I woke up Tuesday morning remembering the days of Dale Hawerchuk and Bobby Hull. Longing for the gumption of Benny Hatskin and John Ferguson.
In 1981, Winnipeg Jets 1.0 selected Hawerchuk with the first pick of the NHL Draft. When the team brought the 18-year-old to town to sign his first pro contract, Fergie arranged a ceremony at Portage and Main and had Hawerchuk arrive in an armored truck. Hockey fans were invited to participate in the excitement of Hawerchuk's arrival and to see in-person their new conquering hero.
It was a moment reminiscent of nine years earlier when then-Jets owner Hatskin signed the legendary Hull to play for his fledgling WHA team and presented him with an oversized $1-million cheque.