04/20/24
June 21, 2003
NHL coaching great Roger Neilson has passed away.: What with the flurry of picks (and possible trades) in today's NHL draft, hopefully coach Neilson's passing doesn't go unnoticed.
I'll be the first hater. Never liked the guy.
posted by Samsonov14 at 01:00 PM on June 22, 2003
[sing song voice] Samsonov14 is going to hellll! Samsonon14 is going to hellll! They did a nice moment of silence thing for Neilson at the draft, which was nice. I'm a fan of his because he's one of those guys that looked for every loophole/advantage in the rules (something I like to do). A couple of things he did that forced them to change the rules: - told his goaltender to "drop" his stick in the crease when he came to the bench when they pulled him for an extra attacker - on a penalty shot, he switched his goalie with a defenceman and when the player started in from centre ice the defenceman skated out quickly and disrupted the attempt
posted by grum@work at 05:34 PM on June 22, 2003
Still disliked.
posted by Samsonov14 at 11:06 PM on June 22, 2003
Care to elaborate Samsy? Seems like an odd choice for someone to dislike. It's like hating Mr. Rogers! "He was one of those genuinely humble men who are worth far more than they'll admit or believe, and worth all the more for it. We won't see his sort again, and that's too bad." -- NY Post.
posted by Succa at 10:35 AM on June 23, 2003
Sammy, where's all this bitterness coming from?
posted by garfield at 02:18 PM on June 23, 2003
I think it's because the Bruins were one of only a few franchises in the NHL that Neilson didn't participate in coaching (either as a head coach or assistant). Samsonov14 is feels bitter for being shunned (by proxy)!
posted by grum@work at 02:47 PM on June 23, 2003
I was just about to post this myself. Very sad since he's from my home province. Nice that he was able to squeeze in getting into the hockey hall of fame and the order of Canada (the highest civilian honour Canada gives) in the last year. Timely to say the least.