We lost a young man(21) whos courage in the face of adversity was enough to bring 19,000 people to their feet and many more to tears. Rodion Amirov who, sadly, never played a shift in the NHL, fought the battles none of should ever have to fight. A talented young man struck down before he ever really got up.
Later that same day, 14 August 2023, we lost Bobby “Boomer” Baun. Bobby was 86, lived a very full life. A 4 time Stanley Cup winner was best known for the series goal in game 6 of the 1964 Stanley Cup finals. In the third period he took a Gordie Howe slap shot off his ankle. Stretchered off the ice only to return in overtime and score the game winning goal to send the series to a game 7 winner takes all. He played in that game too. Afterward it was discovered that the puck had broken his ankle. Ice, tape and novacaine kept him going.
Bobby was also the coach of the WHAs Toronto Toros. I knew him then, as a child of 8 he would let me stand near the dressing room to watch the players go to the ice/locker room. And then years later he was my boss at the Ajax Tim Hortons.
A kind man capable of crushing body checks, playing on a broken ankle/leg and once wth a bruised throat.
RIP Rodion Amirov and Bobby “Boomer” Baun.
by in-dog_we_trust
3 Comments
Rest in peace.
R.I.P.
The powerful history of the Toronto Maple Leafs continues. The old and the new on the same day.we lost Borje and Verstraete. There’s one more, I just can’t recall. It’s a wonderful, mysterious journey this club is on. We’re coming out of the fog soon. It’s going to happen