The Goal of My Life (27 page)

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Authors: Paul Henderson

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As I get closer to the end of my journey, I’m so fortunate to be able to spend my life now doing what I want to do with it. Eleanor and I spend so much time together travelling and enjoying our family (and especially watching the grandchildren play hockey now as the younger generation takes to the ice!), and we’re always together – well, except for golf, which is my thing alone – but we do just about everything else together, which is really wonderful. I love my work and I’ll continue to do that until I can’t do it anymore. That shows how much I love what I’ve been able to do for so many years now.

This – our lives on earth – is not the game. It’s just the warm-up. Christ wants us to get to know Him. I believe there is an eternity ahead of us where we will really get to know God intimately, and what He has prepared for us there will absolutely blow us all away. All the hassles, problems, tragedies, failures, and bad breaks that we have had will never even be thought of. Thoughts of heaven and of eternity make living with cancer here on earth seem very insignificant.

The Bible says in many places that we should not fear, not worry, not even be anxious about anything, and that is how I try to live every day. When we are able to do that, there is nothing that happens to us that we cannot handle with God’s help.

As the thirty-fourth Psalm says, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

I have a simple mantra now: “Start small. Go deep. Think big. Finish well.” That is the way that I try to live my life spiritually every single day.

The Goal of My Life was scored on September 28, 1972, in Moscow. It was such a fantastic moment for me and
for all Canadians, and I am so thankful for it. I will cherish it forever.

But to live my life the way I have since I became a Christian, to live a life that pleases Him, to be His Godly world change agent – that is the real Goal of My Life. And I thank God that I’ve been able to pursue that goal for so long.

APPENDIX 1
Timeline
January 28, 1943
Born in Kincardine, Ontario, but raised mostly in Lucknow, Ontario, when his family moved there.
1958
Scores 18 goals in a single game while playing for Lucknow, gaining the attention of
NHL
scouts.
1959–60
Joins the Goderich Sailors of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League after signing with the Detroit Red Wings organization. The Sailors finish second in the league with a 22–8 record (44 points), losing to the fourth-place Sarnia Legionnaires 3–1 (with 2 ties) in the
WOJBHL
semifinals.
1960–61
Joins the Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Hockey Association Junior A league. Accumulates a goal and 3 assists in 30 regular-season games, adding a goal and an assist in 12 playoff games. Team finishes third in the seven-team loop, with a record of 22–19–7.
1961–62
In his second season with Hamilton, Paul finishes fourth in team scoring with 24 goals and 19 assists for 43 points in 50 regular-season games. The team places second among 6 teams in the
OHA
Provincial Junior A league, amassing a record of 32–12–6. Paul scores 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points in 10 playoff games as Hamilton defeats the St. Catharines Teepees and Niagara Falls Flyers to claim the
OHA
championship. The Red Wings then defeat the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors to win the all-Ontario title, then the Quebec Citadelles to become the champions of Eastern Canada. They receive the George Richardson Memorial Trophy and a berth in the Memorial Cup final. They defeat the western champions, the Edmonton Oil Kings, 4–1 in the best-of-seven series, to win the Memorial Cup for the first time. In 14 games against St. Mike’s, Quebec, and Edmonton, Paul scores 7 goals and adds 7 assists for 14 points.
1962–63
Paul enjoys his best junior season, leading the
OHA
with 49 goals in 48 games, while adding 27 assists for 76 points. Is awarded the Red Tilson Trophy as the
OHA
Junior A league’s most outstanding player. Registers 2 goals in 3 playoff games. Also makes his
NHL
debut as a call-up for 2 games with the Detroit Red Wings. Records no points but spends 9 minutes in the penalty box.
1963–64
Turns pro and plays 38 games with the Pittsburgh Hornets of the American Hockey League, Detroit’s farm team, where he registers 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points. He is called up to the Red Wings just after Christmas and scores 3 goals and 3 assists in 32 games. In 14 playoff games with Detroit, he notches 2 goals and 3 assists as the Red Wings are defeated by the Toronto Maple Leafs (4–3) in the Stanley Cup finals. He will remain with the Red Wings until March 1968.
1964–65
Plays his first full
NHL
season, appearing in all 70 regular-season games, with 8 goals and 13 assists for 21 points. Records 2 assists in 7 playoff games as the Red Wings are eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks (4–3) in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
1965–66
Has his first 20-goal season in the
NHL
, with 22 goals and 24 assists for 46 points in 69 regular-season games. Nine of the 22 goals are game-winners, tops among
NHL
scorers. Scores 3 goals and adds 3 assists for 6 points in 12 playoff games as the Red Wings defeat Chicago in the first round but lose to the Montreal Canadiens (4–2) in the Stanley Cup finals.
1966–67
Chest, groin, and knee injuries as well as breathing problems limit Paul to 46 regular-season
games. He scores 21 goals and 19 assists for 40 points. (His average of .46 goals per game is third-best in the
NHL
.) Red Wings finish fifth, missing the playoffs by 14 points.
1967–68
Puts up 13 goals and 20 assists for 33 points in 50 regular-season games with the Red Wings before being traded, with Norm Ullman and Floyd Smith, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Frank Mahovlich, Garry Unger, Pete Stemkowski, and the
NHL
rights to Carl Brewer on March 3, 1968. He notches 5 goals and 6 assists for 11 points in 13 regular-season games with the Maple Leafs. Leafs finish fifth in the East Division, missing the playoffs by four points.
1968–69
In his first full season with the Maple Leafs, Paul sets new career highs in goals (27), assists (32), and points (59) in 74 regular-season games. Leafs finish fourth in the East (fifth overall) but are swept 4 straight in the first round by the Boston Bruins. Paul records 1 assist in the 4 games.
1969–70
Despite a groin injury, Paul records his fourth 20-goal season in the
NHL
, with 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 points in 67 regular-season games. Under new coach John McLellan, Toronto finishes sixth in the East and fails to qualify for the playoffs.
1970–71
Scores 30 goals for the first time (his fifth season with at least 20), adding 30 assists for a career-high 60 points in 72 regular-season games. Leafs finish fourth in the East (sixth overall) and are defeated by the New York Rangers (4–2) in the Stanley Cup quarter-finals. Paul scores 5 goals and adds an assist in 6 playoff games. Scores the winning goal in both of Toronto’s victories in the series.
1971–72
Scores a career-high 38 goals, and adds 19 assists for 57 points in 73 regular-season games. Ranks tenth in the
NHL
in goals, and fourth in shooting percentage (19.9 percent). Maple Leafs finish fourth in the East, sixth overall. Meet the Boston Bruins in the quarter-finals and are defeated 4–1. Paul scores a goal and two assists in the series.
January 25, 1972
Plays in the twenty-fifth
NHL
All-Star Game in Bloomington, Minnesota, on January 25. Wears number 17 for the East Division team (his familiar number 19 was assigned to Jean Ratelle of the New York Rangers). The East defeats the West 3–2 before a crowd of 15,423. 21 of the 38 players who take part in the game will be on the roster of Team Canada 1972.
September 1972
Henderson achieves hockey fame in Canada after scoring the game-winning goals in the final three games of the eight-game Summit Series,
leading Canada to a thrilling victory. He finishes the tournament with 7 goals and 3 assists for 10 points in 8 games played. The goal in the last game was recently declared the greatest sports moment of the twentieth century, and Team Canada ‘72 was voted the Team of the Century.
1972–73
Limited by injuries to 40 regular-season games, scores 18 goals and 16 assists. Toronto finishes sixth in the East Division (thirteenth among 16 teams) and fails to qualify for the playoffs.
January 30, 1973
Played in the twenty-sixth
NHL
All-Star Game for the East Division All-Stars. Wearing number 21, Henderson gives the East a 3–1 lead at 19:12 of the second period on a goal assisted by Phil Esposito and Ken Hodge. The East wins 5–4 before 16,986 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
1973–74
Seventh 20-goal season for Paul Henderson: 24 goals and 31 assists for 55 points in 69 regular-season games. Leafs rebound to fourth place in the East (and sixth overall), but are swept 4 straight by Boston in the quarter-finals. In the 4 games, Paul records 2 assists.
1974
Leaves the Toronto Maple Leafs and the
NHL
, joining the Toronto Toros of the rival
WHA
.
September 1974
Participates in the 1974 Summit Series. This time, the Russians win, taking 4 of the 8 games. Team Canada, represented by the
WHA’S
top players, wins just 1 game, and the other 3 are played to a draw. Henderson plays in 7 games, scoring 2 goals and 1 assist for three points.
1974–75
Scores 30 goals and 33 assists in 58 regular-season games with the Toros, averaging better than a point a game. Toros’ record of 43–33–2 ranks them second in the
WHA
Canadian Division (fifth overall out of 14 teams). A season-ending knee injury keeps Paul out of the playoffs, in which the Toros lose 4–2 to the San Diego Mariners in the first round.
1975–76
Scores 26 goals and 29 assists for 55 points in 65 regular-season games with the Toros. Toronto finishes with the worst point total among the 12 teams that complete the season, and fails to make the playoffs.
1976–77
The Toronto Toros relocate to Birmingham, Alabama, over the off-season and become the Bulls. Paul scores 23 goals and 25 assists for 48 points in 81 regular-season games. The Bulls miss the playoffs.
1977–78
Scores 37 goals and 29 assists for 66 points in 80 regular-season games played with the Bulls. The Bulls finish sixth in the eight-team
WHA
, and
meet Winnipeg in the first round of playoffs. Henderson scores a goal and adds an assist in the series, won 4–1 by the Jets.
1978–79
One of only three players over age 30 on a team known as the “Baby Bulls.” Scores 24 goals and 27 assists for 51 points in 76 regular-season games with the Bulls, who do not qualify for the playoffs.
1979–80
The Birmingham Bulls, who are not one of the four
WHA
teams admitted to the
NHL
, join the minor-pro Central Hockey League. Paul continues to play for them, registering 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points in 47 regular-season games. Also returns to the
NHL
with the Atlanta Flames, scoring 7 goals and 6 assists for 13 points in 30 regular-season games. Scores 2 goals against Toronto in his return to Maple Leaf Gardens. The Flames are defeated 3–1 in the first round of the playoffs. Henderson appears in all four games.
1980–81
Appears in 35 regular-season games with Birmingham, scoring 6 goals and 11 assists. Team disbands before the season is over. Rather than join the parent Calgary Flames, Henderson chooses to retire.
1984
Begins helping men develop for leadership with the LeaderImpact Group, where he still works
today, and holds two Honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees.
1995
Inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
1997
In January, the Canadian Mint launches a commemorative coin depicting Paul’s goal in game eight of the 1972 Summit Series. This is the first time a living person other than the king or queen has been depicted on a Canadian coin. Canada Post introduces a stamp celebrating the moment.
1998
Receives the Ontario Special Achievement Award for his contribution to minor hockey.
2002
Is awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Award for distinguished community service.
2011
In September, Henderson, along with his jersey worn in the Summit Series, embarks on a tour of eastern Canada, beginning in his hometown of Lucknow, Ontario. By mid-February 2012, it has stopped in more than 40 towns. In Montreal, he is joined by Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretiak and Montreal Canadiens legend Yvan Cournoyer. The trio participated in a ceremonial puck drop at the Bell Centre on January 7, 2012.
2012
Celebrates the fortieth anniversary of the 1972 Canada–Russia Summit Series with his teammates in a month of festivities.

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