Wednesday’s heartbreaking news — that Tragically Hip front-man Gord Downie had died after his battle with brain cancer — hit close to home for Calgary Flames puck-stopping stalwart Mike Smith.
After all, Downie was the pride of Kingston, Ont., only a half-hour south of Smith’s childhood stomping grounds.
And …
“Goalie union,” Smith said, mustering a grin on an emotional day. “You know, Gordie was an old goalie.”
Indeed, Downie was the last line of defence during his minor-hockey days in Amherstview, Ont., his crease career apparently highlighted by a provincial title as a bantam.