When we become adults we’re supposed to not believe in Santa Claus. At least that’s what my Mom told me a long time ago.
But, as we all know, there’s an exception to every rule and I have found one – The genuine Santa Claus of the Hockey World.
He doesn’t really look like a Santa Claus, nor does he talk like one but he sure acts the part ‘way down in Boca Raton, Florida.
The man’s name is Len Gould and – in real life – he’s a successful businessman. Ah, but it’s his other life that’s so much fun – for him and retired Rangers, among other NHL players. Here’s the story:
For the past 26 years, Gould, 55, has been collecting and archiving extraordinary hockey film and video. When it comes to the Rangers, he has found families who have been recipients including the son of 1940 Stanley Cup-winner Alex Shibicky.
Gould sent Alex Shibicky, Jr. a live film of his father scoring a 1939 overtime goal at old Madison Square Garden. “When he saw it,” Gould recalled, “there were tears of joy.”
Perhaps, equally joyful is the fact that when he finds a hockey family linked to a specific video, he sends them to the family free of charge.
“I’ve never asked for a penny from anyone,” Gould asserted. “I do this all for free. Over the years the number of families I’ve helped is more than a hundred.”
When The Maven asked Shibicky, Jr. what he thought of this video version of a hockey Santa, Alex didn’t hold back. “He continues to be the best and I thank him for all he’s done. Glenn not only is a credit to hockey but a credit to the human race.”
Another Rangers family to benefit from Gould’s largesse is that of NHL ironman Johnny Wilson who starred for the Blueshirts 1962 playoff team. Wilson’s daughter Tracy was pleasantly stunned upon receiving archival footage of her dad being interviewed between periods of a game in November 1962.
Tracy Wilson: “This had incredible meaning in the timing of that interview. My father had recently retired so he and my mom could adopt me. Hearing him talk is priceless as I not only got to hear my dad’s voice again but also got to hear him talk about something incredibly poignant.”
Sean McCaffrey, publisher of Blue Collar Blueshirts, has been in close touch with the grandchildren of Original Rangers icon, Hall of Famer Frank Boucher, and has linked them with Len.
“I’ve never met a person who cares as much about giving back to the hockey families of yesteryear like him,” said McCaffrey. “He found what many thought were ‘lost’ archives in order to help the families of both Frank Boucher and Rangers 1940 Cup champion Phil Watson. He truly is a godsend for families who want to see their lost ones one more time.”
Mind you, Gould still is at it. The Maven recently put Len in touch with Bob Dill,Jr., who played defense for the Rangers in the mid-1940’s. During World War II Dill, Sr. also played for the U.S. Coast Guard team in the 1942-43 season.
“Len is a wonderful man who sent me a video of my father playing for the Coast Guard,” said Dill, Jr. “He also took the time to find me something on Eddie Shore and the Springfield Indians.”
If Bob Dill, Sr. sounds obscure to you; not to Glenn. He gets as big a kick out of finding the lesser lights as for the stars. One of them is goalie Lindsay Middlebrook who played only a handful of NHL games and had no video to show. Now he has a complete game.
Gould: “The more obscure players are the ones who are most happy to see themselves on footage and, in turn, it makes me so happy to do this. I’ve spent more time and money than I’d ever want to admit to chasing footage.”
Len’s mentor is “King Of The Archives,” historian-collector Paul Patskou of Toronto. “I’ve often said,” Gould observed, “that nobody does this alone and Paul has been a tremendous help to me over the years.”
Gould encourages retired players and relatives to contact him at archivistnine@gmail.com to see what could be found. Former Ranger Ted Irvine and his wife Bonnie summed up in three words their feelings after they received Blueshirt footage from Gould:
“God bless you.” Santa Claus couldn’t have said it better!
