Another great moment to add to Sylvan Lake Hockey Camp’s accolades when Mike Moller, also a former long-time SLHC Instructor, attended the Sylvan Lake Canadian Tire Century Tour yesterday. So very fitting, considering Sylvan Lake was the last stop, the 100th community, celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Hockey Canada. Mike added his signature to the white Hockey Canada jersey which also proudly displays other 1982-present World Junior player signatures who attended the Century tour. He also signed the historical memory wall. Thank you Mike!
MIKE SCORED THE WINNING GOAL FOR CANADA’S FIRST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Mike played with the Canadian National Junior Team in 1981-82. And he scored the gold medal winning goal against the Czech Republic in the final game. An exhilarating feat considering the Soviet Union had dominated with four successive gold medal wins in the four years prior. The 1982 team was also the first Canadian team in the famed “Program of Excellence”.
WE WERE SCARED SPITLESS & TEAM SINGS OWN NATIONAL ANTHEM
Plus the game would be nationally televised.
That 1982 team, which featured both Mike and his brother Randy,will forever be remembered as the Canadian team that sang their own anthem after capturing gold. The hosts in Rochester, Minnesota inexplicably did not have a copy of the Canadian national anthem to play at the gold medal ceremony.
But the proud Canadians came up with their own solution.
“It wasn’t planned, but finally a few guys at the end of the line said, ‘Sing it ourselves, boys,'” Moller said. “So we stood there shoulder to shoulder and belted out what was probably the worst rendition of our national anthem.”
The song may have been out of key, but it never sounded better. And ever since, Canadian teams belt out “O Canada” loud and proud when winning an international hockey tournament.
NINE SEASONS IN NHL
Buffalo Sabres. Edmonton Oilers. Hartford Whalers.
2 Stanley Cup rings when he played for the Edmonton Oilers in 1987 and 1988.
AAHA for Red Deer Chiefs
WHL for Lethbridge Broncos
WJC-A Canada
AHL for Rochester Americans, Nova Scotia Oilers & Binghamton Whalers
Canadian National Team
Assistant Coach for Red Deer Rebels
Colour Commentator for Red Deer Rebels on the Drive 106.7FM
Director Red Deer Minor Hockey Commission
Sylvan Lake Hockey Camp’s Representative at Ice Hockey in Harlem New York golf tournaments
ANOTHER LOCAL HOCKEY LEGEND
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