‘Extraordinary’ honour for Gallagher
Former Province columnist joining ex-Canuck Ronning, among others, in class of 2018
Tony Gallagher cut short his time in the sun for his, well, time in the sun. The former Vancouver Province columnist of 45 years returned home early from a Hawaiian vacation to take part in the ceremony introducing the 2018 B.C. Sports Hall of Fame induction class.
Gallagher has been a fixture in Vancouver sports for decades, his career longevity, literary prolificity and unique voice pushing him into iconic status, a concept that baffled the humble journalist.
“Well, it’s certainly unusual, I would say,” Our Agent said Tuesday at B.C. Place as scores of fans and peers congratulated Gallagher on his induction.
“It’s a little hard to be foisted with that status when you consider all the good people that are in there already. Guys like Jim Kearney. I’m a big fan of Tom Larscheid’s — I still don’t think he’s been replaced with respect to colour in the city. Or the great Jim Taylor, maybe the greatest columnist of all-time in Vancouver. He had this marvellous ability to make people laugh.
“To be in with people like that is truly extraordinary.”
Joining Gallagher in the 2018 class, which will be honoured officially at a gala in May, were former Vancouver Canuck Cliff Ronning, legendary B.C. Lions linebacker Glen Jackson, gold medal-winning Paralympic skier Josh Dueck, MLB pitcher Ryan Dempster, Olympic skicross champ Marielle Thompson, sports medicine pioneer and rehab whiz Alex McKechnie, NHL referee Rob Schick, national team swim coach Tom Johnson, as well as the 1991 Canadian men’s rugby team and the 1900-18 Rossland Ladies ice hockey team. Alex Nelson, founding member and three-time president of the North American Indigenous Games Council, was the W.A.C. Bennett Award winner.
Gallagher began his Province career in 1970 covering the WHL’s New Westminster Bruins and the Canucks, going on to become one of the most read writers covering hockey in Vancouver. He delighted in expanding on Larscheid’s “Quinn-gate” scoop in the late ’80s, uncovering such salacious details as the Canucks sending a trainer with a $100,000 cheque to the L.A. Kings morning skate at the Coliseum, the signing bonus on the secret deal to have Pat Quinn become the Canucks’ new general manager. And he never shied away from taking an unpopular stance, whether it was defending the likes of Pavel Bure or Zack Kassian or taking on the Canucks’ management head on.
“I had some riotous battles with some of the Canuck employees,” he chuckled. “But certainly I enjoyed it. You don’t make a whole lot of money in the business, but in the old days, I’m telling you, you sure had fun.”
His legendary feud with Quinn spanned the decades, though it evolved into grudging respect and then admiration by the time the former Canucks GM died in 2014.
“The other thing I would say is I regret calling Pat Quinn ‘His Divine Corpulence,’ ” he said. “I don’t think that was very fair — certainly not by today’s standard. I’d be raked over the coals by everybody. But that was kind of standard procedure in the old days.
“God rest his soul, I changed my mind about Pat rather late in life. I realized so many people loved him. And when there are so many people whose value and judgment you trust love a guy, then he must be all right.”
His career was full of bucket-list moments. He covered three Winter Olympics, 22 Stanley Cups, is a regular on TV and radio, has fond memories of golfing and being invited to lunch with the Gretzky family and written two books. But ever the modest journalist, he’s quick to point out the times he missed the mark.
“One big story I blew, I remember writing that Dwight Mathiasen had signed in Vancouver,” he said, recalling a take from before the 1985-86 season.
“(Canucks owner) Frank Griffiths had had a handshake deal with him on the tarmac somewhere — I don’t remember where it was, but someplace that was a non-NHL city — where they met clandestinely. The Canucks were pursuing him as a free agent and I wrote they had signed him and the next day he signed with Pittsburgh.
“The handshake deal went right out the window — Frank Griffiths got screwed around by Mathiasen. It turned out to be a bullet the Canucks dodged because he wasn’t very good, but the bullet got me right between the eyes.”
Mathiasen went on to score one goal and added seven assists in 33 games over three seasons with the Penguins.
Ronning gets his due
Ty Ronning missed seeing his dad Cliff during his halcyon days with the Vancouver Canucks. He did see the sweetest portion of his career, though.
“I remember going to games when he was playing for the Nashville Predators,” said Ty, who stood in for Cliff Tuesday at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame.
“I was still young when he was playing in the NHL, but I do remember going to to the games and eating the Dippin’ Dots (ice cream flash frozen in nitrogen into pellets)
“I was always in the wives’ room, watching the games and eating ice cream, cheering on my dad. That was my go to,” the younger Ronning with a laugh.
He was born the year after his father left Vancouver for the Phoenix Coyotes, more than two seasons before he joined the Preds.
Cliff was part of the 2018 induction class, getting the nod not just for his 18-year NHL career that included six seasons as a fan favourite in Vancouver (1990-91 to ‘9596), but his time with the national team and the WHL’s New Westminster Bruins.
Cliff remains the highest-scoring player in Canadian international play, his 72 goals and 79 assists in 97 games a mark that is unmatched to this day. His held the WHL points record in 1984-85 with 89 goals, 108 assists in 70 games, earning the MVP nod that season as well.
The Burnaby native is currently in China coaching the Kunlun Red Star of the KHL, taking over for Mike Keenan, who was fired earlier this month.
“He got the call to go, had thought about it for a while, but he likes coaching and loves the game of hockey, so there he is,” Ty said.
“It’s some big shoes to fill,” added the Vancouver Giants star forward. “I know he’s really honoured. I can only imagine how he feels. It’s really exciting to see all the names here, it’s amazing. Terry Fox, Rick Hansen, the list goes on.
“It’s pretty cool (to see him inducted).”