FanShot

He was an old-school coach who believed in a very simple game and lots of emotion. I don't know...

2

He was an old-school coach who believed in a very simple game and lots of emotion. I don't know why, but before one game we're in the dressing room going, 'We're the Oilers and we know it, clap your hands.' Bill watches this and goes, 'Goddamn it, boys, I love it.' Then we won the game, and we had to do it for the rest of the season. He said, 'Mr. Brown, you're in charge of enthusiasm,' and if we didn't do it loudly enough, he'd make us do it over. That made me real popular with the guys.

That's Ken Brown, the Oilers' back-up goalie in their first year in the WHA, telling a story about the great Wild Bill Hunter. The story comes by way of Ed Willes' book, The Rebel League, which I've finally gotten around to reading. It's a great read if you're looking to get a hockey fix over the All-Star break.

Trending Discussions