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Saturday, October 9, 1999
Mr. Dependable
The words from John McRae's In Flanders Field, emblazoned above the lockers of the Montreal Canadiens, have long served as the inspiration for each generation of players to occupy a dressing room stall.
But in an era of economic malaise threatening a once-proud franchise, the capability of this team to hold that torch high has been severely diminished.
Perhaps the mere effort involved in maintaining the legacy of the Habs, of carrying that torch, is what's important.
But don't tell that to Habs goalie Jeff Hackett. If there are hands capable of restoring this team's honour, of holding that torch high, they belong to Hackett.
In less than a year, the London, Ont., native has done what few thought possible.
He skated into the Quebecois culture of Montreal, and established himself both on and off the ice as a star. Not easy to do for an English player, or a goalie. Seemingly impossible for both.
In Chicago, before his November trade to Montreal, many thought of him as a head case, an emotional guy who could never handle the incredible pressure afforded those who wear the bleu, blanc et rouge.
And in so doing, Hackett proved those critics wrong.
Instead of succumbing, Hackett has embraced the pressure.
And his numbers last year, on a struggling team, tell a remarkable story.
His five shutouts tied him for fifth in the NHL. He was named the first star in 11 of his 53 starts with the Canadiens, second or third in nine others. In his last 40 starts, he had 22 wins, second among NHL goaltenders. He had a 2.15 goals-against average during that period, a .917 save percentage and allowed more than three goals only eight times. He was named NHL player of the week for the period of Dec. 28-Jan. 3 with a 1.33 goals-against average in three games, plus a .939 save percentage.
Hackett also recorded back-to-back shutouts and had a seven-game winning streak from Dec. 26 to Jan. 11.
But this year, on a non-playoff team further decimated by a departure of talent through, trades, contracts and injuries, those failing hands are clearly passing the torch to Hackett.
"Well you don't want to make excuses," says Hackett of the team's injuries.
"But you don't want to lie, either, and we have to admit we are missing some pretty big guys. We have to deal with what we have here now in this room and find a way to win.
"If you compete hard, more times than not you are going to be successful. We can't worry about the other things."
If they did, they'd pack up their bags and mail in the rest of the season. But in Montreal, there remains one good reason to play. Pride. The same pride that passed on that torch.
Hackett doesn't shy away from that responsibility.
"Until you get to experience the situation you don't appreciate what the players in Montreal go through," said Hackett of the pressure from the intense media and fan interest.
"It's not all negatives -- there are a lot of positives. People care so much about that team they want to know everything. They can be critical, but they are supportive at the same time. This is a team people there have talked about over family dinners for generations. It's part of their heritage and you have to respect that and realize you are always under the spotlight.
"And you have to realize what a privilege it is to play in Montreal."
There has been no shortage of players, English and French, who have caved under that pressure. Hackett says he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I want to be a hockey player first and foremost," he said. "If you want to be successful, there is not a better place to play than Montreal. If you don't play well you will hear about it. But that's all you can really ask for, honest opinions and answers. If you work hard, play hard, people there respect you."
As improbable as it seems, Hackett has achieved that respect in Montreal.
But it's not enough.
"The last four or five years, I've had good success during the season but I'm not satisfied until I do something in the playoffs," he says.
"My career won't be complete until I see what I can really do under the extremes of the playoffs. I want to see how far I can take a team, to test myself and see how it goes. That's what I thirst for, what I want to prove."
Hackett may not be able to single-handedly carry that torch high enough this season.
But he's demonstrated the spirit and the capability to accept the responsibility of restoring that professional pride.
The Habs torch is in good hands.
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