Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Grand Larson
By JEAN LEFEBVRE -- Calgary Sun
They didn't let pros into the Olympics back in 1980, so Reed Larson, like millions of other Americans, had to content himself with watching in joyous amazement as the Miracle on Ice unfolded in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Although ineligible to compete, Larson -- then a 23-year-old defenceman in his fourth season with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings -- felt a personal connection to the American lads who stunned the hockey world by capturing a wildly improbable gold medal.
"When I was attending the University of Minnesota a few years earlier, I helped recruit a lot of those kids to come to our school: Bill Baker, Rob McClanahan, Eric Strobel, Phil Verchota," Larson, now 45, explained.
"And, of course, I played for (U.S. Olympic coach) Herb Brooks for two years at Minnesota before I joined the Red Wings."
The Wings were in Washington on Feb. 22, 1980, when the U.S. took on the mighty Soviet Union in the game that would propel the scrappy Americans' drive to gold.
"After we checked into our hotel room in Washington, I sat on the edge of the bed and watched the rest of the game against Russia."
Larson says he couldn't have been more excited if he had been playing.
"My palms were sweating," he admitted. "I was so anxious to watch the game, I didn't even remove my overcoat."
On Saturday, Larson will get the opportunity to reminisce about that magical moment and catch up with a couple of members of the Miracle Men when he plays for Team USA at the sixth annual 3-on-3 Hockey Classic at the Stampede Corral.
The event features eight teams of NHL alumni and raises money for Calgary minor hockey and KidSport, which provides equipment and covers registration costs for underprivileged athletes.
"It's going to be great," raved Larson, who played 13 NHL seasons, mostly with the Red Wings and Boston Bruins. "I'm really looking forward to it."
This will be Larson's second trip to Calgary for the event -- the hard-shooting blueliner who scored 222 NHL goals played for the Minnesota North Stars' entry a few years ago.
In honour of the 1980 Olympics and the return of the Winter Games to North American soil, tournament organizers created U.S. and Canadian teams to compete against the clubs of alumni from the Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Hartford Whalers.
"I think it's a great idea," said Larson from his home in the Twin Cities.
Many of the men slated to be his teammates Saturday wore the Stars and Stripes at the Winter Games -- including ex-Flame Joel Otto and '80 Olympians Neal Broten and Dave Christian.
But Larson's international duty came a year after Lake Placid at the world championships and Canada Cup.
"It was unbelievable hockey," Larson said of the latter event.
"It was the best hockey I've ever seen and probably the best hockey that's ever been played."
The hockey at the Corral on Saturday, while exhilarating, will perhaps be a notch or two below the lofty standard set two decades ago.
"I usually get a chance to play hockey once a week," revealed Larson, who works in the family insurance company.
"But," he added with a laugh, "the chicken wings, beer and cigars we have afterwards probably nullifies the benefits of the exercise."
Tickets for the 3-on-3 Hockey Classic are available from participating Calgary minor hockey teams and Ticketmaster (777-0000).
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
