Hi everyone! This week, it’s story time! I’ve added an article about Seals Hall of Famer Reggie Leach, one of my favorites, to the articles section, and I have a bit of a back story to share before you go check it out.

I have a bit of a personal connection to Reggie. When I was writing the manuscript of my book (which you can purchase right here) sometime in 2013, my uncle Pete, who was down from B.C. for my Mom’s funeral that July, took a look at it, he told me he could get Reggie Leach to autograph it. He said he knew a guy who knew Reggie, and that it wouldn’t be a problem. So I handed my uncle one of the three or so copies I had, and sure enough, a few weeks later, I had my manuscript back, autographed by The Riverton Rifle himself. Reggie also included a great photo of himself wearing the infamous snow white skates from 1971-72, the photo in which it looks like Stan Gilbertson is hanging his head in shame in the background. The photo is currently on my desk at home and the manuscript is on the book shelf in my office close to my autographed copy of my book (signed by Reggie, Marv Edwards, Joey Johnston, and Wayne King).

I got to meet Reggie, Joey, Marv, and Wayne in October 2017 when I traveled to Toronto to participate in the Q&A for the Seals 50th Anniversary Night. It was very obvious that Reggie was quite at ease in front of a crowd, and he loved regaling everyone with stories of his hockey past. He’s a real pro at public speaking. After the Q&A, I had the opportunity to speak to Reggie for a few minutes. I mentioned to him how I could see, his huge, whomping Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup ring from the other end of the Q&A table we were both sitting at. He then mentioned that he also owned a California Seals ring as well, which I was quite familiar with. I showed him a picture of it in the book, and he immediately recognized it. I think he said he had once lost it, but one of his kids had found it and gave it back to him, but I’m a bit sketchy on the details. What I do remember is that I gave him a copy of my book as a thank you for coming to the event in the first place, but he then pulled out $80 and bought two more copies for his son and daughter. Reggie couldn’t have been a nicer gentleman, and I strongly urge you to go out and pick up a copy of his excellent autobiography, The Riverton Rifle, if you haven’t done so already.

Anyway, that’s about it for this week. Hope to see you all again real soon! Until next time, stay gold!