If you could carve out some NL hockey player faces in the rocks between Deer Lake and Corner Brook – who would you choose?
This is merely personal opinion and is meant to inspire debate and fun!
Criteria – you only get 4 players! Honourable mentions are allowed. Dawson Mercer and Alex Newhook are NOT eligible for this Mount Rushmore as they are just beginning their NHL journeys to some extent; both could very well be on said mountain very soon, however!
Face #1 – Teddy Purcell
It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t mention my neighbourhood buddy! This isn’t just a sentimental choice – Purcell notched 101 goals in his NHL career, and there was no hotter player in the second half of the 2011-12 NHL season than the St. John’s native. Here’s a shameless opportunity for us to promote our YouTube channel – see our full video with Ted right here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qCt3Jp8SEY&t=378s
Face #2 – Michael Ryder
Ryder proved to the general public that you don’t always have to be a high draft pick to become an NHL star. The Bonavista, NL native scored 25+ goals in a season 5 times in his career, and hoisted Lord Stanley’s jug with Boston in 2010-11. Ryder is the only NL player to win a Memorial Cup and a Stanley Cup in his career, too. Ryder – per Quant Hockey – is the all-time leader in points for NL-born NHL players with 484.
Face #3 – Danny Cleary
Cleary holds way too many ‘firsts’ in NL hockey history to not have his face etched in Mount Rushmore stone. The Riverhead, NL native was the first NL-born player to win a Stanley Cup, and was the first (and only) player to reach 900 career NHL games played. When you think of the great Detroit Red Wings teams of the late 2000’s, Cleary is a household name that would come to mind.
Face #4 – Terry Ryan JR
Credit where it’s due – Terry Ryan has been a fixture in the NL Hockey scene for a very, very long time. TR would be considered the Chris Jericho of NL hockey – the fact that Terry is still a very capable senior hockey player in his mid-40’s is quite impressive. Terry had a tremendous career in the Canadian Hockey League, which he parlayed into a top-10 NHL Draft pick. Terry has played numerous seasons of pro and semi-pro hockey since; he is still one of the most colourful hockey personalities in provincial history, too. As the title of his book implies (Tales of a First Round Nothing), Terry’s NHL career is not as decorated as the other names engraved in our Mount Rushmore – but his impact on the game cannot be ignored.
Honorable Mentions
Sarah Davis, Darren Colbourne, Darren Langdon, John Slaney, Ryane Clowe, Jason Churchill, Jason King, Alex Faulkner.
Who do you put into your Mount Rushmore for NL-born Hockey players? Feel free to chat us up on social media!
Similar Media
Interview with NHL Coach Darryl Williams – https://youtu.be/o9Mnbpt3h3M
Interview with NHL forward Alex Newhook – https://youtu.be/VOBhwzfPP7U