Liam Responds
Letter to Larry Robinson, Oct 25, 2000

Dear Larry,

My good friend, I’m so sorry that I missed your induction to the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame. Congratulations on the newest accolade. You deserve it big time and you know I’m one of your biggest fans.

I do however want to mention something else to you regarding your speech that night. A couple of years ago I was on TSN and got into it pretty good with the host of a show called Off The Record. His name is Michael Lansberg. Our debate was on the state of Canadian hockey and I felt he was badly out of whack as are most of the media in this country when they weigh in on this subject. Since that time I kind of became the unofficial watchdog for all perceived slights on the subject. Your statement about the lack of Canadian born drafted in the first round made quite the splash up here and of course you’re bang on, we do have to continue to strive to improve.

I just wanted to let you know that in fact last year there were more Canadians drafted in the first round than the year before. 10-9. These numbers are down from just a few short years ago by about six or seven players so you’re right in that regard however it should be pointed out that no other country either last year or at any other time has had as many players drafted in the first round. And if you take it a step further, let’s say we go back to the ‘95 draft, that’s six years right? Of the 163 players drafted in the first round in that time 84 of them have been Canadian. That’s 52%. The next country is Russia with 24 or 15%. Nobody is close Larry, nobody.

I believe there are a couple of very good reasons for the reduced numbers. Any scout will tell you early picks of Europeans in the last half dozen years or so is a better buy economically due to the fact you can leave them overseas to develop until their early twenties while a pick from junior you have to deal with at the very latest when their twenty. I believe this has had an effect to the tune of two or three picks per year. In addition to that, we now have close to the cream of the crop from mainstream Europe playing in ‘our’ Canadian junior leagues. Whether hockey fans agree or disagree with this, the fact remains that they are here because it’s the best and fastest way to the show and they know it. As a result probably a couple of more picks per round from outside of North America are benefiting from being developed in Canada. I think that’s important to point out when dissecting why our numbers may be down.

You’d have to have your head in the sand not to know that the rest of the hockey world has long since caught up to Canada. Truthfully I still find it truly amazing that over half the league is still Canadian born and that every team but one has more Canadian born players than any other country. And I’m sure the Prague Penguins will go far in this years playoffs.

Twenty-two countries are now represented in the NHL. And as you know hockey is being played all over the world like never before. Imagine Nashville using a Japanese born and raised player to start their preseason and by all accounts he wasn’t bad. All I really want to stress is that when someone like yourself speaks you carry a tremendous amount of weight. I just wish that when it’s pointed out that in some areas our numbers or participation is down there is a pretty good reason explaining why that is. I’m still involved in minor hockey. I speak and participate in hockey schools all over the region. I’ve gone out to minor hockey games and in some cases have gone on the ice to help out with some practices a few years ago in Manotick. I think that the skill being taught and developed in this country is at an all time high and will hopefully continue to get even better so that we can continue to hang around with the rest of the world and maybe even reclaim the top spot in the future. Let’s face it, it’s been a tenuous position since 1972 anyway.

Last note Larry, I recently jumped all over the editor of the Toronto Sun after a particularly brutal piece he wrote on Canadian hockey. If you have a moment you can check out my web page at this address www.liam.on.ca and find my reply to Lorrie Goldstein. It has several other details that statistically illustrate why Canada is still the number one producer of skill and talent in the world. I wish you all the best for the season in defending your title and hope to see you at some point this year, maybe at Tucson’s or the rink. Take care, and keep the faith, the legend of Henderson, Sittler, Bossy, Gretzky and Lemieux live on in this years first pick overall, Jason Spezza. Oh and one more note, Canada won the under 18 for the sixth straight year about two months ago. Scouts are saying it’s the most talented group ever and Spezza didn’t even play.

Later big man,

Sincerely
Liam Maguire.