BY RANDY SCHULTZ –
I have been a fan of Anne Murray for a long time. When I found out in the late 1980s that she was a big hockey fan, that peaked my interest in her even more.
I finally caught up with Murray in North Tonawanda, NY at Melody Fair, a little theater that was covered by a theater dome. Prior to her concert there I had the opportunity to visit and interview her trailer, located just outside the theater.
I found out quickly that Murray was a hockey fanatic. Yes, this was the same Anne Murray who has had such hits over the years like “Snowbird,” “You Needed Me” and “A Little Good News.”
I also discovered that when she wasn’t recording or performing Murray followed hockey very closely. So closely that it wasn’t unusual for her to watch a hockey game every night of the week, if possible.
Murray, a native of Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada, the singer grew up with Canada’s national past-time.
“I guess it all started by listening on radio,” recalled Murray. “Of course, Saturday night was ‘Hockey Night In Canada,’ That was sacrosanct. Everybody stayed home and watched it.
“And we watched it any other nights it was on.”
Murray even played the game, first with her brothers out on the frozen ponds of Nova Scotia and later on a girl’s team in high school. Surprisingly, Murray wasn’t a Toronto Maple Leafs or Montreal Canadiens fans during the six-team era of NHL hockey when she was growing up.
Instead, she was a Detroit Red Wings’ fan.
“I guess it was because Gordie (Howe) played for Detroit,” said Murray. “He was always my favorite.
“Bobby Hull and Bobby Orr were alright, too. They were great to watch. But as a kid Gordie was number one.”
She recalled the first time she got to meet her childhood hero, as well as an additional superstar.
“I remember having Gordie Howe on a television show I did in Canada years ago and that was great,” Murray commented. “I also met Jean Beliveau.
“I admired both of them for a long, long time, and I was nervous meeting them.”
Over the years Murray became a star in her own right with the NHL. She was the guest star at the NHL All-Star Charity Dinner prior to the 35th All-Star Game at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
When asked if she had a favorite player at the time of the interview with me, Murray gave a definite answer.
“I would have to say Wayne Gretzky,” remarked Murray. “I especially loved watching Gretzky and Mario Lemieux together when they played in that Canada/Russia series. That was awesome.”
At one point in the 1980’s, Murray put together a group that tried to purchase the Maple Leafs.
“But old Harold (Ballard, then owner of the Leafs) wasn’t interested in selling the team. It’s a shame too.”
Even today in retirement, Murray still loves the game.
“It is such a beautiful sport,” concluded Murray. “I enjoy other sports like football and baseball.
“But there is something about hockey that fascinates me. It must be the grace and style by which the players play the game.
“It is almost artistic. It’s just something I have in my blood.”
