I was 11 years old when Al Arbour was named head coach. I am from Sudbury Ontario and so was Mr. Arbour. In fact, my father and Al's father worked together. So I did what any impressionable 11 year old would do; I became an Islanders fan because Al and I had a mutual bond. I coached hockey in Sudbury for 14 years and always looked up to Mr. Arbour as the epitome of a great coach. Sudbury has it's share of hockey players and coaches go through the NHL ranks. I think of Toe Blake who coached Montreal to many cups and players like Ron Duguay and the whole Foligno family, but I don't think Sudbury could have had a better ambassador than Al Arbour. I unfortunately never got to meet the man, but his influence in my life was more than almost anyone else when it came to hockey and coaching. It is with a heavy heart, that I wish all of his family, friends, and fans my deepest sympathy for the loss of a great coach and a great man.
