and is a 2008-09 SP Letter Marks card.

(image credits:  eBay)

Guy, the foodie

Interesting little comment in this interview with Brett Hull.  Hull, of course, is the current VP of the Dallas Stars and was Carbo's teammate in St. Louis and Dallas.  

"When I came here to Dallas, Guy Carbonneau and I would try to find what each city considered to be its best restaurant. You know a lot of guys had their own places they'd like to go, some would go to Hooters or an Italian place. But, Guy and I would go to the absolute best restaurant we could find. And we did that in almost every city."

There you go.  Carbo's love of wine is well-known, but who knew he is also a foodie!  Not only that, but he's had a dish named after him as well:

(image credit:  Diane Lau's former hockey blog, Hockey Snacks)

Carbo's draft day

In the last post, I mentioned how I attended the 2008 NHL Draft in Ottawa.  This post is about Carbo's own draft day.

Guy was drafted on August 9, 1979 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.  In his previous junior year, his third with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, he notched 141 points.  The Montreal Canadiens sat up and took notice.

Carbo was actually on a golf course in Chicoutimi when he was called.  He remembers in the 2008 Hockey Night in Canada book My Greatest Day:

"When they called me on the golf course and told me that I was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, that made my day.  I think it was [Habs director of player development] Claude Ruel who called.  I had heard rumours that I might end up in Montreal.  I had a few calls beforehand.  I had somebody from Montreal call and ask me if they drafted me would I be interested.

I remember that I was kind of anxious that day, but when the call came, believe me, I was happy.  Obviously, being French and growing up in Quebec [Sept-Iles], Montreal was the team I watched all the time.  So it was a big day for me.

I finished the game after the call -- with a big smile on my face.  I spent the night with my friends and we had, well, a couple of beers."

Carbo in his junior days.  He was selected in the third round of the draft, 44th overall.

Some other facts about the 1979 NHL Draft:  Rob Ramage was the number one pick that year, drafted by Colorado.  Also in the class were Kevin Lowe, Dale Hunter, Ray Bourque, Lindy Ruff, and the late Detroit Red Wings assistant coach Brad McCrimmon, who perished in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl crash.  23 players from that class became Stanley Cup Champions -- of course, Guy was one of them.  

My moment with Selke

In 2008, I was lucky enough to get to attend the NHL Draft here in Ottawa.  All the NHL trophies were on display in the concourse and of course, being the Carbo fan that I am, there was only one that I was really interested in seeing.

The Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded yearly to the best defensive forward in the NHL (which Guy won three times; in 1988, 1989, and 1992).

Here's a close-up of Guy's name on the trophy (twice!)

Carbo cookie!

I just remembered that a few Christmases ago, my dear boyfriend Erik made this:

Carbo, in cookie form -- complete with lucky tie.  He was then promptly devoured by said boyfriend, who noted later that Guy makes a good breakfast.

Revisiting the lucky tie

In 2007-08, Guy's second season as Canadiens head coach, the Habs finished first in the Eastern Conference with 104 points; the team hadn't had that kind of showing since the days when he was captain.  Carbo was nominated for the Jack Adams Award as top NHL head coach; he finished second in the voting to the Washington Capitals' Bruce Boudreau.

That spring, Guy's wife Line gave him a Hermes tie, purchased in Dallas, for his 48th birthday.  Many Habs partisans considered it ugly; it had a wild psychedelic pattern.  But more importantly, they believed it brought the team luck.  By the first round of the playoffs against Boston, Guy was 3-0 in the tie (and wore it the night Montreal eliminated Boston in the seventh game of the series).

Said Carbo at the time:

"It's certainly been building up, but it's more fun than anything.  Am I superstitious?  Yes, a little.  I think we all are.  As the playoffs go on,  you become more superstitious.  All the little things become more important, not only individually, but with the team as well."  (Canadian Press, April 24, 2008)

The city of Montreal went crazy for Guy's lucky tie.  Le Journal de Montreal published a paper cutout of the tie for fans to wear; they also held a contest for readers of the newspaper to win an identical Hermes tie.  I recall that several of the ties sold on eBay at the time for an average of three hundred dollars, well over the tie's suggested retail price of $250.  The tie was out of stock at the Hermes store in Montreal.  A Facebook group was started for the tie; at the time of the Canadian Press article quoted above, it had over 6,000 members.  

The tie cutout from Le Journal de Montreal.

Eventually, the tie ran out of luck in the second round against Philadelphia.  In August 2008, Carbo put the tie up for auction at the Canadiens' annual golf tournament.  Metal dealer Herbert Black paid $100,000 for the multi-coloured piece of silk.  But, when Guy became involved in the first season of the TVA hockey reality series La Serie Montreal-Quebec, he borrowed the tie back from its new owner.

(photo credit:  Facebook)

My grail.

Of course I collect Carbo memorabilia, and have for the past four years.  There's not a whole lot of stuff anymore that I don't have -- some things, like my Kraft Drawings poster and Nescafe mug, I've waited the whole four years to obtain.

My holy grail is a Carbo game-worn jersey -- but being unemployed, as I currently am, leaves that particular item elusive to me.  (Which has been quite frustrating at times.)  I find the subject of game-worn memorabilia fascinating.  What better than a piece of history that your favorite player actually wore on the ice?  The puck marks, stick slashes, and board burns are evidence of that player's drive and passion to play hockey.

I would treasure any Carbonneau gamer, but if I had my choice, it would have to be one like this:

This 1995-96 home Dallas jersey sold in a Lelands auction in 2001.  What I find annoying about discovering this item is that had I been a Carbo fan at the time, I had a job then and the means to bid.  Argh!  Anyway, I digress.  

A close friend, who herself is the biggest fan of the goaltender Manny Legace, noted to me that it's interesting how we place different meanings on certain periods in our favorite players' careers.  For me, I value Carbo's years in Dallas most.  Why?  Because in 1994, he was abruptly traded from the Canadiens, a move that I can only imagine caused great upheaval for his family, as well as nearly convincing him to retire.  Guy played for a year in St. Louis -- a season that was shortened by a lockout -- before being placed in a waiver draft in October 1995.  On the eve of the 1995-96 season, Bob Bassen was injured, the Stars needed a center, and general manager Bob Gainey traded for his former linemate.

Which led to five more years of hockey, and another Stanley Cup.  Imagine if Guy had never gone to Dallas -- his daughter Anne-Marie certainly would never have met Brenden Morrow, a union that has blessed the Carbonneaus with three grandchildren.  It's funny how things work out.  Some things are just meant to be, I guess.

To this day, Carbo is one of the most beloved Dallas Stars alumni.  After his retirement in June 2000, fans so strongly wanted his #21 to be retired that the Stars placed a moratorium on the number being worn the following year.  I personally noted that when the Stars asked their fans on their official Facebook page who was their favorite Stars alumnus, many named Guy.  It is that drive, that passion, as well as the way Carbo always conducted himself off the ice -- always a gentleman -- that makes him so loved and admired.

The jersey pictured here is my favorite style worn by Dallas.  The jerseys worn by that team in the '90s were simply beautiful.  But it is for a bigger reason that if I had my pick and the cash to spend, a Dallas jersey would be my Carbo gamer.

Artwork

Tonight's blog post features artwork, courtesy of Carbo webmaster extraordinaire Diane Lau.

This is a drawing of Guy that Diane did in 1998.  For Mother's Day 1999, her daughter Katie did a montage drawing of Carbo and gave it to Diane as a gift!  Here it is:

Thanks, ladies!

I used to draw but have not done so in a long time.  That thing called life has gotten in the way.  However, I have a small piece of Carbo artwork of my own, humble as it is.

Tattoos are considered artwork, right?  I had this done in 2010.  This photo was taken shortly after the tattoo was finished, which is why it looks a little angry.

another funny, courtesy of Guy himself

If I may be a puckbunny for a moment, this is just cute.

Apparently our hero is finding the time on RDS a little long.  This was posted on YouTube by three different people.  Moral of the story:  don't get caught yawning on RDS, or it'll wind up on the Internet for posterity.

found on Twitter

Carbo and Bobby Smith in a 1989 ad for Ultramar.  (photo source:  Twitter/@GuerrierSerge)

Carbo and the Vendredi Saint brawl

Between 1982 and 1993, the Quebec Nordiques and the Montreal Canadiens clashed in the playoffs five times. No rivalry between two teams was fiercer during that time period.  The most memorable game between the two teams happened on April 20, 1984, on Good Friday.  The Canadiens were down 2-0 going into the third period when a brawl broke out.  At that time, Guy Carbonneau was 24 years old and only in his second full season with the Canadiens.

Said Carbo in 2008:

"I was going to the net, and the puck -- I remember the puck was under Daniel Bouchard's glove, and I was trying to poke at him, and I fell down in front of him.  Dale Hunter came from behind, cross-checked me, and then Chris Nilan who wasn't really too far away from me during the game, jumped on Dale Hunter, and then one fight started, and everything else just kept going."  (interview by Dick Irvin Jr., Memorable Games in Canadiens History DVD set)

Yes, Guy started the infamous brawl when he was cross-checked in front of the net by Dale Hunter.

Carbo being pushed to the ice by the Nordiques' Dale Hunter.  (photo by Paul Bereswill)

One of the enduring images from the fight is of Carbo helping injured teammate Jean Hamel, who had been knocked unconscious after a punch in the face by Louis Sleigher, off the ice.

One of the penalties issued after the brawl was to Carbo -- two minutes for roughing.  The brawl started up again -- Carbo was grabbed by the sweater and pulled towards the bench by coach Jacques Lemaire.  

A total of 252 penalty minutes were issued and 10 players were ejected from the game.  Eventually, the brawl settled down and the Canadiens came back in the third period and won the game 5-3, winning the series 4 games to 2 -- with help from a late goal from Guy.

All in all, a memorable night at the Montreal Forum to say the least.

2011 Dallas Stars Dr. Pepper Golf Classic roundup

On Monday, Carbo participated in the 2011 Dallas Stars Dr. Pepper Golf Classic, held at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas.  The tourney raised close to $100,000 for the Dallas Stars Foundation, which supports local children's charities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Guy, of course, is an avid golfer and won a hole contest -- closest to the pin on hole #4.  His prize was a Nike VR Wedge, which he generously donated to a raffle so guests at the awards dinner would have a chance to win prizes.  (Dallas Stars)

Another Carbo YouTube oddity

In this one, Carbo helps to lip-sync a song about Maurice Richard.  While watering his plants.

Countering the very best

In the beginning, in junior hockey, Carbo was an offensive force; in 1979-80, his final season with the QMJHL's Chicoutimi Sagueneens, he racked up an impressive 182 points.  When he joined the Canadiens in 1982, the Habs needed someone who could kill penalties and play against the opposing teams' top lines, so he became a defensive forward.  Carbo became so effective at shutting down the competition's best players that he won the Frank J. Selke Trophy three times as the league's top defensive forward.

During the 1993 Stanley Cup Final, Guy went to coach Jacques Demers and suggested that he shadow the Kings' Wayne Gretzky.  He didn't completely shut Gretzky down, but the superstar's offensive output was certainly limited by Carbonneau's checking abilities.

Again, during the 1999 Western Conference Final against Colorado, Guy went to coach Ken Hitchcock and suggested that he counter another superstar, Peter Forsberg.  Said Carbo in 2008:

"That's who I am, that's the kind of style I was playing.  I love to play against the best players, I love the challenge of playing against these guys."  (Hockey Night in Canada)  

Again, he limited the opposing team's offence.  Again, he was rewarded with Lord Stanley's Cup.

Here is a short video to enjoy, from Game 7 of the 1999 Western Conference Final.  Carbo and Forsberg tangle; an angry Carbo gets sent to the box.

Carbo on the current Dallas team

While in Dallas for the 2011 Alumni Classic Weekend, Guy was asked his thoughts on the current state of the Dallas Stars and their chances for bringing another Stanley Cup home.

"It's hard to say [if this is a playoff team or not]. I think last year, they were right there," he said. "They win one game and they would have been in the playoff. They've got more experience this year and a little more depth. But you look around the league and a couple of injuries here and there and you can be out of the playoffs. You look at all 30 teams and you can probably pick one or two teams that are guaranteed to make the playoffs. There are maybe one, two or three guaranteed not to make the playoffs but every in between can be a surprise."

One thing he can declare is that the club is in good hands with a former Stars teammate in Joe Nieuwendyk calling the shots as the Dallas General Manager.

"Newy having been an ex-player and especially a player who played here, he learned the trade the right way," Carbonneau said. "He has a good relationship with the players. I think he wants to bring that family aspect to the team but you've got to still remember that it's a business. So far, the team has done good. They're getting better. They've got really young players. It's just a matter of keeping them together."  (Fox Sports Southwest)

Translate the blog!

A new service for Quebec visitors and those who prefer to read the blog in French, courtesy of Google Translate.  Use the handy translate button on the sidebar on the right to translate the blog into French -- simply select French from the drop-down menu and go!

Pure class.

One of the words I most often see associated with Guy is "class."  He has always been wonderful to his fans.

Said Brenden Morrow in 2007:

“He played the game 20 years, and he still handles the players, the coaches, the media and the fans with respect every day. He might be upset about a game or something else going on, but I’ve never seem him turn down an interview or say no to a fan who wanted an autograph.”  (Dallas Stars)

Okay, so perhaps Morrow might be a little biased, being Carbo's son-in-law.  But the stories speak for themselves.  There is Diane Lau's story of her encounter with Guy, Darkest Before the Dawn.  And then there's my little tale.

Well, I actually have a few tales, but this one comes to mind because this morning I was sitting at my computer, anxious over a job interview.  And I looked at the signed Carbo photo on the wall above my desk.  For our first anniversary in 2009, my dear boyfriend Erik wrote to Guy, explaining to him that our anniversary was coming up and would he mind signing a photo?

A few weeks later, he got back this:

Yep, pure class.  Thank you, Guy -- for the autograph and for giving me a little cheer this morning when I needed it.

Carbo game-worn jersey auction

If you're a memorabilia collector, then have I got an item for you.

Game-worn jerseys are far too rich for my blood (but I have two Carbo game-used sticks and Carbo's rookie game-worn skates, which I think is pretty decent!).  It is my dream to own one someday.  The latest Classic Auction has Carbo's autographed game-worn jersey circa 1988, hammered with team repairs.  Like all of Carbo's game-worn jerseys, it is a work of art and a real beauty.

(photo credit:  Classic Auctions)

2011 Dallas Stars Alumni Classic

To complete today's trifecta of posts, the 2011 Dallas Stars Alumni Classic was held this evening at the Dr. Pepper StarCenter in Frisco, Texas.

Stars alumni were mixed with current players and the teams were split into a "Black Team" and "White Team" format.  Carbo, who was assigned to the Black Team, played on a line with another #21, Loui Eriksson, and his old Stars and Canadiens teammate, Mike Keane.  He tallied two assists.  Also on the Black Team was Ed Belfour, playing defence!

The White Team, featuring newly retired Mike Modano, came out on top and won the game 11-9.  (Dallas Morning News)

Also, Carbo will be playing in the 2011 Dr. Pepper Golf Classic, tomorrow at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas.  (Dallas Stars)

Carbo looking happy to be in a Dallas uniform again.  (photo credit:  Dallas Stars)

Guy sometimes shows up in the strangest places.

YouTube is a wonder in modern cyberspace.  Videos from all eras can be found on this website -- everything old is new again.

I was alerted to this oddity.  This is Andre Philippe Gagnon's "La Canada" music video.  Watch for Carbo at around 1:28.  There is no date on this but I'd say that it's from around the time Guy was captain of the Canadiens.

I'll be featuring more Carbonneau videos in the coming months; stay tuned!

A funny.

Courtesy of my dear boyfriend, Erik.  This came about when a friend of his did a web search on Guy but accidentally typed "carebearnneau" into the search engine.

Well, Erik got inspired.