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Rocky Hockey at Rockefeller Center

The above title of this column was used as a caption by the New York Daily News under a photo of two Saranac Lake Pee Wee hockey players colliding at mid-rink in a noon-time game they played there on Jan. 31, 1968.

The Saranac Pee Wee and Mosquitoes teams sponsored by the Loyal Order of the Moose and the Knights of Columbus played exhibition games at that famous rink drawing the biggest crowds ever, for a noon-time event, estimated at 6,000. The New York Times, the New York Daily News, the New York Daily Mirror, the Associated Press and two New York Television stations covered the event.

Let me tell you a story as to how that hockey event came about … a story that has never been told before.

It would never have happened if it were not for J. Ripley “Rip” Allen a reporter and columnist for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Mayor Howard J. Riley, editor of the Enterprise, that would be me, and most of all, it would not have happened if it were not for Gene Walsh, Saranac Lake native, former Enterprise sports reporter and now (1967) a VIP with NBC television who was the PR guy for the Johnny Carson show.

A late night observation

I was with my colleague and pal Rip Allen, in New York City covering a bid by Lake Placid before the United States Olympic Committee for the 1976 Olympic Winter Games held at the Roosevelt Hotel. The bid group was headed by Lake Placid Mayor Bob Peacock and representing New York State was Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Others biding at that time were Salt Lake City, Seattle and Denver. Denver won the bid and later backed out, but that is another long story, a story that eventually lead Lake Placid to win the bid for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games.

So as Rip and I walked back to our hotel later that night and were passing the Rockefeller Center ice rink; the lights were on low around the ice, the flags lining the space were blowing in the wind and there was not a soul in sight … pretty unusual for New York City.

I remark, quite casually, wouldn’t the people in New York City love to see our little guys play hockey here…the equipment they wear, just like the big guys, how well they skate, how well they are coached, blah, blah etc., with Rip saying, yeah, yeah, sure would be exciting … and we walk on back to our hotel.

Here is the tricky part

A couple of days later as I read the Enterprise, which I always did immediately as it rolled off the presses, I turned to Rip’s column and read something like this; “Mayor Riley is working on a plan to have our Pee Wee hockey teams play at Rockefeller Center in New York City.”

I scrambled to find Rip and screamed, “Are you nuts? You know I don’t have a plan … that conversation was prompted by the couple of Guinness’ we had with dinner.” Rip, says, “Yeah, I know you don’t have a plan but it’s a great idea and I know this was the only way to get you to do something about it.”

I immediately call Gene Walsh who I had known since he was a kid. Before I could get all the words out about my “idea” Gene says, “that is a great idea, and gives me the name and phone number of Rita Gallagher, head of PR for Rockefeller Center. Then Gene drafts a letter for me to put on village stationery to send to Ms. Gallagher, who he said would be impressed by the village’s Mayor writing to her. I believe that was part of Gene’s BS to make sure I followed through.

Well, there was a long chain of letters, phone conversations and new contacts, all guided by my friend Gene Walsh. The unions were involved when the nets had to be brought over from Madison Square Garden for the games. The next year we brought our own nets on the top of the bus and I am sure it was Gene who pulled strings to have Emile Francis, coach and general manager of the New York Rangers drop the puck for the first game. In a subsequent game, Rod Gilbert, Ranger Captain and hockey star did the honors.

(Part 2 next week …

those who did the work)

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