Rob Simpson: When The Russians Invaded Saint John

Rob Simpson: When The Russians Invaded Saint John
- simmerpuck

I am a born and raised Saint John'er and have played many times at the LBR. I was there the night the Vitos won the Allan Cup. However, I had never heard of the Russians visiting Saint John in 1966 and thrashing our local team.

Thanks for the very interesting Blog Rob.

Great blog! I'm also from Saint John and this was an incredible tribute to the passion for hockey in that city and the rest of the Maritimes. I remember the Saint John Flames winning the Calder Cup like it was yesterday, it was incredible. I was living in Ottawa during the Sen's run to the Stanley Cup Finals and trust me, Saint John was just as loud.

Im from New Brunswick as well, its great to hear some stories of NB hockey.

Great Blog sir!.

Thanks for sharing, Rob! Great story.

Great blog! I'm also from Saint John and this was an incredible tribute to the passion for hockey in that city and the rest of the Maritimes. I remember the Saint John Flames winning the Calder Cup like it was yesterday, it was incredible. I was living in Ottawa during the Sen's run to the Stanley Cup Finals and trust me, Saint John was just as loud.
- illdeliveries

Yeah the Calder cup win was amazing. I was very disappointed when the QMJHL did not select Saint John to host this year's Memorial cup. Shawinigan won the right and it was largely political I have heard. The Dogs are still a great team and I hope the city gets the chance at some point to host as I am sure we'd do a great job.

Yeah the Calder cup win was amazing. I was very disappointed when the QMJHL did not select Saint John to host this year's Memorial cup. Shawinigan won the right and it was largely political I have heard. The Dogs are still a great team and I hope the city gets the chance at some point to host as I am sure we'd do a great job.
- Hextall271

Yeah, I was not happy about that either - there is no way Shawinigan could compete with what Saint John would put on for that event, and unfortunately this could be the last year we had a shot to win it at home, as there's a good chance most of the Sea Dog's best players will be graduating to other leagues after this season.

I wasn't alive for the Allan Cup wins, but I do remember playing all my schoolboy hockey at the LBR with Art Comeau's teams, and Rob's right, that is one old school rink, always cold. You couldn't beat the ice quality, though! Better than the station, even.

Nice to see a couple other Saint Johner's here on hockeybuzz, too. Illdeliveries, why don't I ever see you posting in Yost's blogs??

Oh, and thanks, Rob, for an interesting blog. That's a story I had never heard either.

Ha! Cool story.

I lived in Saint John for a year about 6 years ago and played pickup every Saturday night at the LBR.

Don't know if it's true or not but someone once told me the Saint John Scorpions were owned by Ricky from the Trailer Park Boys..

I remember playing after them a couple times on Saturday nights and they had a band playing in the rink lol

Great Story!! My Grandfather Doug "Crow" Hewey Played with Mr Rice as well as my Dad and I used to watch him put the puck in the top shelve quicker then anyone down at the old LBR very proud to call my home Rink!!!!