Sawchuk’s story coming to big screen
In the 51st anniversary year of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ last Stanley Cup victory comes news of a movie on the man in net the night they won, Terry Sawchuk.
Goalie, a feature film to be directed by Canadian Adriana Maggs and starring fellow Newfoundlander Mark O’Brien (Republic of Doyle, City On A Hill), has already begun principal shooting in Sudbury.
The late Sawchuck was one of the NHL’s best money game performers for two decades, but the film promises to explore his complicated side, a difficult upbringing in Winnipeg, father to seven children and the pressure of playing the game’s most demanding role in an era when goalies did not wear masks and were subject to other injury risks.
The film is based in part on the award-winning book of poetry, Night Work, by Randall Maggs (Adriana’s father) and the book Sawchuk: The Troubles and Triumphs of World’s Greatest Goalie by David Dupuis.
Maggs won an award at the Sundance festival for her work on Grown Up Movie Star. Goalie is scheduled for release later this year.
RECORD BREAKING?
It would be pretty sour if the Leafs don’t get at least a point in Saturday night’s last game to break the club record of 103, which they’ve been approaching before losing two of the past three.
For coach Mike Babcock, it won’t be anything out of the ordinary, having done it eight times in Detroit, while Patrick Marleau was on seven 100-point teams with San Jose.
But for fans, to do it against old rival Montreal would be delicious.
The loss in New Jersey prevented the Leafs from matching another part of that season of 103 points in 2003-04, having a .500plus record both home and away. Toronto completed its road schedule with a mark of 20-16-5.
LOOSE LEAFS
Boston and Tampa Bay had reps watching the Leafs at the Prudential Center on Thursday, the Bs with John Ferguson Jr. in the house. The former Toronto GM is now a player personnel executive and GM of Boston’s farm team. Ferguson was reacquainted with one of the Leafs he drafted many years ago, Leo Komarov … Speaking of the Leafs’ fourth line, Tomas Plekanec is about to have his April close-up. Brought in for some playoff relief, he won 14 of 20 draws the past two games, but did not have as hot on goal in his limited offensive zone time … Defenceman Jake Gardiner, speaking on the 2-1 loss in Jersey: “That’s as close to playoff hockey as we’re going to get right now. That was kind of us last year, fighting for a spot to get in. They played hard, they played well, they didn’t give us too much.”