Henderson scored three straight game-winning goals in Moscow during the 72’ summit series and led the tournament with seven goals in eight games. So why does the Hall treat this Canadian hero like he was covered in leeches? It has nothing to do with his performance on the ice.
According to the Hall these are the attributes players need to qualify: Playing ability, sportsmanship, character and their contribution to teams and the game of hockey.
1) Playing ability: Henderson played 1,067 games in the NHL and WHA, scored 376 goals and collected 760 points. Thirty-six inductees can’t match those numbers. He also played in two Stanley Cup finals and two all-star games. He never won a Cup, but there are 40 inductees in the Hall who also failed in that department, including Cam Neely.
2) Sportsmanship: In 19 years of major professional hockey, he received one fighting major.
3) Character: Any player who could work for over a decade under the likes of Sid Abel and Punch Imlach should never have his character questioned.
4) Contribution: In 1962, he led Hamilton to its one and only Memorial Cup championship and his performance in 1972 resulted in the Hall naming Team Canada the greatest of the 20th century.
What should anger you most as a hockey fan is who has been inducted. In a political move to pave the way for Russian players to join the NHL, goalie Vladislav Tretiak was honoured in 1989. Tretiak gave up six goals in that final game in ‘72, including the winner. The same politics that got Tretiak in have kept Henderson out.
In 1974, Henderson jumped from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Toronto Toros of the WHA. At the time the general manager of the Leafs was Jim Gregory, now chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee. It would appear Gregory will never forgive or forget.
What are you thoughts? Should Henderson be inducted?
2007-08-29
07:58:14
·
9 answers
·
asked by
Coach Scott
4
in
Hockey