It’s an odd concept “to belong” to something, but I’m convinced it’s an important part of being a human.

A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail inviting me to be a part of the annual general meeting of the Avalon Liberal Association. Do you know I actually considered it for at least a little bit? The internal decision in my head was swung by the fact it was a “virtual meeting.” 

No hotels, no beer by the barrel, no late nights or free stuff. I mentioned all this to someone I knew that I had considered it and she said, “You just want to BELONG to something.” 

You know, upon further review as they say in sports, she was right. We all want to be part of something. We want to belong.

‘Leafs Nation’

The opening to the TV series Cheers always struck an emotional chord in my heart. Individuals finding relief from some awful emptiness by being in a bar sipping beer. The benefits were spelled out. Cheers was a bar, “Where everybody knows your name.” That defines a kind of salvation from the realization that on some important level; you are alone and the path you walk is often by yourself.

The Toronto Maple Leaf experience is like that. It’s the failure of a team over decades and a failure the edge of which is blunted in some way and a salve applied to a wound by making it a shared experience. The approach is given life by an expression that I love, and it is “Leafs Nation.” That expression could bring tears to my eyes. 

Tsunami of lost hope

So many people brought together in a great tsunami of lost hope and disappointment somehow made at least bearable by a shared experience and a confirmation of the truth that each year when an NHL team wins a championship, 25 teams lose.

In the middle of that emotional angst, you are at least not alone. You belong to something. You are Leafs Nation  There’s a religious aspect to it. A shared set of beliefs and someone to stand with you. 

Consider if you will now a line from Leonard Cohen. It’s to me one of his very best lines. It’s from Dress Rehearsal Rag, and references a 17th century metaphysical mystical group still active in the 21st century called the Rosicrucians. To wit: “Why don’t you join the Rosicrucians they will give you back your hope.” 

It’s in the end all about belonging. The Rosicrucians, the Leafs, Cheers or the Avalon District Liberal association. It’s the great struggle to belong to something and avoid the great consequence of being in the universe on your own.

NTV’s Jim Furlong can be reached by emailing: jfurlong@ntv.ca

Kyle Wellwood and his brother Eric Wellwood have an interesting connection to both hockey and Newfoundland. 

While Eric is the current coach of the Newfoundland Growlers, back in the “Baby Leafs” days when the Maple Leafs AHL franchise played from the old Memorial Stadium before heading off to Mile One Centre – now the Mary Brown’s Centre – Eric’s brother Kyle was one of the first players to lace up skates at Mile One. 

As the Growlers celebrated 30 years of professional hockey in St. John’s with a special ceremony held on April 10th, at centre ice at the Mary Brown’s Centre, former Baby Leaf Andrew McKim and former Growlers defenceman Adam Pardy joined Kyle as part of the ceremony in honour of current Growlers Governor and Chief Operating Officer Glenn Stanford, the common thread that has tied each of the AHL/ECHL franchises – from the Baby Leafs to the IceCaps to the Growlers – together.  Hockey via Stanford, has given many fans of the sport unique opportunities.

Like Wellwood, Pardy and McKim, Felix Potvin, Josh Morrissey, Don Beaupre, Mark Scheifele, Shawn Thornton, Morgan Rielly and D.J. Smith have all played for St. John’s at some point of their pro career. Having AHL/ECHL franchises here also allows talented homegrown players, like Growlers team captain James Melindy, to earn a living at pro hockey while playing in their own backyard.

Eric, the third head coach of the Newfoundland Growlers, has seen nothing but success since entering the team’s locker room in 2021 and as they make a run at this year’s Kelly Cup championship, Kyle is cheering them on. 

Ring of Honour

Kyle, who was originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs 134th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, played his first three seasons in the NHL with Toronto before joining the Vancouver Canucks in 2008. 

He also played with the San Jose Sharks and the Winnipeg Jets, but when we spoke his thoughts were on his time spent in this province as a St. John’s Maple Leaf, and on his brother’s success with the Growlers in the ECHL. 

“I thought (the 30 years of hockey ceremony) was great. That Ring of Honour they introduced for the stadium in Glenn’s (Stanford) honour is such a great idea,” he opened. 

We ask the Ontario-born star about his enduring connection to this place and where it comes from.  It comes from the time he spent here, he begins, but it was always reinforced anytime he ran into players that had come from here. 

“Anytime I ran into hockey players that I played with in Newfoundland, or who were from Newfoundland, we always got along. I was fortunate that I played with Ryane Clowe (former head coach of the Growlers) so it was always nice to run into him. Because I lived here and felt this was such a special place, we had something to talk about.” 

When brother Eric was first offered the Growlers coaching position, one of the first calls made was to Kyle.  “I think it’s always difficult to try to take a job in a new city and people want to know, ‘what’s it like there?’ I just said ‘it’s one of the most fabulous places in the world and everybody’s so nice and down earth,’ and I know my brother’s really happy to have made the choice to come here.” 

Playoff time looms

Now, as playoff time looms large, we ask if it’s non-stop hockey talk between the brothers.  

“We do talk about hockey quite a bit, but Eric’s just been the really lucky guy in the family as he seems to win all the time and that’s not what happened in my career so you can just assume it’s going to happen again and he’ll win,” he laughed, referring to this year’s Kelly Cup. 

Reflecting on his own time here, Kyle shared it was “exciting.” 

“Mile One had just been built and it was a very nice atmosphere. The fans were so excited to have Baby Maple Leafs here and it was just first class all the way. We had a pretty good team and it was a really nice environment.” 

Kyle, like many others, shared that Stanford deserves so much credit for the success of hockey in this province.  

“You need to have someone to steer the ship and that’s been Glenn. Anyone you run into will have wonderful things to say about him. It’s really fortunate for St. John’s that he took an interest in pro hockey here.”

We ask if there’s any sporting highlight that stands out for him personally. He doesn’t hesitate. “The time I scored five goals one night in St. John’s. That was a fun night. My first goal with the Maple Leafs. Getting to play in the playoffs. Those are my fondest hockey memories.”

 When it comes to his brother’s career, Kyle says there’s still great things to come. “Eric has got a great personality and he has a great relationship with the guys and everybody is ready for the playoffs and they’re going to try to win. And I think that the city should be in for a great playoff run.”