Time Capsule Diary

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I have got some very exiting news for you, I just finished watching Wayne Gretzky's first game ever, and he scored eight goals and got three assists. After the game I sat down with his dad and started telling him what I thought Wayne's future was going to be; actually I knew what his future was going to be because, as you know I saw his whole life. So anyway, we got back to talking and Walter, Wayne's dad said, "You know I have never met anyone as nice as you so I am going to buy you a beer. What do you drink?" he asked. So I asked him what is there to drink? He told me there was Molson Export, Coors and Miller Lite, I thought to myself where is the Labatt Blue, then I realized that Labatt Blue didn't come out until the seventies and I am still in the sixties. So I told him I would take a Coors. We got into talking and Walter asked me if I wanted to go with him to see the Stanley Cup game between The Montreal Canadiens and The Boston Bruins. I decided to go because I wanted to know Wayne a little better.

We finally arrived at the Montreal forum for game six, where The Canadiens would be able to win the Stanley Cup and beat the BIG BAD BRUINS. As they skated out onto the ice you felt the electricity going through everyone's body as they rose with a roar LETS GO HABS, LETS GO. After the crowd stopped my ears were ringing as Jean Beliveau scored with the drop of the puck. The crowd was chanting and screaming, it was a real emotional moment as I looked at the Bruins bench and saw "Grapes" there coach Don Cherry cursing and swearing at the players. Then I saw him tap big number 4 on the back, yeah that's right, the

big player, Bobby Orr! The whole Forum was silent as he got off the face-off and decided to skate in all alone against the Habs goalie Ken Dryden, Bobby made one deek to his right than one to his left and put one in right in the top shelf. The crowd booed him as the announcer said, "goal scored by number 4 Orr". I could not believe that the first period went by so fast with the score tied at one.

The second period began as Walter told me to hang on to my hat. Hang on to my hat is right, number 4 Bobby Orr scored two more goals as the hats flew on the ice showing respect for the hat-trick. Beliveau the rising Captain told his team that it wasn't over yet and that he was going out the next shift to show the Bruins how to play Montreal style hockey. He managed to match Orr's hat trick with one of his own. Wayne looked up at me and said, "I want to come play here someday and be a hero just like them". I told him, "You will son, you will". The second period was over as the two tired skated off into their locker rooms to get ready for a much-anticipated 3rd period.

The third period began as the exhausted fans slowly jumped out of their seats to welcome the players back onto the ice. Walter told me the way that things are going Montreal will take it. As he said that the big defenceman Brad Park took Beliveau down in to the boards. Man, what a hit I still can't get that out of my head. Anyway the referee put his hand up and gave the Canadiens the power play. The Canadiens scored with 17 seconds left in the game and ended up winning the Stanley Cup. Oh what an eruption! Jean Beliveau took off his helmet skated to center ice to get the big trophy and as he skated around with the cup all filled up for the champs who won the drink, everyone and I mean everyone was up on there feet cheering and hugging each other.

Well, that is my story and I'll write back for the next one.

Your friend

Alberto Zandiaco