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.
While it was a thrill for Ted Hampson to play in the NHL, he was living a dream as a Flin Flon Bomber. "It was always something that myself and a lot of my friends looked forward to and we didn't really think about playing beyond the junior Bombers," Hampson said, during an interview at his summer home in Denare Beach. "The NHL was not something we really thought about. We were pretty remote from contact with the professionals." In 1956-57, the year the Bombers won the Memorial Cup, Hampson scored 48 goals, 70 assists for 118 points in 55 games and 37 penalty minutes. In 10 Memorial Cup games, he scored six goals, 13 assists for 19 points. The Bombers captain said the team benefited from losing to Regina in the semi-finals of the westerns. "We lost in the seventh game and it was I think a lack of experience," Hampson explained. "Our lack of confidence and experience at that level. I think that was a big help for us in the Memorial Cup year to have gone through that." Hampson enjoyed playing that year with boyhood friends that became lifelong friends. "It was just a great experience," he said. The icing on the cake came when Hampson scored the Memorial Cup's game winning goal. "It turned out to be the game-winning goal because they scored at the end, but yeah it was quite a thrill," said Hampson. The Flin Flon native recalled sportswriter Dallas Beck of the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, who had written after the sixth game that the Bombers would win the seventh game 3-2 and Teddy Hampson will score the winning goal. "I always remember that," Hampson said with a smile, "because that's the way it turned out." In the NHL as a member of the Minnesota North Stars, Hampson just about helped send a series against Montreal to a seventh and final game. Hampson was sent out to fill in for Caesar Maniago, who was pulled for an extra attacker. "...I went on the ice and got the puck," said Hampson, as he started describing the play. "Somebody passed it up from our end Ð I got it at the red line Ð got over the blueline and between the defence, shot, beat (Ken) Dryden, and the buzzer went at the same time. The goal didn't count. They reviewed it and reviewed it and I even got the clips, frame by frame and you can't really tell whether the light comes on before or not. The puck is hidden at the time the light comes on, behind Dryden's pad and the next frame the light's on. You can see the puck's in the net, but did the light? That one frame that you can't see the puck, you don't know whether if it's in the net or still on its way into the net." Hampson has several memories from his playing days in the NHL. With the Toronto Maple Leafs, he started with Dickie Duff and George Armstrong. While with the Leafs, Hampson had the thrill of being called Teeter. "...one of the most famous players in Toronto Maple Leaf history is Teeter Kennedy. His name is Ted Kennedy," Hampson explained. "My name being Ted, the same guy that used to have the famous call during the game, come on Teeter, I heard that when I was playing Ð the guy (broadcaster) did it for me. "Whoa whoa, that's a little too much pressure," Hampson said, with a laugh. "He's been retired for three years. He's trying to put me in his class, but that was too much pressure for me. It was still a thrill to have that to hear." With the Red Wings, Hampson played between 10-15 games with Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio when Sid Abel was coaching. Hampson was then traded to Oakland. At first he said he was disappointed, but then he had the best years of his career there, which included winning the Masterton award for perseverance, dedication to hockey. "That was a big thrill for me," said Hampson, who is proud of that accomplishment. The website www.hockeydb.com states that Hampson scored 51 goals, 103 assists for 154 points in 186 NHL games with the Oakland Seals. Currently, Hampson works as an amateur scout for the St. Louis Blues. He likes his job because it allows him to see players mature and grow during the season. "There's not a lot of change in pros," Hampson said. "They're pretty mature, but the amateurs, see so many changes. I've always enjoyed it. I like the energy that they put into the game." Hampson said he still keeps tabs on the Bombers, especially when he's traveling west. "I will catch the odd write up and summaries," he said. "I follow the standings. Sometimes I go to games." While Hampson said his pro career was rewarding and he was able to make a living his entire life doing something he loved, that championship win 50 years ago is more important. "I can tell you honestly, that winning the Memorial Cup was the highlight of my hockey career," he said. "It's better for me than playing in the NHL. I would not trade that for anything else in hockey."
