Years from now hockey’s trivia buffs will be asking the question, “Who is the only goalie to appear in an NHL All-Star game before wearing his team’s home uniform?”
February of 1983 will not be forgotten too quickly for the newest member of the Vancouver Canucks, John Garrett. A day after the trade with Quebec for defenseman Anders Eldebrink, the 31-year-old native of Trenton, Ontario became the team’s number one goaltender, and with it, the Canucks All-Star representative.
The paint on Garrett’s newly decorated face mask was still wet when Richard Brodeur suffered a perforated eardrum, thanks to a slapshot by Toronto’s Dan Daoust. Garrett took over the goaltending chores, and Harry Neale was made to look like a genius.
Garrett was a second-round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues in 1971. After two years in the minors he elected to play in the WHA. Garrett became a part of the New England/Hartford merger into the NHL in 1979. Last year he was dealt to Quebec for goalie Michel Plasse. When Richard Brodeur returns to the lineup, the Canucks will boast one of the finest goaltending duos in the National Hockey League.
John Garrett talks about the move to Vancouver with CJOR sportscaster Dan Russell.
Russell: When your playing days are over, I’m sure you’ll look back at February of 1983 as one of the most eventful months of your career.
Garrett: Well, it has been a little different. But I’ve taken the attitude that when you play the game long enough, anything can happen. It’s worked out pretty good for me this month, but other times it hasn’t. You get to the point where if you play, you play. And if you don’t play, then you still try to contribute in some form. Fortunately, I’ve been able to play fairly well here in Vancouver.
Russell: Not only did you get to play in the All-Star game, but you were about ten minutes away from winning the MVP award. That’s when the great Mr. Gretzky got rolling. You played very well that night, even though you didn’t win the car.
Garrett: Yeah, that was fun. I really enjoyed that. I played in three WHA All-Star games where I was selected to the team. Then the freak accident happens to Richard and I get to play in an NHL All-Star game. It was really a thrill for me. Just the fact that I was there was a lot of fun. Some people asked me if I was embarrassed being there. I didn’t feel one bit embarrassed. Sure I wasn’t selected to the team, but that’s a league rule. It’s not my fault, I enjoyed it.
Russell: The trade turned out to be very timely. Just one day after the trade you became the number one goalie.
Garrett: Well, it worked out that way. You know, to see a fellow goalie go down with a knee injury or a shoulder injury… well, it happens. But a shot you take off the head, even with all the protective equipment that we have, makes you realize how vulnerable you can be at times. It makes you think, “What am I doing out there?”
Russell: What kind of adjustments have to be made by a goalie when he changes teams? I would think getting to know the defence would be a number-one priority.
Garrett: I think that’s the biggest priority. Especially the four defensemen who play most of the time. You know, I got here and a few of the guys (Lars Lindgren, Harold Snepsts, and Kevin McCarthy) got hurt. That makes it twice as tough because now we have kids like Neil Belland and Garth Butcher who are still learning defence themselves. It makes it harder to gauge your game towards how they play. The more established defensemen play more-or-less the same way every night.
Russell: Changing from a high-scoring, offensive-minded team like Quebec to a team which stresses defence must also be pleasing.
Garrett: For a goaltender it makes it a little more enjoyable. But the thing is, you still have to score goals to win. Okay, a defensive minded team like Vancouver is nice for your average, but the bottom line is winning and losing. Whether you win 5-4, 6-5, or 2-1,. It’s still nice to win.
Russell: Like most trades, John, this one happened quickly. What was the reaction from your wife and kids when the trade was announced?
Garrett: Well, you know it’s one of those things. They were not too thrilled with Quebec. It’s a tough place to live for an English speaking family. The fact of moving coast to coast was not that big a thrill. But just the fact of getting out of Quebec and coming to a place where everyone speaks English is a big thrill for them.
Russell: Is the family all settled in now?
Garrett: Not really. They’re here, but we’re still looking for a place.
Russell: Tell me about John Garrett off the ice. What do you like to do when you’re not playing hockey?
Garrett: I have two little kids (Krista and Sarah), and I try to spend as much time as possible with my family. People say, “You have so much spare time.” You really don’t. During the season it’s a long job. You’re away so much with travelling. And when you are home, on game days you have to come to the rink in the morning, and then you have to take a nap and get ready mentally for the game. It’s like an all-day type thing. And then you’re gone all night as well. So during the summers I try to spend as much time as possible with my family.
Russell: I know you’ve always been very community oriented in many of the cities that you’ve played in. Is that your way of putting something back into the sport?
Garrett: I think so. The cities where I’ve played have been very good to the teams. You know it’s something that you can give back to the city. It’s a chance to share the “celebrity status.” Some people are thrilled to meet hockey players, especially the kids. It’s nice to give a little bit back to minor hockey.
Russell: We’ve talked about February of 1983. Another significant time in your career was December 7, 1977. That was the night Gordie Howe scored his 1,000th professional goal. He scored it on John Garrett.
Garrett: (Laughs) The way it worked out was nice, because I ended up playing with Gordie in Hartford. I got to know what a class guy he really is, and what a gentleman he really is. Everyone says how dirty he is. Well, that’s just because he’s such a fierce competitor. I enjoyed playing with him and against him. He’s really a class guy.
Russell: There’s a trend in the NHL for the goalie to switch from the molded face-mask to the caged mask. You’re sticking to the molded mask for now. Have you given the other a try?
Garrett: Yes, I wear the cage in practice. I think the cage is a lot safer, but I’ve had trouble adapting to it visually. I just can’t seem to see the low shots as well. And I find I’m distracted by the bars.
Russell: Are you the type of guy who can forget about the game easily?
Garrett: I think I can. Over the years, I’ve played on teams where if you couldn’t forget about the game you’d be in a lot of trouble. I think as a goalie you have to adopt an attitude that you try every game. But there’s always another game coming up, especially if you’re playing all the games. If you dwelled on a loss, it could affect your playing the next night.
Russell: You turned pro in 1971. The Canucks are your ninth professional hockey team. You’ve seen, perhaps closer than most, the way hockey has changed comapred to your earlier days.
Garrett: You know, I can remember times when winning the Vezina trophy required a 1.50 goals against average. The defencemen were the Pierre Pilotes, the Tim Hortons, or ther Doug Harveys. Now the kids come up knowing it’s an entertainment thing. And the fans have demanded the high scoring, exciting type of games. The kids coming up realize, “Hey, it’s a business. I want to make some money. How am I gonna make some money? Well, I got to go out there, score lots of points and get a lot of goals!” They start doing that when they’re ten. Naturally when they turn pro, they’re not gonna change then. And now it’s a wide open game.
Russell: You spent seven seasons in the World Hockey Association. You were almost there at the start, and you were there when it finished. Looking back on that league… it may have been insecure, but it did a lot for the players.
Garrett: There wouldn’t be 21 teams now if there wasn’t a WHA. And there wouldn’t be as mant players playing the game as there are now. It was a big plus for hockey. Hockey was stagnating, I thought. Especially when there were just six teams. And then when it got to be 16 teams they still said that’s enough. And yet the American Hockey League was still a very good league and there were players in the American League that could play. The Central League and the Western League were also good leagues. So it got to the point where somebody had to do something in order to shake the NHL into doing something. The WHA did it. They forced the NHL into expanding a little bit. And it gave good calibre players, who took a little longer to mature, a chance to play.
Russell: How much thought have you given to life after hockey?
Garrett: Naturally, I’ve thought about it. I wouldn’t mind coaching hockey. I think I’ve learned enough in the eleven years that I’ve played to contribute somewhat. I’ve also thought about teaching school. If they paid anywhere near what I make now, then I think I could handle that. (laughs) It’s one of those things that you have to face eventually. Hopefully, when my time comes, I’ll be able to make the adjustment.
Russell: Besides John Garrett, who is your favorite present-day goalie?
Garrett: I think I’ve always admired Richard (Brodeur) – the way he plays. He’s my size. We played against each other in the WHA for a number of years and I really like the way he plays. He has to play the way I play, almost.
Russell: You’re an entertaining goalie to watch. I think the reason for that is because you seem to be the same “easy-going” person on the ice as you are off the ice.
Garrett: I try and enjoy the game. I think that a big part of the game now is gone because of that. The kids come up so young and there’s so much pressure on them. They’re making such big dollars that they can’t sit back and enjoy the game. That’s one thing I think you almost have to do. You have to have a good time while you’re playing.
