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Monday, May 22, 2017



Success, tragedy, acts of honor

Steve Betts
May 18, 2017

The Tragically Hip have immortalized his actions in a song called 'Fifty Mission Cap'. You may know the lyrics "the last goal he ever scored won the Leafs the Cup". This song is a favourite of many Hip fans but also holds a special place in the heart of the Leafs fans around the world. The song itself is a double edged sword  for Leafs fans because it brings us back to glory days.  The ending is tragic though as a young man lost his life way too soon. As Gord Downie heroically states, "they didn't  win another until 1962, the year he was discovered".
That young man born in Cochrane  Ontario and who died at the age of 24 was Bill Barilko. Barilko was born in 1927 and clearly lived a Canadian boys hockey dream. Barilko made the NHL and played five seasons with the Leafs as a defenceman. His last goal was huge for the organization and of course for him and his family. He was flying high when tragedy struck. Unfortunately, on a fishing trip in Quebec his plane did not make it back and 11 years later the wreckage was discovered. Young and his career just starting, Bill was in his prime and it was cut short.


Here's where the story gets interesting. In 1950 another Bill was born in Amherst Nova Scotia. 23 years after Barilko and on the East coast of Canada in what is known as the Maritimes. Bill Riley was living a Canadian boys dream as well. He loved hockey, lived  hockey and eventually made it his life. He too made it to the NHL and made waves for a different reason as he was the third black man to play in the NHL. The Washington Capitals in their first season gave Riley a tryout and he made it. He toiled in the minor leagues here and there but did play in the NHL for a solid three years for the Capitals. Hard-nosed, hard-working, Riley was about work ethic and getting the job done. Excellent results for a young man from a small town on the border of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. This was good for the community, his family and for minorities. This was progress.
Here's where the story gets more interesting. Here's where the story takes a human twist, and emotional twist, this is the feel good part of all of this that brought a tear to my eye. Riley loved Barilko. We all have hockey heroes, sports heroes, role models, and just people we look up to. That is what Barilko was to Riley. It's common when your a  younger hockey polymer to choose another hockey player to like and cheer for. Now that you understand who Riley loved you will get this next part.
I got a text May 18 2017 from an old friend who just happens to be Bill Riley's daughter Tracey. Tracey and I haven't spoken for 30 years merely due to us just moving on with our  lives. The Riley family had set up their home in our hometown of Riverview New Brunswick and I became friends with Carla, Tracey, Bill Junior and Joann or Mrs. Riley the queen bee of the family. Just like Riley's work ethic on the ice surface this family was close, organized, full of love and well-liked in the community. Bill's spirited efforts on the ice translated to his home life as well.
Tracey's text message stated this: her hard-nosed hockey dad had contacted her about something that had upset him. He read an article about Barilko. In that article was a picture of Barilko'a gravesite. The gravesite was not in good shape. Right next door was the headstones of mom and dad Barilko and their sites were dirty as well.  The three headstones could use some TLC. What happened next does not surprise me completely but it sure brought up awesome emotions.
Tracey who clearly was affected by her Dad's emotion after he saw the gravesite situation, went out on a cold day in Timmons Ontario and proceeded to drive to the graveyard where Barilko is buried. With toothbrush in hand and rubber gloves she cleaned not one but two headstones. Cleaning off mould and moss, weeds and anything that didn't look like it belonged from her father's hockey hero. Tracey told me that hearing her father being affected by this simple situation moved her to go do something awesome for somebody else. She explained to me that it was sad the gravestones were dirty but she also said that had you heard what my father said and heard his voice she would understand what made me get up and go do this for a stranger.

How awesome is that emotion? How big is the heart of Bill Riley and Tracey Riley that both were moved by respect. Both were encouraged to do something honourable because of love. Not only did they show us love between two family members but they showed us what being a hockey fan is about.
Passion and emotion for a sport spills over the boards into an act of kindness that may or may not seem big to you but it is to this guy. Leafs fans can rest assured that the Legend of Bill Barilko lives on and a part of his memorialization was cleaned by a young lady who acted on pure love and respect. I knew a long time ago this family was solid and clearly that has not changed. Well played Riley family, well played.