January 25, 2005 5:44 AM

Not even this will bring back hockey

Hockey Fan Slams Lockout in Own Obit

Hockey Held Hostage: Day 104

Those of us who truly miss hockey are a pronounced minority in this country. In Canada, though, the NHL lockout is no small thing. An entire country feels as if it’s legacy has been stolen. Not many folks can mount an effective protest against this sorry state of affairs, but 84-year-old Archie Bennitz left this world taking one last swing against the greedheads actively working to destroy the great Canadian pasttime.

OTTAWA — An ardent hockey fan who died this week used his obituary to denounce the NHL lockout.

Archie Bennitz, 84, instructed his son to criticize NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and union leader Bob Goodenow in his death notice.

Bennitz called Bettman and Goodenow “skunks for denying him the pleasure of watching the NHL on TV this year,” the obituary in the Ottawa Citizen read. Bennitz also urged Bettman to step aside in favor of Wayne Gretzky.

David Bennitz said his father had become increasingly angry during his last month in the hospital as the lockout dragged on. Hockey was the only thing he watched on TV.

Bennitz, who was born in Nova Scotia and grew up just north of Toronto, was a dedicated Maple Leafs fan. He developed a soft spot for the Ottawa Senators, however, after he moved to Ottawa about three years ago to be closer to his family.

Some may see this as a silly gesture, but when you grow up loving something as much as Bennitz clearly loved hockey, you take your shots wherever you can. In Canada, the NHL lockout is no laughing matter. Hockey is part and parcel of their heritage.

Ultimately, though, Bennitz’ gesture may be a fruitless one. Both the owners and players are so blinded by their own greed and self-interest that they undoubtedly cannot see (nor do they obviously much care) that they are destroying the Golden Goose that is the NHL.

Game on? Not bloody likely….

blog comments powered by Disqus

Technorati

Technorati search

» Blogs that link here

About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on January 25, 2005 5:44 AM.

But the memories will always be with us was the previous entry in this blog.

So what do you get the discriminating misogynist in your life? is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Contact Me

Powered by Movable Type 5.12