StratfordToday received the following letter continuing the story of Wayne Gretzky's first goal.
I enjoyed the article on Gretzky's first goal, a friend forwarded it to me yesterday and my wife mentioned reading same in NewmarketToday. I would like to lay claim to having the lone assist on the goal, of course, why wouldn't I?
I am No. 6 in the original photo and as such have been spinning this yarn to anyone who'd listen, since.
However my story, as it were, has continued on with a perchance meeting of Mr. Bill Cunningham a number of years ago in Naples, Fla., a story that qualifies for the small-world category.
A friend and I out for a dog-walk was introduced to me as a 'Canadian' - so we had the usual chat about where you're from, what did you do etc. and he says I'm from Stratford, Ont. So that was an interesting start as I'm from Stratford - we quickly arrived at our age which was similar and he says BTW, "I'm famous 'cause I'm in a picture of Wayne Gretzky's first goal."
Now isn't this going to be a remarkable chat I thought as I knew there were only a few players in the picture; Gretz, myself, and the goalie. I guessed that he was the goalie and he proudly acknowledged this fact, goes into his garage and pulls out goalie sticks to show me. Now what are the odds of that? So I much enjoyed seeing Mr. Cunningham's name in the article as I knew it before reading it - what I didn't know what that this factoid seems to be in dispute?
I was born in '57 on Norman Street in Stratford and my father (Edward Anstett, the first president of the Stratford Coin Club) accepted a new job in Brantford in June'67 so our family moved there, close to North Park arena - where my dad signed me up for the Brantford Novice All-stars - 1967-68 version, a travelling team.
My memory served that Wayne only scored the one goal that year and it happened to be in a rink that I knew fairly well. I met Wayne many years later where we had a brief chat about this, telling him that I taught him the value of an assist, so there. Our original team met at a invitation (Bob Stellick) by the Hockey Hall of Fame when Wayne was inducted. Fathers were welcome so my dad much enjoyed this experience.
My dad passed last year at 93 and I have him to thank for me telling anyone who'd listen that I didn't play with Wayne Gretzky, Wayne Gretzky played with me! I attended Seneca College where Wayne played while in Toronto and then lived in Edmonton before and during Wayne's early Oiler days - still an Oiler fan!
Thanks for the picture, Walter.
Tim Anstett
Aurora
