Once again this year, I
have taken it upon myself
to offer up Mr. Sweeney’s
annual list to the Hall, a list
that includes the names of
four people who should be in
the Hall, but have been left
out for reasons I simply don’t
want to consider. This year,
however, on behalf of a group
of Manitobans organized a few
years ago by John K. Samson,
lead singer for Winnipeg’s
Weakerthans, I have added
a fifth name of my own.
So here, once again, is
“Sweeney’s List”… (with
an addition at the end)
ROBERT “BUTCH GORING : He
played 16 years with L.A.,
Boston and the New York
Islanders. Was a Masterton,
Lady Byng and Conn Smythe
Trophy winner and helped the
Islanders win four Stanley Cups
in the early 1980s. He was also
a good coach and an award win-
ner. “If Clark Gillies is in the
Hall, then Butch Goring should
be in the Hall,” said Sweeney.
Hell, if Dave Keon is in
the Hall, then Butch Goring
should be in the Hall. Just
compare their careers.
6 4 | G AME O N | D EC EM BER 2017
of Fame (never heard of her,
either). One of the game’s
greatest coaches is not.
MURRAY MURDOCH : Born in
Ontario, Murdoch became a
hockey star at the University
of Manitoba (1921-24). The
NHL’s original Ironman, he
played 11 years with the New
York Rangers from 1926-27
to 1936-37, won two Stanley
Cups and never missed a
game. NEVER. After retiring
from the NHL he went on to
become the first great hockey
coach at Yale University and
was awarded the Lester Patrick
Trophy for his contribution to
hockey in the United States.
BILLY REAY : “Most people don’t
believe me when I tell them
Billy Reay is NOT in the Hall
of Fame,” Sweeney always
said. Reay retired as one of
only two players to win a
Memorial Cup, an Allan Cup
and a Stanley Cup (with the
Canadiens) and after retiring
as a player he went on to coach
the Chicago Blackhawks. He
left coaching in 1976 with 598
wins — at the time, the second
most in NHL history. Angela
Ruggiero is in the Hockey Hall
JOHN FERGUSON : “Even if you
don’t count the fact, he was the
best fighter in the NHL and a
pretty good player during his
time, John must be in the Hall
as a builder,” said Sweeney.
“He was assistant GM