Remembering sportswriter Red Fisher

REGINA Regina’s John Smidt, an ardent Montreal Canadiens supporter, used to call the Red line every so often.

Legendary hockey writer Red Fisher invariably answered.

“I probably talked to him four or five times over the time he was at the Montreal Gazette,” Smidt recalls. “He was fun to talk to. He was a great man — first-class — and he treated me very well.”

Smidt’s reminiscences were prompted by the news that Fisher died Friday at age 91.

“He wasn’t too hard to get a hold of,” Smidt marvels. “I’d call the Montreal Gazette sports department and ask to speak to Red Fisher and the guy on the other end would put me through to him.

“I’d introduce myself and tell him ‘I’m John from Regina, Saskatchewan — Regina’s biggest Habs fan’ and we’d talk Habs.”

Was Smidt surprised by how generous Fisher was with his time?

“Yes, I was, because I knew he was busy writing his column and I didn’t think he’d talk to me.”

Instead, Fisher was happy to oblige, conversing about Canadiens legends such as Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, Maurice (Rocket) Richard, Dickie Moore, Serge Savard and Guy Lapointe.

“Guy was my idol,” Smidt says. “I had to ask Red about him. He told me once that Guy Lafleur might not have been the best player to ever play for the Habs, but he was the most exciting.

“What prompted me to call Red was that I had seen him on Hockey Night In Canada’s Satellite Hot Stove and I’d always listen to him. I’d also find somewhere that sold the Montreal Gazette here in town because social media wasn’t available back then.”

He would also pick up the phone — and find Fisher there to talk to.