Apple aficionada plucks grant

September 19, 2024

After spending the past 15 months as a volunteer coordinator assisting with the Apple Tree Identification Program (ATIP) in Haliburton County, Carmen Galea is sticking around for another season – this time in a
paid role.

The recent Toronto Metropolitan University graduate confirmed she’ll remain with ATIP Haliburton until at least summer 2025, with environmental non-profit EcoCanada covering 75 per cent of her salary through its youth in natural resources program.

“Receiving this funding is incredibly meaningful for me and ATIP Haliburton. It ensures we can continue our work
identifying apple trees in the area, as well as further contributing to edible forestry in the region,” Galea said, noting her other primary responsibility is to increase biodiversity and strengthen the community’s connection to
nature.

She’s been with the group since summer

Galea met ATIP founder Luba Cargill while preparing for the final year of her environmental and urban sustainability degree and the two instantly connected.
Cargill, who moved to the County from the Niagara region in the early 2000s, had just launched her new movement seeking to establish a local database of existing apple tree and orchard locations. She worked
with U-Links Centre for Community Based Research to create the Haliburton County Apple Blossom Tour, encouraging people to visit known sites.

Galea has added to that early work – developing a four-stage plan to get Haliburton County excited about apples.
The first happened earlier in May – the second-annual ATIP Haliburton apple blossom tour featured more than
40 locations, including privately-owned orchards, apple trees thriving on municipal land, and businesses that carry apple-basedproducts.

Steps two through four are in-progress – Galea said ATIP is engaging with arborists, foresters, and the Haliburton County Master Gardeners to assist in improving productivity of existing apple trees. The group also wants to plant new apple trees across the County.

The fourth goal is a little more ambitious – to encourage the production of local apple cider, dried apples, and other apple products in the Highlands.

Galea believes expanding the County’s apple-based business offerings could help the local economy. It will also improve food security for struggling families, she said.

In the short-term, Galea said her focus is on supporting SIRCH Community Services’ apple sauce project. Since 2014, the non-profit has supplied 9,669 servings of free apple sauce to those in need in the community. The program relies on the support of County-based growers, Galea said.

“We’re encouraging all those with apple trees to donate their excess fruits to this excellent cause,” she said, noting one collection has already taken place with another happening later this month, or in early October.

Plans are underway, too, for next season’s apple blossom tour.

Galea said she’s excited to have the opportunity to kick start her career working on a project she feels will do a lot of good in the only place she calls home.

“I aim to continue development of new programs that address emerging needs and challenges within our community where apples and apple trees can form part of the solution,” she said. “My goal is to create a lasting legacy of positive change through apple trees, which can be enjoyed for years to come.”

Minden mainstay marks 45 years in business

Lisa Gervais

September 19, 2024

When Minden’s Riverview Furniture first opened its doors, it was the year Bill Murray starred in the movie Meatballs, filmed at Camp White Pine in Haliburton County

Much has changed in the intervening 45 years as owners Derrick and Craig Box celebrate another business milestone.

They started working out of a tiny 400 sq. ft. building in 1979, that over the years has grown into more than 7,000 sq. ft. of space; their main store has three levels featuring handcrafted custom wood, leather and upholstered furniture, as well as blinds, appliances, and flooring. Their Cabin Country next door, is dedicated to custom bedroom suites, bunk beds and mattresses.

Derrick credits their ongoing success to, “carrying the product that the market bears at that particular time.”

He said when they started out, nobody wanted to spend money on their cottages, so they sourced cheap furniture. Customers raised their expectations but the overseas market was huge so they outsourced – along with the rest of the world. But Derrick said it didn’t take long for problems to arise, and call-backs.

“It was junk so we went back to Canadian. It was rough for a couple of years because people didn’t want to spend $2,000 on something they could buy for $600 from overseas. We really just evolved and watched what people were buying and just made sure we had the right things at the right price and have always carried quality
without making gigantic mark-up on it.”

The store is known for its custom wood products, sourced in Ontario. They sell over 90 per cent all-Canadian
made products designed to last.

Derrick said they have also always strived for decent customer service. “Make sure the people are happy, then they come back, tell their neighbours. We’re at the point now we’re so busy.”

Changes

Cottaging has also changed dramatically, Derrick said. It used to be 60 per cent of cottagers shut down after Labour Day, and another 25 per cent after Thanksgiving. Few came over winter and they were not buying furniture.

Now, he said nearly every cottage road and driveway is ploughed in winter “and cottages aren’t cottages
anymore.” He said many customers have nicer cottages than homes in the city.

“We did all of our business virtually between May 24 and Labour Day (at the start). If we didn’t make it in those
months, we were sunk. By the time May came again we were crawling up the walls, trying to get by to make a go
again. But now it’s more allyear, we don’t slow down. We’re still busy in July and August but we’re always going.”

“We did all of our business virtually between May 24 and Labour Day (at the start).If we didn’t make it in those
months, we were sunk. By the time May came again we were crawling up the walls, trying to get by to make a go
again. But now it’s more all-year, we don’t slow down. We’re still busy in July and August but we’re always going.”

They have consistently been open seven days a week and if someone comes at closing, don’t chase them off.

“Last night, I was locking up, and saw a car drive by, and someone got out. They came to the door. I unlocked it. They came in and bought a bed. A lot of places don’t do that. They say, ‘I’ve had enough today, I’m going
home’.”

Asked about working with a brother all these years, Derrick jokes, “we’ve never come to fisticuffs but we’ve had some times.” He said they’d both learned to “go with the flow” and it works out well. He adds they are opposites and bring different strengths to the business. And one of them is almost always in the store for those customers who want to talk to the owner. In their absence, Haley Lynch is there to competently pick up the slack.

Reflecting back on 1978, Derrick said, “we left Scarborough and wanted to be up north. What a place to bring up kids.” They love the outdoors, and have never looked back.

As to the future, “we’re probably ‘work until we die’ people… I love to travel, spend a lot of money on things, to do that you can’t retire and live on a fixed income, and we both still enjoy working.”

Is he proud? “I’m not a look at me, guy. I’m a don’t look at me guy. It’s what it is. It’s a lot of hard work and there’s been a lot of years where we have thought we might not be here for the next year but you just keep
plugging away.”

Riverview Furniture is at 94 Bobcaygeon Rd., Minden, 705-286-3167, info@ riverview-furniture.com or go to riverview-furniture.com

Huskies show teeth in weekend wins

Mike Baker

September 19, 2024

It was a perfect weekend for the Haliburton County Huskies who recorded their first wins of the new Ontario Junior Hockey League season – including a shutout on the road against table-topping Toronto Jr. Canadiens.

After dropping a 3-2 result to the Mississauga Chargers Sept. 11, the Huskies responded by putting the North York Rangers to the sword 5-1 in Minden on Saturday afternoon before recording a 4-0 win in Toronto on Sunday.

The results see the blue and white climb to sixth position in the East Conference standings with four games played.

Head coach and general manager Ryan Ramsay told The Highlander his team is improving every day.

“When you drop your first two games, panic kind of goes around the room… so to bounce back the way we did, it just we have. Guys are learning, they’re getting used to their new surroundings, new team, new life. They’re starting to buy into what we preach as Huskies hockey,” Ramsay said.

Pre-season was a stop-start affair for Ramsay, who had to wait a couple of weeks longer than he wanted to get players here. That’s the nature of playing in cottage country, Ramsay said. Add in that it’s a younger roster this year, with players keen to try their hand at Ontario Hockey League training camps, and Ramsay has rarely had a
full complement available.

Injuries have taken a toll too – forward Tyler Oletic is still out with a shoulder issue, though Ramsay noted he’s day-to-day. Seventeen-year-old rookie Chase Del Colombo is also missing after taking a big hit in only his second shift against the Rangers, though locker room leaders Nathan Poole and Ty Petrou returned from minor knocks that kept them on the sidelines during opening week.

Ramsay confirmed they, along with defenceman Raine Nadeau, will serve as alternate captains to start the season.

“We’ll make a decision at some point over who wears the ‘C’, but we’re in no rush,” Ramsay said.

Mississauga 3-2 Huskies

Despite outshooting their opponents 41 to 36 and dominating for good chunks of the game, especially during the second period, the Huskies fell 3-2 to one of this year’s early surprise packages.

Ramsay said the game should have been out of sight for the Huskies early.

“We should have been up 4-0 after the first period,” he said. “Sometimes during games you don’t have a good feeling. Even though we were doing the right things, I felt we needed to capitalize because you know how
it goes if you don’t.”

Deandres De Jesus opened the scoring on the powerplay at 18:44 of the middle frame to give the Huskies a lead heading into the third. It didn’t last long. The Chargers hit a quickfire double early, scoring after 52 and 89 seconds, to sucker punch the Dogs. Adam Smeeton tied things at the 12-minute mark, but Colin Crowley beat Corbin Votary at 13:14 for the game-winner.

Huskies 5-1 North York

The home side fell behind early on Saturday, with Cain Tucker beating Carter Nadon on one of the Rangers’ first dangerous attacks five minutes in.

The Huskies responded well – Curtis Allen tied the game at 11:42, Petrou added a second on the powerplay at 18:42, and Jake Salvatore a third at 19:14. Smeeton made it a three-goal game midway through the second,
with Peter Saroglou giving the fans a late game cheer by scoring shorthanded with 17 seconds remaining on the clock.

Ramsay said he was happy with the performance of second-year stars Smeeton and Isaac Larmand.

“They didn’t play much last year but now they’re stepping up and really contributing, being leaders and good examples for the rest of the team,” Ramsay said.

Huskies 4-0 JRC

The blue and white improved to 2-2-0 with a flawless display in the city, capped off by a hat-trick from rookie forward Sam Black – a recent addition from the OHL’s Barrie Colts – and a shutout by Votary.

Poole scored the game’s first goal 4:53 into the first, assisted by Alex Bradshaw and Carson Littlejohn, before Black exploded – with all three tallies coming in the second. Bradshaw assisted on two, as did blueliner
Ethan Wright, with Poole and Nadeau also recording helpers.

“It was a full-on team effort; every line was going hard. We had another four breakaways we didn’t score on. We played well in every aspect,” Ramsay said.

The coach hopes, in Votary and Nadon, the Huskies a tandem they can rely on all season.

The Huskies are back in action Sept. 20 with a road game against the St. Michael’s Buzzers before welcoming the Aurora Tigers to Minden Sept. 21. Puck drop is 4 p.m.

Fall back into autumnwith Dysart events

Mike Baker

September 19, 2024

With summer officially over this weekend, Dysart et al
staff has moved quickly to keep the good times rolling in
Haliburton County into the fall.

Andrea Mueller, the township’s programs and events
manager, encouraged locals to circle Sept. 28 on their
calendar as one of the community’s most popular seasonal
celebrations returns.

ColourFest will take over Head Lake Park in Haliburton
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a day filled with fun,
entertainment, and community spirit, Mueller said.

“ColourFest is truly a highlight of our fall season. It’s
a wonderful opportunity for families to come together
and enjoy the beauty of autumn in our community,” she
said. “Whether you’re a local resident or visiting the area,
ColourFest is the perfect way to embrace the season.”

There will be inflatable games, including axe throwing
and basketball, available for people to try, alongside classic
carnival-type games like cornhole. Pockets the Clown will
be on hand offering complementary face painting, with
activities presented by the Haliburton School of Art +
Design and Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

The Haliburton Highlands Museum has organized a
scarecrow mask craft, with the Haliburton County Public
Library hosting storytime sessions for children. The
Haliburton Highlands Time Travellers will run a classic car
show, with Rails End Gallery showing an exhibit of plein air
art.

Haliburton Rotary will be selling hot dogs and drinks and
will also have cotton candy available. The group will again
host the crowd-favourite pumpkin rolling contest, Mueller
confirmed. Participants are required to register and pick their
pumpkin between 11 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. The roll starts at
2:30 p.m. on York Street.

Just before, or after, enjoying time in the park, John
Watson, Dysart’s environmental manager, said people should
stop by the Haliburton School of Art + Design (HSAD) and
check out the Great Haliburton Clothing Swap, running from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is being run in partnership with
Fleming College.

Visitors will have the opportunity to pick up clean and
gently used clothing at no cost on a first come, first served
basis. There will also be sewing repair demonstrations from
volunteer fixers from SIRCH Community Services’ repair
café, visible mending with Sandi Luck, and a thrift fashion
show by students of the HSAD fibre arts program.

Watson said the event is designed to save clothing still in
good condition from the landfill.

“In Dysart, textiles make up 2.49 per cent of our household
garbage,” he said.

Anyone looking to get rid of clothing and accessories that
still have some life are encouraged to donate items at HSAD
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sept. 23 to 27. Acceptable items
include shirts, pants, sweaters, shoes, jewelry, bags and
hats. Underwear, bed linens, household goods, and sports
equipment will not be accepted.

“If you wouldn’t be excited to give the item to a friend, it
probably shouldn’t be swapped,” Watson said.

For more information, visit dysartetal.ca/clothingswap.

Heavy police presence in Highlands East

September 19, 2024

The Haliburton Highlands Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is informing the public of an increased police presence in Highlands East due to an ongoing assault investigation.

On September 17, at approximately 7:30 p.m., the Haliburton Highlands OPP received a report of an assault at a residence on County Road 503. The suspect fled the scene before police arrived.

The victim was transported to the local hospital by EMS for minor injuries.

The suspect remains outstanding and is described as a 40-year-old white male, approximately 6 feet tall, with a beard. He was last seen wearing a camouflage sweater, black joggers, a black hat, and carrying a black backpack.

Police do not have reason to believe there is a threat to the public’s safety. However, anyone who may encounter the suspect should not approach. Instead, call 9-1-1 as soon as possible.

There will continue to be heavy police presence in the area of County Road 503 near Gooderham during the investigation as members of the OPP Haliburton Highlands Detachment continue to search for the suspect, with assistance from the Haliburton Highlands Crime Unit, Emergency Response Team (ERT), and Canine (K9).

To protect the identity of the victim, certain details of this investigation will not be provided.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.khcrimestoppers.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

Importance of shopping local

Lisa Gervais

September 18, 2024

Sept. 22 marks the official start of fall in Haliburton County – something that is hard to fathom as the summer weather continues.

The seven-day forecast features plenty of warm temperatures and sunshine.

It’s a good thing since cottagers, and visitors, will be here in droves to squeeze in more time at the cottage, or attend events such as this weekend’s Hike Haliburton festival, which actually kicks off today.

For area businesses, it is also another opportunity to boost summer revenue in what we are being told has been a mixed season.

Unless you talk to every business in Haliburton County, you do not get a true picture of how summer 2024 has been from an economic perspective.

We talked to just three business owners for today’s story; one said business was slightly down from last year, another slightly up, and one honestly reported it had not been a great season.

Overall, we get the impression it has been an ‘okay’ summer on average. Some have done very well. Others have done very poorly.

Much of it is out of their control.

The Bank of Canada, after keeping its key policy rate at five per cent, a more than two-decade high, for a year, has trimmed it by a quarter point three times in a row since June, bringing it down by 75 basis points to 4.25 per cent earlier this month.

I know from talking to my friends with mortgages – especially variable mortgages – that this has allowed them to stretch the purse strings a little more.

The overall cost of living is undoubtedly a factor. One need only visit a local grocery store to see this.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re told many factors have impacted prices at the grocery store, such as supply chain disruptions, labour shortages, changes in consumer purchasing patterns, poor weather in some growing regions, tariffs, higher input costs, and higher wages.

Consider your own household budget. Now consider local businesses. They too have seen the cost of living go up substantially; they are paying higher mortgage rates or rents. Their utilities have also increased. They are shelling out more in minimum wage. For them, an okay summer is, quite frankly, not good enough.

Traditionally, Highlands businesses have lined their pockets in summer in hopes of surviving long winters. That has become much harder in recent years. Some have done a great job of ensuring they continue to make money in the shoulder seasons, so there is less pressure on the precious summer months.

We know consumers are making difficult choices. We know some of us, our friends, families and neighbours, are going to Bancroft, Bracebridge and Lindsay to do their grocery shopping. We know some of us, our friends, family and neighbours are turning to online shopping.

But on a Tuesday farmers market day in Haliburton Sept. 17, as patrons left the park and headed downtown to businesses such as Castle Antiques, we still hold out hope that people will spend some of their hard-earned money at local stores, even if it might mean paying a little bit more. After all, our economic lives depend on it.

There has to be a better way

Mike Baker

September 18, 2024

It was no laughing matter for a group of Haliburton Highlands Secondary School students caught outside in Monday’s monsoon-like weather, but they felt they had no choice but to brave the dismal conditions and walk into the downtown.

As reported in today’s paper, Hal High has been without a functional cafeteria since school reopened last week. According to Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) top brass, there’s no guarantee the food court, operated by Aramark, will reopen at all.

Staff shortages have been blamed, which I can understand. We’ve heard Aramark has had difficulty keeping the cafeteria at HHSS open for a while. Students we spoke to told us there were occasions it was shuttered last year, sometimes for days at a time. The school board confirmed as much when we inquired.

The group I caught up with Monday – five Grade 11s – said their usual lunchtime routine involved buying food at school, hanging out in the cafeteria space, and heading back to their lockers early to prepare for afternoon class. With no food options available at school, and not everyone packing a lunch, they agreed to walk into town.

They were caught in a rainstorm on the way back – causing them to be late for class. The group also commented how they’d spent about double what they usually would at the school cafeteria.

It’s been a disruption for many. Sure, on a nice day walking into town isn’t a big deal. Provided you have the money. And, to be fair, asking a teenager to make and bring their own lunch isn’t exactly unreasonable. For the majority. I’m worried about the kids who may fall through the cracks.

So too is Lisa Rowden. A chef with years of experience, Rowden offered to reopen the cafeteria last week but was rebuffed. She ran the West Guilford Snack Bar for years, managed a factory cafeteria in Penetanguishene that served hundreds of workers, and, until her recent retirement, was sous chef at Dimensions Algonquin Highlands.

Sounds like a good fit to me.

TLDSB said since they already had a contract with Aramark to run school kitchens they couldn’t enter into a second agreement. But what if Aramark isn’t holding up its end of the bargain?

We’re not sure about the extent of the issues – Aramark did not respond to an interview request or emailed questions by press time. But we do know their problems extend beyond Haliburton County’s borders.

TLDSB confirmed four other schools – Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School, Gravenhurst High School, Huntsville High School, and Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute – don’t have functional cafeterias.

In fact, there’s only two public high schools within the district, I.E. Weldon in Lindsay and Fenelon Falls Secondary School, that do.

It got me to thinking about potential made-in-Haliburton solutions. What if TLDSB worked with SIRCH Community Services to have Bistro staff run the school kitchen? There are many local catering companies in the area who may be able to lend a hand, too – at least on days Aramark can’t staff it.

Beyond that, what about engaging parents? Having a rota of people, like Rowden, who can be called to fill in when required. They’d need the necessary food safety and handler certificates, but maybe that’s something the school board can help to organize too.

There has to be a better way than simply closing up shop and eliminating a service that many relied on.

Planned fire hydrant replacement for Bobcaygeon Road

Lisa Gervais

September 16, 2024

The Township of Minden Hills says there will be a temporary disruption to water
service today [Monday, Sept. 16] to complete a fire hydrant replacement.

Residents on the water system on Bobcaygeon Road – from McKay Street to
the end of the watermain near MacIntosh Lane, including Fleming Road – may
experience this interruption.

Residents and businesses may experience intermittent water disruption from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m.

“Township staff will make every effort to avoid full water disruptions,” the township said.

It is common for tap water to have a discoloration after the main lines have been serviced. If residents or businesses are experiencing water discoloration, flush taps for a few minutes. This will generally fix the issue.

For further information, contact the public works department at 705-286-1260

No lunch on the menu at HHSS

Mike Baker

September 12, 2024

There were no on-site lunch options for Hal High (HHSS) students when they returned to school last week, with the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) confirming there will be no functional cafeteria until further notice.

Carolynne Bull, TLDSB spokesperson, said HHSS is one of five schools in the district without a running cafeteria, alongside Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School, Gravenhurst High School, Huntsville High School, and Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute.

“There are no requirements [to serve food in schools],” Bull said. She noted TLDSB has a contract with food service supplier Aramark to operate the HHSS cafeteria. The company notified TLDSB in August it’s experiencing staff shortages and does not have enough workers to man the cafeteria.

Snack-tacular chef offers cafeteria fix

This isn’t the first time the cafeteria has been closed, Bull confirmed.

“There has been a few times over the last handful of years when the food service was not available, for reasons ranging from staff shortages to COVID-19 restrictions,” she said.

The school board said families were informed about the situation prior to students returning to school, with notices going out Aug. 28. Bull said the cafeteria space remains open for students to use throughout the day.

When asked what options students have for lunch, Bull recommended they bring food from home. She said students get a 55-minute break so they can also leave the school grounds and venture into nearby Haliburton village to get lunch.

The HHSS early morning breakfast program, run by volunteers, is not impacted by the cafeteria closure.

Bull said the cafeteria may reopen if Aramark is able to hire the necessary staff.

Aramark did not respond to questions by press time.

Solution denied

Chef Lisa Rowden said she was very disappointed to find out the cafeteria didn’t reopen when schools did. She said her daughter, who is in Grade 10 at HHSS, had to put up with multiple closures last year too.

Wanting to come up with a solution for the kids, Rowden said she offered to reopen the cafeteria last week but was turned down.

She’s spent the bulk of her career in a kitchen, running the West Guilford Snack Bar for several years, managing a cafeteria at a factory in Penetanguishene, and working as a sous chef at Dimensions Algonquin Highlands until her recent retirement. Rowden confirmed she has all the necessary food safety and sanitation certificates.

“I’m more than qualified to run a school cafeteria,” Rowden said. “I’m not doing this for the money, this is not a lucrative business. I just want the kids to have the option of getting food at school. They’ve lost so much already because of COVID, I think they should get to have a cafeteria.”

Rowden said she could have the cafeteria open within a couple of days, promising fresh baked goods like chocolate chip muffins and cinnamon rolls, homemade soups, salads, wraps, and a fluctuating hot menu.

Teri Guthrie, executive assistant to TLDSB superintendent Tim Ellis, in an email to Rowden indicated the school board could not take on another vendor due to its agreement with Aramark. She said Rowden was welcome to apply for a position working in the cafeteria through Aramark.

The local mom won’t be doing that – though said she won’t give up the fight to reopen the cafeteria.

“Days when the weather is really bad, what are kids’ supposed to do? My daughter called [on Monday] to say she didn’t get to walk to town because it was pouring rain, so she went hungry. That shouldn’t be happening,” Rowden said. “And maybe there are kids out there who aren’t in good situations and can’t take lunches to school. It feels like some kids are falling through the cracks.”

Nicholls reflects on NHL career

Mike Baker

September 12, 2024

While growing up in West Guilford, Bernie Nicholls recalls his parents, George and Marge, thinking he’d make a better juvenile delinquent than a National Hockey League (NHL) star.

The retired centreman, who put up 1,209 points in 1,127 games for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, and San Jose Sharks, appeared at the Minden library Sept. 9 for a Q&A organized by the Friends of the Haliburton County Public Library dissecting some of the finer, and lesser-known points of his 17-year career.

Like where he got his nicknames – plural. Most know about ‘Broadway Bernie’, the moniker famously used by former Toronto Maple Leaf Tie Domi and Gary Suter, a teammate in Chicago, in reference to Nicholls’ fashion choices. But there’s also ‘Pumpernickel’, first coined by commentator Bob Miller.

“That came about after a game in Edmonton when I was with LA. I scored an empty-net goal to make it 10-8 and I go from one end to the other celebrating. Bob called it the pumpernickel and it just stuck,” Nicholls said.

He adopted the move as his own, becoming one of the first NHL players to have a recognizable celebration.

After being drafted in the fourth round, 73rd overall, by the Kings in 1980, he made the team the following season – slotting in as second line centre behind Hockey Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne.

The pair never really clicked as teammates. “I love Marc… but he was top dog there forever. Sometimes players don’t really like it, maybe, when someone new comes in who is going to take a little bit away from them. I felt that from Marc, so we weren’t as close as we probably should have been,” Nicholls said.

The Great One

It was the total opposite when the Kings’ number 9 came face-to-face with the team’s new number 99 shortly after that fateful day Aug. 9, 1988, when LA acquired a certain Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers in what remains one of the biggest trades in NHL history.

The two played together for about 18 months, paired on the Kings top powerplay and penalty kill units. Off the ice, they were almost inseparable, Nicholls recalls.

“Our relationship was awesome. Wayne knew it was such a big trade, he couldn’t do everything himself. He knew he needed help, and I was one guy who could help him,” Nicholls said. “We hung out every day. We went on the road and it was Wayne and I, nobody else. Everywhere he went, I went with him,” Nicholls said.

Back then, ‘The Great One’ had a love for McDonald’s – there was no nutritional plan players had to follow, very little in the way of sport science. Not that it made any difference on the ice.

Nicholls said he knew Gretzky was great, but his appreciation for his new teammate skyrocketed once they took to the ice together.

“I always tell people; with Wayne you just have to expect the unexpected. I could be standing there with three guys around me and the next thing I knew, the puck hits my stuck and it’s going in. I’m just left wondering how that happened – he could pick a pass from anywhere,” Nicholls said.

“It was Wayne’s hockey smarts that set him apart. He didn’t shoot the puck hard, he didn’t skate really fast. He just thought the game better and passed the puck better than anybody else,” he added.

The pair remain close, with Gretzky penning the foreword for Nicholls’ book From Flood Lights to Bright Lights.

Trades

After getting to meet the likes of Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan while in LA, Nicholls swapped ‘Tinseltown’ for ‘The Big Apple’ in 1989. While there, he became friends with Hollywood A-Lister Tom Hanks, who invited Nicholls to a taping of Saturday Night Live shortly after being traded.

He also got to know John Candy, Michael J. Fox, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn.

Nicholls enjoyed his brief stint in New York, recording 134 points in 119 games before being involved in another blockbuster transaction – this time to the Edmonton Oilers in October 1991, with Mark Messier going the other way.

“That kinda sucked, because I would have loved to have played with Mark,” Nicholls said, calling Messier the hardest player he ever faced.

Nicholls maintained a point-per-game pace in Edmonton, with 114 in 111 games. He was traded again in January 1993, moving back to the east coast to the New Jersey Devils, where he played with a young Martin Brodeur. Nicholls said he enjoyed his time with the Devils, but it was only after moving to the Chicago Blackhawks in the summer of 1994 that he found his favourite home.

While in the ‘Windy City’, Nicholls developed a close relationship with Chris Chelios, who he said was one of the first players to embrace being a top-level athlete.

“He’d work out, doing push ups and sit ups in the sauna every day. He was unbelievable,” Nicholls said. “Chicago was a great hockey town.”

Nicholls played out the final three years of his career with the San Jose Sharks before retiring in 1999.

Post-retirement

Despite living in some of the most desirable places on the continent, Nicholls maintains his primary residence on Pine Lake in West Guilford. He stays in touch with the game – playing in charity events and participating in speaking engagements.

In 2012, he was a member of the Kings’ coaching staff when they won the Stanley Cup. He remembers bringing the trophy home and taking it out on the canoe his father built for him. Don Popple, in attendance Monday, recalled Nicholls bringing the cup to Curry Motors.

“I asked him what he wanted for that – it was a good day for us, we sold about 15 cars… he didn’t want anything, so we made a donation to minor hockey instead,” Popple said. “He never forgot where he came from. He was always happy to give back.”

Having achieved his dream of playing for a Canadian franchise and going on to represent two Original Six teams, Nicholls is proud of what he achieved in the game. He remains one of only four players to put up at least 70 goals and 150 points in a single season, alongside Gretzky, Phil Esposito and former Pittsburgh Penguin Mario Lemieux.

Nicholls couldn’t hide his admiration when discussing Lemieux, who he said he and Gretzky believe to be the greatest NHL player of all time.

“The numbers Wayne put up were phenomenal, obviously. But if you look back at what Mario did, coming back from a back injury, from cancer, getting all the points he did, it was incredible,” Nicholls said. “I’m sure everyone watched the Canada Cup in 1989, that was Mario’s coming out party. We had the best players playing, but Mario, nobody was close to him.”

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