His third autobiography came out in October, and it's the first that tells the entire story. But [head coach] Harry [Sinden] came to me at the end of the game and said, 'Listen, usually these things end pretty quickly. Harold decided his son would become a hockey star, so Derek began skating at the age of 8 and received an expensive pair of skates at 12 with the promise that he would give his dad a Stanley Cup ring someday. WebFormer NHL player Derek Sanderson poses in Toronto on Friday, Oct. 19, 2012. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. We use cookies to improve your experience. They'd just shake you off. The old Garden was three tiersthe third balcony was hanging right over you. "Somewhere along the way you meet up with responsibility and it's usually a woman standing there saying this is what we need to do.". WebDerek Sanderson has won 2 Stanley Cups as a player. Thats when he took four fingers for a flight to New York and eight for the trip to the West Coast! Sanderson scored 16 points in 16 games with the club before he was sent to the minors because of disciplinary reasons. About three times a week? I cant stay awake long enough to spend that much money.. Adams, who was going to offer $75,000, said under the circumstances he could go up a little. Please contact us. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. He returned to the Bruins, but was traded to the Rangers in 1974. The next disaster occurred when Sanderson, along with Joe Namath, the football star, opened a bar in Boston, compounding his temptation. I said, 'I never thought of that. Sorry we could not verify that email address. But I wore a tuxedo that night - St. Louis, they're not gonna beat us, so I wore a tuxedo to the Garden. A great hockey town. was playing for the Bruins. Sanderson looked back at the team and the times during a Zoom town hall meeting with Bruins season ticket holders on Tuesday afternoon. That puck had to land flat, but he never held it, he just redirected it, really. By that time, Sanderson had developed vascular necrosis. Get a hold of Harry and write a book. I'm glad he didn't miss the pass. He co-founded a sports wealth management group in 1990. WebTurk Becomes a Blazer by Frank Bertucci The Hockey Spectator August 1972 It was this city's biggest signing since 1776. The puck has to be inside your weighted foot and you have to stay behind it when you swing." 1970 and 1972 were, but for the man they called "Turk," the first one had As captain of the Blazers, Derek felt a responsibility to explain the situation to the fans. How much is a biblical shekel of silver worth in us dollars? Then it was over pretty quickly. Sandersons teammates soon began calling him Turk. [10], He also received publicity for his numerous female companions and lavish ways, which included a Rolls-Royce car and circular bed. There were two aspects of Sandersons game that were crucial in the recently expanded NHL when he broke in with the Bruins in the 1968-69 season. What is one story from 1970 that people might not know? In 1965 Turk led his team to the Memorial Cup, symbol of junior hockey supremacy in He was demoted to the Boston Braves of the American Hockey League for three games then traded to the rival New York Rangers. Derek Sanderson - Hockey-Reference.com A year later the two budding superstars were teammates on the Bruins. In 1977, Sandersons attorney informed him that hed lost everything. Those fans were comedians. "I hated the smell, so I held my nose and swallowed it all. In the space of 12 years this all happened to Derek Turk Sanderson. He's been a member of The Ridge Club in South Sandwich, Mass., since the early 1990s. BostonBruins.com -There has, perhaps, never been a greater character - and storyteller - in the history of the Boston Bruins than Derek Sanderson. What goes through my mind is that Bobby scored the goal a good second before Noel Picard lifted his feet up. You make the play and hope it works. But he had no filter. He called NHL commissioner Clarence Campbell "a stuffed shirt," and said of the Montreal Canadiens, "They are full of Frenchmen and I hate Frenchmen." He had me pay attention to every face-off. Bobby Orr arranged surgery for his hips destroyed by prednisone. [Vancouver Canucks forward] Bobby Lalonde was 5-foot-4. He was drinking more regularly by age 20. He just loves the game. The Rolls-Royce dealer, wearing a three-piece suit, sniffed at his presence, folded up the newspaper he was reading and got up from his desk. Perhaps, if you purchased it, youd be sitting in the back.. Copyright 1999-2020 Boston Professional Hockey Association, Inc. and the National Hockey League. Tweet He also had 98 penalty minutes, establishing himself as something of a "tough guy" in the league. It made him mad, vindictive and then foolish. The people were really good. It was widely speculated that it had hoped to prod Sanderson to bolt the team and void his lucrative deal but his contract was bought out for $800,000 after the season.[16]. Despite playing with a Hall-of Fame lineup in Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Gerry Cheevers and Ed Westfall. Sanderson insisted he was misquoted. Web1967 Topps. I was interested in his story as I had attended the same school, lived on the same street and watched Sanderson as he started his hockey career with the Niagara Falls Flyers. I was just a fan when the guys did that one, when they brought Esposito out of the hospital room. By now, his alcoholism and substance abuse was in full bloom. Once we got it in their end zone, they never got it out. Remember in our day, there was only one coach. Booze and drugs send Sandersons life into a downward spiral but his superstar teammate Bobby Orr helps him get his life back together. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Sanderson bounced from team to team, never being able to stay with a team for more than two full seasons. "I was making more money than Bobby Orr. Its not a white thing, a black thing, a Hispanic thing, he says. I grew up watching "The Turk" play hockey in Greatest Hockey Legends.com: Derek Sanderson Derek Sanderson It was a team that, there was no one there that you didn't like. Sanderson along with the Bruins captured consecutive East Division titles in the (197071 and 197172) seasons, and won the Stanley Cup in 197172 against the New York Rangers, its second in three seasons. Our story Email Us Call Us: 248.387.9826, USA TODAY • L.A. Times • CBS Detroit • Crains Detroit Business • Corp Magazine. The player Bruins fans called Turk was young, brash, outspoken with movie-star looks and tuned into the cultural transformation taking place in Boston during the late 1960s. Sinden chose Sandersons third line to start the overtime instead of either of the Bruins scoring lines centered by Phil Esposito and Fred Stanfield. With the contract offer in hand, he went to see Bruins owner Weston Adams, Sr. Adams asked why he was there when he had the proverbial offer he couldn't refuse. I was pumped. The drugs, including prednisone and cocaine, helped his hips but hurt his future. Sanderson asked the Bruins for an $80,000 contract. Hes dedicated to making sure they do not lose the millions of dollars that fell through his hands. " [1] His older sister Karen was born in 1944 while their father was serving in France. Derek Sanderson Jeter of the new york yankees is named for the turk. NH Now: Derek Sanderson 5-18-20 WebDerek Michael Sanderson (born June 16, 1946), nicknamed "Turk", is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and two-time Stanley Cup champion who helped transform the culture of the professional athlete in the 1970s era. The image of Orr flying though the air after whipping the puck past St. Louis goalie Glenn Hall in indelibly etched in the minds of most hockey fans, Bruin supporter or not. This is a problem for anyone who has to travel for work. Harry Sinden had it going, there was nothing he did not think of and I never went into a game that Harry Sinden didnt give me something to think about, said Sanderson. We didn't recognize that password reset code. How hard was your famous sweep check and could it be taught today? the old Camels Cigarettes TV and print comercials when Sanderson The timing for a golf shot is the same as for a slap shot. Sindens hunch created a few grumblings on the bench but proved to be the right move. Haven Toronto / Privacy Policy -Charity Number 118941269RR0001. However, you may want to comfirm this I had a reason to turn my life around," he says. We just didn't realize how popular we were at the time. The 21-year-old scored 24 goals and 49 points in 71 games. [19], Sanderson went on to become a sports broadcaster. Forty seconds into the extra period, Sanderson controlled the puck behind the Blues goal line, at which point defenseman Bobby Orr broke in from near the blue line. When youre a defenseman you are not going to go behind the net but he reached in and that was all I needed.. Fame and fortune had come his way. WebThat man's name is Derek Sanderson, who was born in Niagara Falls to a Scottish mother & an Army Canadian serviceman in 1946. In 1980, through the good graces of Orr, he checked into rehab in Ste. On the ice, he did it all. I always thought, man, Marchand's talent and ability, he could do that easily. He played 13 games with the Penguins and eight more in the minors before his release. Did you know the pass to Orr was going to work out? Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. A movie about a Bruins legend is in the works - Boston.com Do you have pictures of Gracie Thompson from the movie Gracie's choice. WebThe two Stanley Cup championships, 1970 and 1972 were, but for the man they called "Turk," the first one had to be sweeter, simply because of the circumstances surrounding Combine a gritty style of play with quick hands and fast feet, throw in a swagger that sat well with his movie-star good looks, mix well with his fair share of nastiness and you have the young Derek Sanderson, better known by his friends and teammates as Turk. "I liked life. WebDerek Michael Sanderson (born June 16, 1946), nicknamed "Turk", is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and two-time Stanley Cup champion who set up the epic overtime goal scored by Boston Bruins teammate Bobby Orr that clinched the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals, widely considered to be the greatest goal in National Hockey League history. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Phil was on my right and he goes, 'I can't believe that.' Derek "Turk" Sanderson is a talented but troubled member of the Stanley Cup-winning Bruins in the 1970s. After playing with the Rangers and recording 50 points in 75 games, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues eight games into the next season. Then, while in a drunken stupor, he nearly froze to death sleeping in the snow. What do you remember from the goal itself? And it was. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Flyers. "I had no money and no place to sleep, writes Sanderson of arriving in NYC. The downfall of Derek 'Turk' Sanderson | Toronto Sun The Bruins captivated the Boston sports scene by winning their first NHL title in 29 years. Next, select your favourite teams and leagues and well show you their latest news and scores in the My Favourites section of the home page. Sanderson was also a productive player with unique skills that propelled the Bruins to a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Blues in the 1970 Stanley Cup Final. The Philadelphia Blazers of the new World Hockey Association signed Sanderson to a five-year, $2.65 million contract that made him the highest-paid pro athlete in the world at the time. The game is meant to be played with 16 guys - 10 forwards, three lines and an extra; two D pairs and an extra. A modified version of this story originally appeared in the June 4, 2012, issue of Sportsnet magazine. WebSanderson, the man who delivered the pass to Bobby Orr on the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in 1970, was not just an athlete, however. This then lead to free sex, a lifestyle as close to heaven as a young, good-looking hockey star from small town Niagara Falls could ever imagine. The involvement of the fans was really important. How he walked into a Rolls-Royce dealership and pulled out in a dream. Its amazing that Sanderson didnt die. All Boston's ever asked is that you work hard. six games into the season laid him up indefinitely. I don't pick the stocks or manage their money. What has Harry Sinden meant to the Bruins organization over the years? In 2005 he went to work in the professional athletes department of Howland Capital, a private investment firm in Boston. While his rights reverted to the Bruins, they traded him at the end of the season to the New York Rangers. In 2017, on the 100th anniversary of the league, fans voted the so-called Flying Goal as the greatest in its history. Sanderson had pen in hand when the lawyer walked into the room and said, "I still think you're only worth $75,000. We were lucky. (He didnt.) But I realized that I needed help. The team grew tired of the contrast between his lack of performance on the ice and his considerable energy off it. See the website www.docgiff.com for more. We needed them and they appreciated us. I didn't think a team could come out that hard every time. The lawyer had made a string of bad investments, and that, along with Sandersons lifestyle, had drained his bank account. When he was fit to return weeks later, club management insisted that he remain inactive. I said, 'Wow, this kid's got talent.' Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. You could trust him. Remember, in those days we used to play a minute-and-a-half shift. The drug mellowed him before a flight, but it made him, groggy and irritable and interfered with his performance. e track upcoming movies through all stages of film production. Never. Fifty years, we might have pretty well covered it all. He owned the record for eight seasons. WebDEREK SANDERSON DOCUMENTARY TO DEBUT ON NBC SPORTS ON JUNE 8TH. When he reached that was it. It's a little more difficult with shorter people. There was 20-something guys and everybody liked everybody. Turk movie production status is currently Development, November 13, 2012 • Story selection and rights acquired; idea being crafted into usable script; financing and casting attachments sought; aiming for 'greenlight'. Derek Sanderson last played in 1978. The Bruins organization, fans and former teammates rallied around a rehabbed Sanderson and NESN hired him as a color man on its hockey broadcasts For ten years he worked as a sidekick and color commentator for Fred Cusick, the Bruins play-by-play guy. Adams, who was going to offer $75,000, said under the circumstances he could go up a little. Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), assisting Bobby Orrs Stanley Cup-winning goal, Takeaways: Bruins waited too long in first-round series to make goalie change before losing Game 7 to Panthers, Don Sweeneys busy trade deadline is paying off in Bruins first-round series against Panthers, Charlie McAvoy set the tone and doled out plenty of punishment in Bruins momentum-shifting Game 3 win. I used to watch the Big Bad Bruins on my grandparents television set in Hyannis growing up, Sherman said. Sanderson made a name for himself during his Bruins career, earning Rookie of the Year honors during the 1967-68 season and assisting Bobby Orrs Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1970. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. I'll wear a sweatshirt home.'. WebWhy is Derek Sanderson called Turk? Derek Sanderson Movie Casey Sherman, one of the Boston-based authors behind the books that later became The Finest Hours and Patriots Day, has completed a script and is set to produce Turk, a film about Bruins center Derek Sanderson. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. I like the Bruins. WebTurk Derek Michael Sanderson (born June 16, 1946), nicknamed Turk, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and two-time Stanley Cup winner who set up the And everybody knew if you were in a mood, if you had an attitude. He was terrified of flying so the Bruins sent him to a psychiatrist who made two disastrous errors.