Lady Byng

Author’s Note: This post is dedicated to Ray Bourque.

It’s prime hockey season but just in case you don’t recognize the icon pictured above, let me clue you in.  That’s the National Hockey League’s Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

Marie Evelyn Moreton was the wife of Viscount Byng of Vimy.  Viscount Byng was Governor General of Canada from 1921 until 1925.  His wife, Lady Byng, was an avid hockey fan and it was she who decided to donate it to the NHL.

The National Hockey League presents it each year “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”

In 1925 Lady B. awarded the very first one to Frank Nighbor of the Ottawa Senators.

Legendary Chicago Blackhawk Stan Mikita won it twice in the 1966-67 and 1967-68.

And Bobby and Brett Hull are the only father-son combination to ever win it.

But in 2001, Colorado Avalanche forward Joe Sakic won it.

And thereby hangs this tale…

In 1996 when Nick and I moved to Colorado full-time he was sixteen.  Just in time to become a rabid Avalanche fan.

And just in time to watch the Avalanche win the 1996 Stanley Cup.

Team Captain Joe Sakic was named MVP of the playoffs that year and he- along with Hall of Fame Goaltender Patrick Roy- became big sports idols of my hockey-crazy kid.

Timeout: I’m putting Joe Sakic in the penalty box for a minute while we get a good look at Patrick Roy.  The only player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (the award given to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs) three times.  He’s also the only one to win it in different decades and the only player to win it for two different teams. His number 33 jersey is retired by both the Canadiens and the Avalanche.  Check out these Top Ten Roy Moments.

(I love #7!)

Timeout is over:  Sakic is back on the ice.

Let’s relive some of Super Joe’s greatest goals. (In two languages, naturellement.)

(Sorry you had to see that, fellow Chicagoans.  But even though I live in a Wirtz building, my hockey loyalties will always remained divided.)

In 2001 the Avs were their usual powerhouse.  And as a special treat, I bought tickets for us to go to an Avalanche/Blackhawks game at the Pepsi Center in Denver.  The plan was made and Mike and I met up with Nick at my favorite hostelry, the Hotel Monaco.

This was our Denver headquarters because, besides their convenient-to-everything downtown location, they had a wonderful pet policy.  My three Scotties- Andy, Murdoch and Gillis- just loved it there.

I always took the same suite because the dogs knew it and felt right at home

Very important when you’re traveling with a gang of Scotties.

(Sorry about the quality.  Black dogs are hard to photograph.  But that’s Gillis on the left, Andy in the middle and Murdoch in the beam of sunlight.)

So the afternoon before the game, the Ross Group sauntered up to the reception desk where we were all expecting a big Monaco welcome.

“Hello there, Mrs. Ross.  And Crew,” beamed the desk clerk.  “Welcome back to the Monaco.  It’s so nice to see you all again.”

“It’s nice to be back,” I smiled. “We’re here to see the Avs game tomorrow night.  Is there any way I can arrange for some dog-sitting while we’re at the game?”

“That’s never a problem,” assured the desk clerk.  “Everyone here loves your little guys and I know that we can arrange to check in on them and even walk them if you need us to.  No problem at all. But… there is one tiny problem and I don’t quite know how to ask you this.”

He looked worried.

“What’s the problem?” I asked.

“Well, it’s about your accommodations, actually.  As you may know, when the Avalanche plays a home game, the Monaco is team headquarters.  The coach thinks it’s better for them to relax and get ready for the game here, rather than at their own homes.”

“That sounds reasonable,” I acceded.  “So what’s the problem?’

“You’re one of our best customers and we always like to give you the same suite.  But Joe Sakic always stays in that suite for home games and he wants it, too.  He’s very superstitious and he doesn’t want to mess with his winning streak.”

I hesitated.

Five set of eyes were on me awaiting my decision.

I was really torn.

I didn’t care so much if Mike, Nick and I changed rooms but what about the Scotties?  Did I really want to upset their applecart?  Would they howl for hours in protest at the game change?

Or worse?

And then Nick piped up.

“Come on, Dude.  Take one for the team.”

And so I was a good sport, changed rooms, the Avs won and the rest is Stanley Cup history.

I think that trophy would look mighty nice at my house, don’t you?