The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
We, a proud group of citizens from Riverton, Manitoba, and the undersigned, would like to take this opportunity to introduce this petition. This petition is to Òinduct Reginald Joseph Leach into the Hockey Hall of FameÓ. Reggie ÒThe RifleÓ Leach grew up and played his minor hockey in Riverton. An aboriginal child of limited means, Reggie never had his own skates until 12 years of age. ReggieÕs skill at hockey progressed, enabling him to Òcrack the rosterÓ of the Flin Flon Bombers of the MJHL/WCJHL in 1966-1967. He led the league in scoring twice, was named to the First All-Star Team three times, and was Player of the Year in 1970. Reggie was then drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, Round one, number three overall, and it was later with the Philadelphia Flyers that ReggieÕs skills made his light shine itÕs brightest. In the 1974-75 season, Reggie and the Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup. In the 1975-76 season, Reggie scored 61 regular season goals, tops in the league, and had a +/- rating of +73. In the playoffs, Reggie scored 19 goals, a record he holds to this day, and shares with another player, a Hall of Fame member. ReggieÕs 19 goals came in 16 games. Reggie also holds the record for most goals in a playoff game, with five. He shares this record with four other players, all of whom are in the Hall of Fame. Reggie is also a Conn Smythe Trophy winner, as Playoff MVP in 1975-76. He won the award as his team lost the Stanley Cup Finals. Reggie is the ÒonlyÓ NHL non-goaltending player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy in a losing cause. Reggie also played for Team Canada in the 1976 Canada Cup, as Canada came away the champions. Reggie recorded another 50 goal regular season in 1979-1980 with the Philadelphia Flyers. On an interesting note, ReggieÕs slapshot was ÒclockedÓ at 115 MPH, achieved using a wooden stick. Hence his ÒfamousÓ nickname. For the past number of years, Reggie has regularly returned to Riverton to run a hockey tournament, the ÒReggie Leach ClassicÓ, locally known as ÒThe ReggieÓ. He also hosts local golf tournaments in the summer. These activities are to raise money for the Riverton Minor Hockey Association, to provide needed equipment to teams, and to keep hockey fees at an affordable rate, so all kids can play. He also participates in clinics to teach hockey skills to Native youth, and speaks to them about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Today, Reggie coaches the Manitoulin Islanders of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. He continues to give to ÒThe GameÓ that he loves, and that gave him much. We believe that ReggieÕs accomplishments and records are recorded for all to see, and we congratulate him for these. Induct Reginald Joseph Leach into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
