When Frank Mahovlich saw his banner hanging off the outside of a building that he shares a birth year with, he beamed with pride.
"I'm just thrilled, I spent so much time as a youth here, growing up, and it gave me the greatest foundation to go on and be a 'somebody' in life. I can honestly say that I don't think there's a finer place to grow up than this Timmins area," he said.
Mahovlich, affectionately nicknamed 'The Big M', is a legendary alumnus of the three of hockey's most storied franchises – the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Montreal Canadiens.
On Sunday evening, as part of Rogers Hometown Hockey, his banner which spent many years hanging in the rafters of the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, was returned home and unveiled to a nationwide audience, and thousands of adoring fans in attendance. It was a moment which left more than a few people a little misty-eyed.
The Big M's career highlights are too numerous to put into a few sentences, but among them are six Stanley Cups, 15 All-Star Game appearances, a 1958 Calder Trophy for rookie of the year, and a key role on the 1972 Summit Series team. He was ranked 26th by The Hockey News in their list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
He was also appointed to the Senate of Canada by then Prime Minister Jean Chretien in 1998. He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1994.
All of this from a young man born in Schumacher in early 1938 to Croatian immigrants. Mahovlich said the Schumacher Lions Club were instrumental to him in his formative years growing up in Schumacher, a place he said is now 'a lot different.'
"It was a great place for a young boy to grow up, then to have my banner up there with Bill Barilko, it's pretty nice."
Mahovlich said he never actually met Barilko, but did know of him around the community.
"My mom, when she was walking with me one year, she pointed out a car, and there weren't too many beautiful cars around then, she pointed out and said 'that's Bill Barilko's car."
He also vividly remembers seeing 'Bashing Bill' playing at The Mac one summer against another local legend.
"When I was 10 years old, 1948, I don't know why I came down to the rink, but there I was alone. I put my head over the boards, and Barilko and Les Costello had won the Stanley Cup in 1948, so they were out there having a practice. Costello tried to go along the boards, he used to try to 'run' in his skates, and Barilko sticks out his rear end, and over the boards Costello goes, he ends up in the seats. There were just two guys on the ice, he had all kinds of room. But Barilko could hit."
Mahovlich said Barilko's timing on his hits was impeccable, and even one of the greatest players of all-time became a victim.
"I saw a photo of Gordie Howe getting hit at centre ice, and he went from centre ice over to the boards, halfway across the rink, Barilko hit him so hard."
Mahovlich, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981, said that Barilko more than deserves to be in the Hall, a sentiment echoed by Maurice 'Rocket' Richard.
"What he did, and what he accomplished in the time he was there, was amazing," said Mahovlich, but added that the unfortunately short career likely has everything to do with it. Barilko only played five years in the NHL, but won four Stanley Cups.
Frank Mahovlich is flanked by fans Wayne Bozzer and Mike Pintar. Andrew Autio for TimminsToday The McIntyre Arena will always hold a special place in Mahovlich's heart.
"I used to score hat-tricks here with the Schumacher Lions. I must have started at 12 years old, playing with the 18 year olds. In those days it was different."
Mahovlich was also involved in several historic NHL moments. He assisted on Jean Beliveau's 500th goal, as well as Gordie Howe's 700th goal.
The 40s, 50s, and 60s saw a remarkable amount of players from the Timmins area make their way to the bright lights of the NHL. While that pace has slowed in recent decades, due to shifting hockey politics, and an unwillingness of scouts to make the trek North, but Mahovlich had encouraging words for young players in the region.
"Every team has a fella around the area. If there's some kid here with natural ability, they'll spot him," he said, noting his younger brother Peter Mahovlich still works with the Florida Panthers organization in their scouting department.
1972 Summit Series is unquestionably one of the most pivotal times in the game's history. Mahovlich said when he was called to the team, he had no idea how intense it would become.
"You know it started off as exhibition, it was supposed to be exhibition games, but it turned out like a World War. Especially when we lost that first game (7 to 3, in Montreal). We weren't ready, we weren't prepared. It caught everybody off-guard, we were too lax," he said.
The Soviet team, primarily military, were clearly a step or two ahead in terms of conditioning.
"They were trained for that series because they were in the Olympics all the time," said Mahovlich.
"I had just finished the Stanley Cup finals, and it was the middle of summer and they wanted us in the middle of August to start training camp. Nothing worked you know, it was terrible the way they organized it."
After the teams had split the first four games played in Canada, the series shifted overseas to the brutal communist landscape of the Soviet Union.
"It was strange. It was strange and it was fun. We came off the plane and there's a guy standing there with a machine gun, it kind of opens your eyes. Then you got into the hotel and the beds are toe-to-toe. My wife and I had never seen that, so we just took the beds and moved everything around to suit ourselves. Yeah they did everything backwards, and you had to line-up for everything. All the stores, and shopping, there was lineups for everything," said Mahovlich.
Now 78 years young, he resides in the Bayview Village area of Toronto. His neighbour is none other than renowned Canadian sportscaster Brian Williams. He still watches plenty of NHL hockey, and said that the Habs are looking very strong this season. He also mentioned how impressed he was with the direction the Maple Leafs are heading in, and in particular, the play of young Leafs Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews.
His favourite memory of the weekend's festivities in Timmins is a simple one.
"Just to see the building, its still here, as I envisioned it. Its still the same. Its a beautiful place."
