By Pepper Parr
May 28, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON. You have to understand Ron Foxcroft and his affinity with the world of sports. He has been around every game that is played and while he can, on occasion, get the ball in the basket – that isn’t what he is known for.
The whistle business all started on the floor of a basketball court.
Earlier in the week there was a need to talk with Ron Foxcroft – getting to him is not easy – he is on the go from just after seven to late into the evening most days.
But get through we did – and started our conversation asking if he had caught the game – that being the one where the Habs took a hockey game in the direction it was meant to go – 7-4 with a hat trick for the Canadiens too boot. “Of course I got to the game – I had to rush out of the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame inductee event but I saw that game.”
The Official Whistle of the NHL with a logoed edition for the Stanley Cup finals provided by a high school dropout who lives in Aldershot.
Then he adds – “did you know that Foxcroft International made the whistles – the logoed whistles for the NHL final?
No we did not know that – would you send us a picture? And here it is. Another Foxcroft product.
We chatted about the stupendous game goalie Dustin Tokarski is putting in as he stands between the pipes. Of course we all know the kid used to play for the Hamilton Bulldogs – which at one point was owned by Ron Foxcroft.
What matters of course are those whistles – will they blow at the right time? For the right team?
We will be watching the two remaining games and hopefully the cup – the Stanley Cup, will rest where it belongs – in the head office of the Le Club de Hockey Canadien. It really should be at the Forum, just along St. Catherine Street in Montreal – half a block from the Toe Blake Tavern.
That was a different era – but the hockey then was still the same – great! Jean Beliveau, Maurice Richard, Guy Lafleur – the dream goes on.
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