As the Maple Leafs’ lead grew and their longest-ever losing streak was poised to end, Capt. Rory Johnston was hard-pressed to contain his excitement.
“I’m a life-long fan… I bleed blue and white,” said the 29-year-old Milton native. “I’d like to think our presence there may have had something to do it (with breaking the skid with 5-1 win over Edmonton), that maybe we inspired them a bit.”
His comments refer to the roughly 500 military personnel who were part of the Leafs’ ninth annual Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Night Saturday.
Prior to watching his Buds finally get the monkey off their backs from box seats at the Air Canada Centre, Capt. Johnston faced off against many of his — and that of his father’s — heroes in a friendly clash between the military’s national squad and Maple Leafs Alumni.
A former AAA goalie who only left the crease when he went off to Humber College to study advertising, Capt. Johnston recorded two assists in his team’s 7-6 loss.
“Just being out there with some of my dad’s heroes was quite the experience,” said Capt. Johnston, who’s part of the 11th Field Artillery Regiment in Guelph. “You take it for granted that these guys are now in their 50s and 60s, but they’re so smart with the puck and skate around just like they’re little kids.”
Coincidentally, it was 39 years earlier to the day Saturday that Darryl Sittler had delivered his legendary 10-point (6g, 4a) game against Boston that still stands as an NHL single-game scoring record.
For Capt. Johnston, just meeting the Leafs great was every bit as memorable as that epic scoring feat.
“You can tell he sees his role (as hockey ambassador) as an honour. He gives a lot back. A lot of guys are all high-fives and handshakes, but he took the time to speak with all of us and really listened. I think that says a lot about him.”
Capt. Johnston and fellow military brethren were treated to dinner at the Real Sports Bar and Grill as part of the appreciation event, which was co-sponsored by a daily Toronto paper.
“Any time you get to put on that Canadian flag there’s a sense of pride, but when you’re able to do it in a relaxed and enjoyable setting like that — letting loose and being recognized — it’s something special,” said Capt.
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