NAFFAEL has been an avid Leaf fan for more years than anyone cares to remember, The 1962 Stanley Cup Game is still etched in his mind, Yes you read it correctly "62" not the last Cup of 1967 but the Cup of 1962, He was thirteen at the time.
This was the 1962 Toronto Maple Leaf lineup: Al Arbour - with his black rimmed glasses, George Armstrong - The Chief, Bob Baun - It was Baun's winning goal in overtime of game six of the 1964 Stanley Cup finals that made him a legend. Carried off the ice on a stretcher in the third period with what turned out to be a broken leg, Baun insisted on returning to the game, scoring a goal to send the Leafs on the road to their 3rd consecutive Stanley Cup, Johnny Bower - stop the puck with your face if you have to, Carl Brewer, Dick Duff, Billy Harris, Tim Horton - Mr. Muscles, Leonard Kelly, Dave Keon, Ed Litzenberger, John MacMillan, Frank Mahovlich, Bob Nevin who cost my father $52.00 in a hockey pool at work (a fortune at the time) by scoring a goal the leafs didn't need to win the game in the last few seconds of the game, Bert Olmstead, Bob Pulford, (Eddie Shack, "clear the track shack" one of the most entertaining players to play the game), Don Simmons, Allan Stanley, Ron Stewart. (Head Coach: Punch Imlach, - the drill sergeant) each player was a hero to us in his own right. NAFFAEL's personal favorites are in bold.
So I guess those that are not mathematically challenged have figured out his age by now. His father taught him early on that Hockey Night In Canada was a way of life in their household. Without fail every Saturday and later on Wednesdays nights, they all gathered around the Black and White and watched the Blue and Whites, the Toronto Maple Leafs® battle in the glory days of the NHL with the Original Six hockey teams - Bruins®, Rangers®, Black Hawks®, Red Wings®, and the always hated Canadiens®. Things seemed to be much simpler then.
One of The EnigManiac's earliest memories is of his older brother and sisters and his parents cheering wildly after his beloved Leafs won their last Stanley Cup championship in the spring of 1967 when he was but four and a half years old. Now, many years later, The EnigManiac and his son enjoy watching every Leafs game (as well as the Blue Jays) and hope to one day celebrate another Stanley Cup victory together.
In the meantime, The EnigManiac spends his time penning short stories for a private online community, posting on his blog and submitting letters to the editors of the local Toronto dailies general opinion and and sports sections. This past year alone has seen more than twenty letters published in addition to having his comments read on CBC Radio One. His sharp tongue, acidic wit, passionate and virulent prose and controversial nature often incite as much argument as they do support. The EnigManiac is a fierce trivia fan, poker player, musician and collector of both music and film. And above all, he is rarely at a loss of an opinion on any subject. You can read his blog at: http://theenigmaniac.blogspot.com/
Mike Moore, aka "budman"
TMLFever is very proud to introduce Mike Moore, aka "budman", as our newest team member, resident historian and the brain trust on all things history when it comes to hockey and the Leafs..
Mike was born and raised in Montreal where he spent the first 30 years of his life playing, watching and talking hockey just about every single day all year round. As a youngster in the early 1960's, his first hockey jersey was a Leafs sweater he proudly wore on the backyard skating rink his father built and maintained. Dad's overwhelming influence played a large role in Mike soon switching allegiances to the hometown Habs. By 1993, the Montreal Canadiens had captured 16 Stanley Cups in Mike's lifetime.
Mike’s extensive knowledge of hockey history is well documented on www.TMLForum.com. The specific boards "On This Day in Leafs History" are the most comprehensive history pages on the Toronto Maple Leafs that can be viewed on the net in one place, bar none.
Budman moved to Toronto in the late '80's and was immediately struck by the unwavering loyalty of so many Leafs fans who stuck to their team despite near tragic on-ice conditions they were forced to tolerate during the Harold Ballard years. Over time, Mike has become more of an overall hockey fan than a devotee of any one team. He is married with two grown-up daughters and is an accountant by trade, but hockey and especially hockey history and trivia is his passion.