11-17-2004, 11:37 AM
Taken from The Windsor Star - Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Barilko tragedy goes Hollywood
Windsor author's tale of missing Leaf lures Fox filmmaker
Dave Waddell
Windsor Star
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
HOCKEY ICON: The saga of Barilko, who died in a plane crash after scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal for the Leafs in 1951, is as compelling as ever. Kevin Shea has written Barilko: Without A Trace, a presentation of the hockey icon's brief life.
Bill Barilko's short life reads like a Hollywood script.
In fact, it may soon by a Hollywood script.
The tragic tale of the 24-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman, who scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in overtime in 1951 and then was killed four months later in a plane crash that wasn't discovered for another 11 years, is the subject of the recently released book Barilko: Without a trace.
The book was written by Windsor native Kevin Shea and an option on the story was recently purchased by Hollywood director George Mendeluk, who is the guiding hand behind Fox TV's Northshore.
"The picture of Bill Barilko's overtime goal is the most requested photo in our archives," said Shea, also the manger of special projects and publishing for the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. "His story is so compelling.
"He scores the Cup-winning goal and then disappears in a plane crash. His body isn't discovered for another 11 years, the same year the Leafs win the Cup for the first time since he'd scored, linking the two dynasties.
"Then a whole new generation learns his story when the Tragically Hip record a song (Fifty Mission Cap) about him in 1992 that becomes one of the biggest hits ever in Canadian music."
Knowing that Barilko will forever be remembered for the famous photo of him flying through the air scoring the Cup-winning goal, Shea set out to fill in the unknown details of the Timmins native's life.
Shea started with Barilko's sister Anne Klisanich, who is a volunteer at the Hall of Fame, and dug through the memories of neighbours, teammates, old coaches and even his fiance.
What Shea discovered was Barilko was a popular practical joker with a love for dressing well off the ice and player who only knew one gear -- full throttle -- on the ice.
"His teammates loved him," said Shea, who will bring the last sweater Barilko wore to his book signing Dec. 4 at Chapters in Windsor.
"He was the one that would put shaving cream in your shoes if you fell asleep on the train."
However, Barilko drove Leafs coach Hap Day crazy because he didn't hold back on the crushing body checks he was well know for even in practice.
"His compromise was he'd go, 'Beep, Beep' just before he sent you flying during practice," Shea said.
The Leafs' organization fell apart during the 1950s and it would be 11 years between championships.
TEAM IN DISARRAY
"I think his death threw the Toronto team into disarray," Shea said. "Not finding his body was a story across Canada for months and I don't think that team ever got over that."
Even more tragic is the story of his fiance Louise Hastings.
Barilko had put a down payment on the engagement ring he planned to give Hastings at Toronto's Old Mill Restaurant where the Leafs players gathered every Monday night for dinner.
The two were to announce their engagement Sept. 4, 1951, but Barilko died in a plane wreck near Cochrane returning from a fishing trip with his friend Dr. Henry Hudson Aug. 26.
Hastings made the final payments on the ring, which she still has, but she never did find anyone to take Barilko's place in her heart.
"He died 53 years ago, but people are still fascinated and some are still mourning him," Shea said.
Barilko tragedy goes Hollywood
Windsor author's tale of missing Leaf lures Fox filmmaker
Dave Waddell
Windsor Star
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
HOCKEY ICON: The saga of Barilko, who died in a plane crash after scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal for the Leafs in 1951, is as compelling as ever. Kevin Shea has written Barilko: Without A Trace, a presentation of the hockey icon's brief life.
Bill Barilko's short life reads like a Hollywood script.
In fact, it may soon by a Hollywood script.
The tragic tale of the 24-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman, who scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in overtime in 1951 and then was killed four months later in a plane crash that wasn't discovered for another 11 years, is the subject of the recently released book Barilko: Without a trace.
The book was written by Windsor native Kevin Shea and an option on the story was recently purchased by Hollywood director George Mendeluk, who is the guiding hand behind Fox TV's Northshore.
"The picture of Bill Barilko's overtime goal is the most requested photo in our archives," said Shea, also the manger of special projects and publishing for the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. "His story is so compelling.
"He scores the Cup-winning goal and then disappears in a plane crash. His body isn't discovered for another 11 years, the same year the Leafs win the Cup for the first time since he'd scored, linking the two dynasties.
"Then a whole new generation learns his story when the Tragically Hip record a song (Fifty Mission Cap) about him in 1992 that becomes one of the biggest hits ever in Canadian music."
Knowing that Barilko will forever be remembered for the famous photo of him flying through the air scoring the Cup-winning goal, Shea set out to fill in the unknown details of the Timmins native's life.
Shea started with Barilko's sister Anne Klisanich, who is a volunteer at the Hall of Fame, and dug through the memories of neighbours, teammates, old coaches and even his fiance.
What Shea discovered was Barilko was a popular practical joker with a love for dressing well off the ice and player who only knew one gear -- full throttle -- on the ice.
"His teammates loved him," said Shea, who will bring the last sweater Barilko wore to his book signing Dec. 4 at Chapters in Windsor.
"He was the one that would put shaving cream in your shoes if you fell asleep on the train."
However, Barilko drove Leafs coach Hap Day crazy because he didn't hold back on the crushing body checks he was well know for even in practice.
"His compromise was he'd go, 'Beep, Beep' just before he sent you flying during practice," Shea said.
The Leafs' organization fell apart during the 1950s and it would be 11 years between championships.
TEAM IN DISARRAY
"I think his death threw the Toronto team into disarray," Shea said. "Not finding his body was a story across Canada for months and I don't think that team ever got over that."
Even more tragic is the story of his fiance Louise Hastings.
Barilko had put a down payment on the engagement ring he planned to give Hastings at Toronto's Old Mill Restaurant where the Leafs players gathered every Monday night for dinner.
The two were to announce their engagement Sept. 4, 1951, but Barilko died in a plane wreck near Cochrane returning from a fishing trip with his friend Dr. Henry Hudson Aug. 26.
Hastings made the final payments on the ring, which she still has, but she never did find anyone to take Barilko's place in her heart.
"He died 53 years ago, but people are still fascinated and some are still mourning him," Shea said.