Leafs Watch

By LANCE HORNBY -- Toronto Sun
SAYING GOODBYE: A huge number of Maple Leaf Gardens and Air Canada Centre employees attended the funeral of long-time usher Dennis Goodwin yesterday in the city's west end.

Mourners included club president Ken Dryden, general manager/coach Pat Quinn, captain Mats Sundin, Tie Domi, Kris King and Glenn Healy.

Goodwin was always at his post in the East greens at the Gardens, having begun working there in 1949. He also guarded the dressing room door at both arenas and was popular with co-workers, players and media.

"He was a fixture here," King said yesterday at the Gardens where the Leafs practised. "He always had a 'Good morning' for you to start your day. He was well known to the people in his section and he certainly loved this place."

Goodwin, 67, died at home after working Monday's game at the ACC.

NEFARIOUS DARIUS: Pittsburgh D Darius Kasparaitis is a feared hitter no matter where he plays, but he particularly feels a need to deliver some big checks at the Igloo. He is still slowly making his way back from reconstructive knee surgery last season.

"I have more pressure at home," he said. "People expect Jags (Jaromir Jagr) to score goals. They expect me to kill somebody. I've just got to settle down. It (timing) is not always there."

JONAS BONUS: The Leafs have had a worthy cause the past few years with a program called Community Goals. With each tally by Sundin, Mike Johnson, Steve Thomas, Sergei Berezin and Igor Korolev, a major corporation (Nortel, Motorola, AMJ Campbell, CCM and Burger King) donates between $300 and $500 on behalf of a charity.

What no one banked on, however, was that left wing Jonas Hoglund would be leading the club with 12 goals at this stage of the season. He wasn't lined up with a sponsor and unfortunately, it is too late to set something up.

"We agreed before the season started to exclusivity with the five sponsors," Kristy Fletcher, of the Leafs' community relations department, said yesterday. "But we will have something for Jonas for next season."

BRIEFLY: The Leafs have had a few breakdowns in penalty killing lately and have slipped to 81.2% efficiency ... The Leafs' wives and girlfriends will be accepting food donations at next Saturday's game against Ottawa ... With the minimum minutes played now at 420, Curtis Joseph's sizzling 1.88 goals-against average after 1,342 minutes is actually second, behind Boston's demoted John Grahame. The latter barely qualifies at 488 minutes played.

Bert's back on blades
Blue Jays boot game
Bombers drop Peterson
Felicien rebuilds race

Visit our Polls Archive

SLAM! Sports SLAM! Galleries Help CANOE