The D'Aguilar -Zizian Legends

I was bar-b-Q-ing in my ski outfit at sundown, contemplating the evening sky with a glass of ruby red wine.

Clear, crisp, frigid - a Chateuguay winter.

The banging- puck off the boards- reverberating over from the rink.
Flash back to 'pick-up' in the winter every night, - Barry Jones, Bob Jones, Graham and Brian Rennie, Frank Toth, Kit and Pierre Lacroix, Glen Finnerty, Danny Boyle and his dad and sometimes my dad too.

I envied Mr. Boyle. The puck slams into his leg, bounces off. He laughs, zooming by and scores on us. His leg was artificial. He remains a legend for those of us who witnessed this split second. He probably didn't know it, but Mr. Boyle became an example to many of us. "Just laugh and keep on going!"

I bring the burgers in to Jane, then go down to my office for a moment, a new message flashes on the computer. It is short and to the point; a complement from a very old friend. I smile and go back outside to close the grill, look up at the night sky, ah- but I'm transported once again to that special place.

...the aroma of Adidas and sweat, the tension charges the air in the gym - the bleachers- feet pounding the primal beat. The team is out and we roar.

There's Hopeton , Jimmy, Peter. Bobby, Jimmy Reid, Look at them! In their colours - Gold and Blue! They're ours ! What pride!

It's Wagar High versus HSB. We're behind by a point- "how could that be?"

The game is soon to end.

Zizian deakes out the flank - he could go all the way if he wants - but is ever the team player- he passes.The coach puts his hand to his brow.

Wagar steals the ball - looks like it's over now - but no!
Out of nowhere - Hopeton zips in front of the tall lanky centre, snapping the ball back to JimmyZ, who races up mid court -back to Hopeton. The clock is counting down the final minute of play.

Only one defender left ahead. Hopeton speeds up. What the heck is he thinking ? He'll run smack into the guy, - he slams the ball down -hard at floor between and through the defenceman's legs, springs up in flight and over the man -leap frog - total awe and hush -split second,-infinity- -roar-finishing off with a "swish" of the basket and a smile.
AAHHHH YEAHHH!

Did it happen this way? Did it happen at all? Did I dream it? Who knows- but both Jimmy Zizian and Hopeton D'Aguilar remain to this day - larger than life for many of us.

They have etched spots in our collective psyche that will remain along with the likes of Bobby Oliver, Edson Phipps, Dave Swan, Sheldon Seale, Sandy Traynor, Dave Maclean, Christine Russel, Bob Muir, J. Lahache, Trina Lamarre, Randy Phillips, Debbie Culham , Grant Wilson , Kenny Kane, Kerry Kane, Stewie Shearer, Bobbie Houston, Ference Somogyi and many others.

Looking up at the cold night, stars seem to peer back, curious, quiet, knowing -remembering.
It's all going by -so quickly.