Toronto Maple Leafs: ‘Twas the Night Before for the Ex Leafs

The holidays are upon us and the Toronto Maple Leafs (and most of the rest of sports) are on hold as Covid infections run more rampant than cheap-shots during a Brad Meier/Reid Anderson reffed game.

There is very little in store for rabid Toronto Maple Leafs fans who are keen to watch their 2nd overall in the NHL team continue their strong run.

So with nothing on the go, I thought it would be fun to pen a little Christmas themed poetry with a look at  Leafs past and present, as seen through the classic poem, ‘Twas the Night before Christmas.

Enjoy, have a great holiday and Go Leafs Go!

‘Twas the Night Before the Toronto Maple Leafs Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and with no hockey league

I started to think of Ex-Leaf – Kris Versteeg;

And Sylvain Cote, what a curious pair,

Why did my thoughts of Ex-Leafs go right there? 

I  turned off the tube and prepared for bed,

While visions of Dan Daoust danced in my head,

I thought of Tim Bernhardt instead of Grant Fuhr;

Oh man, now the references were getting obscure! 

I ran up the stairs, to my room in a flash

Felt weak and unseemly (like Auston’s moustache)

My wife stirred beside me, asked what was the matter,

I blurted, “Jeff O’Neil has gotten much fatter!” 

And with that the names came lively and quick,

Ex-Leafs were my reindeer and I was Saint Nick;

Now, COTE! now, COURTNALL! now, WREGGET and HEALY!

On, CULLEN! on, KORDIC! on, MARCHMENT and KLEE!

The names were too much! Some crusty, some great,

But all from past teams we didn’t overrate,

And then, from downstairs, I heard quite a rustle,

(Unlike JVR, I decided to hustle)

I scurried my way downstairs like a mouse,

Wishing that Holl would turn into a Rouse,

Or that we could have an Ellett or Gill,

When I stood face to face with the legend, Bill

Barilko it was, he of Leafs and Hip fame,

He was dressed in his garb from the Cup-winning game

My jaw dropped in awe, he gave a low grin,

“Who did you expect,” he said, “Jonas Frogren?” 

He laughed and then signed my hanging Leafs stocking,

The Cup champion, and now king of Leaf mocking,

He sampled the cookies and said “I’m a foodie”;

And left the scene quicker than Luca Caputi 

The next minute I awoke with a start,

TSN on, (I dozed off at some part),

So with no hockey to watch I called it a night,

HAPPY EX-LEAFS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!