Everyone who is a fan of a professional sports team has some great experiences, memories of glorious moments and of course the letdown that leads to heart ache.

Being a Toronto Maple Leafs fan is no different, right?

As we are all eager for the season to get underway, I’d like to share a few memories and insight into what being a Leafs fan is all about.

Without question there isn’t another team I cheer for like I do the Toronto Maple Leafs. Our team was in the gutter last year and most of us true members of Leafs Nation accepted the fact we were going to have to hit rock bottom before the picture became clearer and the rebuild was fully underway and accepted by the upper management.

Shanahan has done wonders; he’s fully revamped the scouting staff, coaching staff and outlook for the future.

That’s a man whose hand I would like to shake.

Speaking of shaking hands, it was Norris night in Toronto at the ACC. My seats that night were with one of my long-time friends and she and I had tickets to sit in the Maple Leafs Alumni Box and both Bob Probert and Wendel Clark were going to be there with a number of the Leafs personnel.

It was a night I will never forget, a few pre game beverages and then walking into the Alumni Box, I felt like some sort of special guest for the Leafs. Free beers, free food and I’m sitting within talking distance to Bob Probert. Legendary. He was quite chatty with his friends in the box and of course I went up and said hello and introduced myself. “Hey Bobby, pleasure to meet you”, as I introduced myself and my friend. He was pretty solid all round, big Canadian boy from Windsor and I must have watched him drop the mitts a dozen times or so, maybe even half of them against one of my favorite Leafs of all time, Wendel Clark.

What’s special about Wendel? He’s at every Leafs game or event I’ve been to that I can remember since he retired! He’s not only a member of Leafs Nation, I think he’s one of the founders. When I’m looking to get amped up for a game, I’ll load up youtube and type in Wendel Clark tribute. What an animal.

Probert enjoyed our little chat, and he was a nice guy, friendly and had a smile on his face throughout his stay in the Alumni box. At the time, one of my lady friends was one of the ‘Leafs icegirls’. She was also friends with my friend in the box, so she brought up her crew of icegirls to visit the box. After a few hugs and introductions, I was in good company, a handful of lovely ladies and Probert and the gang. I must say, Bobby was impressed; he gave me a wink and a pat on the back as I went back to my seat. That experience is something I will never forget as Bob passed away that summer, rest in peace Mr. Probert.

When the Leafs made their playoff run just a few years back I was lucky enough to land tickets to two of the three home games, and I made it down to Real Sports for two of the other games. It’s without question; I am a dedicated Leafs fan. I have more Maple Leafs clothing and coats than I do normal attire. Some of my favorite items are a 1992-93 Doug Gilmour signed jersey, a 1967 Maple Leafs Calendar (collector’s item), a 1970’s jersey with Palmateer on the back as well as a number of 8.5x11 photo’s signed by some of my favorites in Gilmour, Clark and Grabovski.

I’ve started Go Leafs Go chants in the bathrooms of the ACC during the playoffs. When the Leafs scored a playoff goal I celebrated so hard I ended up high-fiving and picking up the human in a row behind me and they ended up in our row. When the Leafs needed an amp up, I stood up and turn towards the crowd to rally the troops. Sometimes you just have to live in the moment and go with all the glory; it really makes the experience that much better. It’s not easy getting that gold section fired up in the ACC, but people feed off your energy.

It’s always great going to a game early to watch the boys do their pre-skate and all that jazz. A number of banners I have created and printed to take to the game where I will go down to the front row and tape my banner on the glass. The players love it, as you have to come up with a catchy phrase and a snazzy picture to catch their attention.

The sign that gave me the most feedback was a Kadri sign, a few years ago when he was breaking out. It was a picture of Kadri celebrating a goal and the sign read: “The Dream has begun” on the top, and on the bottom “The Nightmare is over”. Basically referencing that Kadri is erupting into the player us fans were hoping and he has escaped the wrath of Ron Wilson. The boys gave the sign props, giving it a fist pump against the glass and a few smiles. Bozak and Lupul we’re howling as they saw the sign, they pointed it out to the Thrill and he skated by and started laughing. The sign even caught Randy Carlyle’s eye and he wanted a print out.

Have you ever seen Cliff Fletcher at the ACC? Oddly enough I saw him go into an elevator one year with a bunch of the higher-ups and I yelled out “THE SILVER FOX!” and he turned, gave a little wave like the Queen of England would and up he went. I thought it was pretty funny personally, mind you, I had a few drinks down the hatch at the time, but nevertheless, the silver fox was glimmering.

There is something special about being a Leafs fan. Throughout the year I can’t tell you how many people will chirp the Leafs (as I always have some sort of Leafs gear on me). It really amazes me how many people go out of their way, Leafs fans even, who will put the team down.

“There’s always next year” yeah yeah yeah, we’ve heard them all, and we don’t care. The present and the future is what counts. Do you really think it hurts my feeling that the Leafs have been crap and haven’t won a cup since 67? I was born in 81, and barely knew what hockey was until I was four or five years old. I will continue to push my positive attitude forward, and when the day comes, you can bet I will be relishing every moment of the glory.

That’s all for today, I hope you enjoyed a few of my memories.

Feel free to share any of your exciting adventures in Leafs land, as I’m sure there are a number of hidden gems out there.

Thanks for reading and enjoy your hump day!

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