Welcome to part two of my interview with Mike Wilson who is also known as The Ultimate Leafs Fan. The honor was given to him by ESPN due in large part to his massive collection of Toronto Maple Leafs memorabilia.
In part one of my interview with Mike, the Ultimate Toronto Maple Leafs fan, we discussed his new book, The Ultimate Road Trip and chatted about the trip itself.
You can find part one of this interview here.
For the second part of this interview we will continue to look back at Mike’s Ultimate Road Trip as will as discuss his new podcast with former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Rick Vaive called Squid and the Ultimate Leafs Fan.
Interview With The Toronto Maple Leafs Ultimate Fan
JR: While you were in Pittsburgh, you had the chance to go out for dinner with Joe Bowen and a few others from the Toronto media to celebrate Joe’s induction into the HHOF. What was that whole experience like?
MW: That was a great evening. I know most of the media guys who’ve covered a number of events at our place over the years. Joe and I have known each other for a number of years and Lance Hornby was co-authoring my book along with a weekly column in the Sun following the journey.
I never expected to hang with these guys during the year because it’s their work world and a close-knit fraternity I assumed.
Needless to say, I couldn’t have been more wrong; from the first morning heading to Chicago out of Pearson I’d run into these guys every trip. They not only went out of their way to give sightseeing and eating tips in each city but also made me a part of the group.
They invited me out for dinners, post-game drinks, sat with them at morning skates or practices observing the job they do covering the Leafs. They are on call 24/7.
That night in Pittsburgh was special; the guys obviously have tremendous respect for Joe. By chance I sat with Joe during the dinner and we talked our second love, Notre Dame football. He’s also a history buff so eagerly highlighted historical locations in various cities for me to explore.
The always gracious and hardworking Steve Keogh, Director of Media Relations for the Leafs also helped me enormously. The always class act, picked up the tab at Joe’s dinner that night.
Ps. The restaurant was located on Mt Washington and while a beautiful view overlooking the city, the cable car ride isn’t for those afraid of heights; ME!
The car ambled up the Duquesne incline and while all marveled at the view, I was terrified starring at the wooden floor thinking if the cable breaks should I jump out this tiny window!!!
After a few post dinner beers, the trip down was a little less stressful!
JR: When you traveled to Minnesota, you had the opportunity to chat with the Wild’s head coach and mega Leafs fan Bruce Boudreau. Describe what that conversation was like?
MW: Gabby is one of those guys that if you asked him what he had for dinner, he may struggle to remember; but ask him about a game in January, 1975 he played in and he’ll give you a detailed account including shots on goal! Or so it seems. Bruce is what you call a hockey lifer. Period!
He is a Toronto Maple Leafs fan through and through and told me he watches every game they play. He jokingly said, “I better have a good scouting report on them for tomorrow night.”
He’s as passionate about coaching as he was playing, and he may have been one of the greatest Juniors I ever saw play. He owns his mistakes and he made numerous that cost him a high draft position (streaking at Ontario Place for one), he’s not bitter about the way he was handled by the Leafs even so far as saying he preferred going up and down with them staying a Leaf rather than playing somewhere else. That’s how much wearing that sweater meant to him.
He spoke of favorite memories as a Leaf (beating Isles on Lanny’s OT winner), listening to games on the radio in bed as a kid, even hiding the radio under the covers for the late games or Jim Dorey’s penalty filled debut becoming one of his favourites.
He said “once you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, that’s it man. There is no grey area, people love or hate the team”. He will cheer for the team forever.
JR: In your book, there are many different pictures from your Ultimate Road Trip. My favourite picture is the one of you with the surviving members of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. What pic is your favourite?
MW: Boy oh boy is that tough. The Humboldt photo was so emotional, I had to stop half way back to my seat to gather my composure. I didn’t want to appear sympathetic to kids; wanted to be positive and upbeat, they all were, and I did my best, but man it was tough!
The photo with Ed Guter in Calgary. Ed was 61 at the time and had never in his 55 years cheering for the Leafs ever seen them play live. Timing, affordability, all kinds of things got in the way over the years.
His brother arrived from Toronto that day to surprise him with tickets to the game. So, here’s this 61-year-old rugged man with tears streaming down his face telling the story. I look in the booth beside at his wife, sister-in-law both crying and his brother standing affectionately smiling.
There is also the photo with the first responder in Pittsburgh who apprehended the shooter in the Synagogue massacre the week before was very memorable. He’d been shot himself sporting a huge cast/bandage on his arm. “I was just doing my job.” he modestly said to me.
This question to tough pinpoint because I have dozens that are special and as corny as it sounds every photo was special because the person or persons took the time with me. I will never forget that.
JR: Even though the season ended with yet another Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins, describe your overall feelings after completing your Ultimate Road Trip?
MW: It was work. Without Deb it would never have happened. She organized all the travel, hotels, etc., had contingency plans in place, worked social media, everything. I loved every minute of it!
It was the most rewarding experience of my life and I hope people reading the book or not, use me as an example to follow my lead. The people I met were fantastic and every rink was an adventure in itself. My emotions would start percolating the minute I arrived in a city, continuing to build until passing through the rink gate at game time.
Once inside it was euphoric making my way to the seats to observe the Leafs in the warmup. You feel 10-years old again; the juices start flowing and it never gets tiring even when the outcome is a stinker like the two in Ottawa that season.
Sharing stories with fellow fans before and between periods was the absolute highlight. Listen, this journey is about the Leafs but any fan can insert any team and feel the same way. It’s a sports story.
Entering the gate for game 82 while exhilarating was an emotional release as well. I knew I had the playoffs next, but they’d be so much easier because no back to backs, I could drive to Boston; no weather issues even if they advanced. Deb had all the scenarios planned out anyway.
I felt anxious every game until the scanner said my ticket was good entering each rink. Then during the game I’d worry what could go wrong for the next stop. As we’ve seen in 2019-20, expect the unexpected (pandemic) and that was my approach every day for 7 months.
The morning after game 7 in Boston, I was driving back early and pulled off the highway on to the shoulder to do an interview with CBC that was going National. A state trooper pulled his car behind mine and as he approached the car, I was pointing at the radio saying I was doing a live interview.
But despite the fact it was 6am, no cars in site, Barney Fife felt he had to hassle me anyway and he did. People that morning listening got a live version of a cop screaming at a Leafs fan to get moving. The radio personality was horrified and thought I was getting arrested but we kept talking. Typical Boston fan I thought while driving away, you won for crying out loud cant you let me suffer in peace!!!
I will forever be grateful to Leafs Nation for welcoming me to each city, opening up their hearts, sharing very personal stories and encouraging me to continue on. I hope I can do the same and help anyone who wants some direction to do something along the same lines someday.
I met dozens of people with agendas to see every rink the Toronto Maple Leafs play, mini trips every season to different locations, all kinds of variations. That’s what’s so special about Leafs Nation, fellow fans sharing ideas, stories and adventures.
I had many people offer me places to stay, tickets, drinks, dinners, private suites, endless kind gestures. I will never ever forget any of them.
JR: You’ve also entered into the world of podcasting now as well. Describe how fun it has been to do your podcast with former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Rick Vaive?
MW: We are having a blast. Rick is such a great guy and as you can tell by our guests, was well liked by his teammates. The idea is to dig a little deeper than the basic hockey stuff and have the guys share these moments. So far it’s been great and the guys have been so generous with their time it’s made it pretty easy for us.
We are going through the building phase and hopefully we’ll get smoother as we move along but the idea is to expand the show, keep it light, funny with guys just talking hockey, how can that be bad? The shows called Squid (Ricks nickname) and The Ultimate Leafs Fan.
We’re on all the main podcast networks or Youtube.
JR: What do you think of the moves the Toronto Maple Leafs made this off-season?
MW: I think under the constraints of a tight cap the Leafs did extremely well. The key development was moving Kapanen early and freeing up space, setting the bar quickly. (good return).
Creating competition particularly on the back end was necessary and someone needs to emerge from the pack; be the surprise. My guess is Lehtonen to deliver that.
Short season, so everyone is accountable and every job is available in the question mark spots.
Goalies same, push for minutes. Play the best.
Final Thought
I hope you all enjoyed this journey of reliving Mike’s Ultimate Road Trip following the Toronto Maple Leafs to every game in the 2018-19 season.