LIKE FATHER, LIKE SONS

When deal is done…

In Bob Goodenow’s world, summer – any summer – is for sabre-ratting and statcrunching and shoring up support. Summer has blue skies and not a deadline that matters to be found. As a general rule, you only make nice in the summer if the other side is giving up the farm. Funny, but that’s the one thing we know for certain isn’t happening. Goodenow never bought all this talk about the revenue hit from lost season ticket sales and corporate sponsorships if things dragged on until September or January, for all the difference it makes. He believed big markets would recover from the lockout almost immediately. Some smaller markets might be in trouble, but they were in trouble to start with; if they lose another 10 or 20 per cent, what’s…

Batterman battles for NHL cause

Bob Batterman will not win any popularity contests among NHL Players’ Association negotiators. In fact, he might be the least popular among commissioner Gary Bettman’s legal cadre at the CBA meetings. Of course, we’ll never know for sure. An email request for comment from Bob Goodenow, Trevor Linden, Ted Saskin, et. al. about the NHL’s lead outside counsel produced a respectful thanks-but-no-thanks reply. “I’m not surprised,” said Bettman’s legal alter ego. Ever since Batterman, 63, came aboard the good ship NHL in 1994, he has battled vigorously on behalf of ownership – especially during the current, bitter lockout. “I’ve worked harder and longer on this dispute,” Batterman says, “than anything I ever have in my life.” During the winter, the NHLPA attributed a quote to Batterman designed to inflame union members. The alleged statement essentially…

Brankley’s Knight-time

It is a day off for the London Knights midway through the 2005 Memorial Cup - at least it is for the players. One night after doubling Kelowna 4-2 to take their record to 2-0 en route to their first ever national championship, long-time trainer Don Brankley is cleaning his home, which doubles as the team’s dressing room. In a few hours, Brankley will play host to about 150 friends and guests; the Jacuzzi is already filled to the brim with beer. A cocktail party in a dressing room? Sounds odd, but this is no ordinary dressing room. And it isn’t managed by an ordinary trainer. There is very little ‘ordinary’ about the man they call ‘Branks.’ In his 35 years with the Knights, Brankley has sharpened skates, attended to injuries and looked after the…