Just what is Mason Raymond in for?
First off, no adjustment needed for his new office space. He’s comfy on the Air Canada Centre ice, already netting a couple of goals and assists for the home-town crowd.
But with Vancouver’s looney haven behind him, the Cochranite is now in Hogtown’s hockey kitchen swapping rioting looters for big-league know-it-alls. The 28-year-old forward may want to consult a traveller’s guide to ease his transition to life outside the rink and deflect the inevitable culture shock.
It’ll take time to translate the ornate Ontario dialect, where words like “Terannah” “aboot” and “rate” replace “Toronto,” “about” and “right.” And they drink ale, not lager.
But, six million people aside, there are striking similarities between the “Big Smoke” and our town by the Bow.
Toronto, like Cochrane, is a hockey town. Everyone knows, or in Toronto claims to know, the game.
And we share civic concerns on hot-button issues like public transit – Toronto has buses, Cochrane wants buses – infiltrating rare non-Leafs chatter out there. The city, however, is fortunate to have colourful politicians like Mayor Rob Ford who add an edgy Breaking-Bad brand of intrigue to civic affairs.
Toronto’s flagship broadsheet, The Star, is similar to the Cochrane Eagle in its focus on the community. If it doesn’t happen in or involve someone from the 416, it is of little interest.
So Raymond’s acclimation to life outside the ACC may be somewhat seamless.
Then there are the Leafs:
What do the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Titanic have in common? They both look good until they hit the ice.
Why are the Maple Leafs like grizzly bears? Every fall they go into hibernation.
Yes, those Leafs. That woeful compilation of wrong-sweater-wearing skaters who haven’t won a Stanley Cup since Gary “Suitcase” Smith was their rookie goalie in ’67.
The Leafs made the playoffs last spring for the first time since 2004, only to surrender three late goals in their dubious opening-round ouster by the Boston Bruins. They just can’t shake the futility fused to their crest like gum to a shoe-bottom.
So how does Raymond fit this vortex of over-heated hockey dysfunction? Can he deliver Leafs Nation from its last 40+ years of desolation?
Well, he played for a Stanley Cup in this millennium. And he’s been on a league-winning (President’s Trophy, twice) and playoff-bound team since he started his National Hockey League career with Vancouver Canucks in 2007.
Endeavouring to finally step off the loser train, the Leafs are hiring winners.
And Cochrane’s Mason Raymond could have a hand in their winning once more.
Wouldn’t that be something?
