Friday, December 30, 2011

Hand Jive

Every once in awhile there's a Tony Hand story to remind us of the legend. Last time he got a lot of news was three years ago when Hand was approaching 4,000 career points (!!!!!!!!) at the age of 42. The British Hockey League (it's been called all kinds of things) has improved over the years, but Hand remained at the top of the scoring charts well into his 30s.

Hand is from Edinburgh, and his career story is about two things: legit hockey talent in an unusual spot and a touching loyalty to his homeland. NHL teams were calling 25 years ago, but his heart belonged to the Murrayfield Racers of the BHL. I think there's a movie there, and his book must be a delight to read.

Anyway, Hand is miles past 40 now and is getting some recognition as a coach. He has been appointed the coach of the British team and will "lead GB at the 2012 World Championship (Division 1A) in Slovenia and also the tournaments in 2013, 2014 and 2015."

This coaching gig hasn't slowed down his playing career. Hand is currently player-coach of the Manchester Phoenix of the English Premier League. Last year he scored about 2.5 points a game, and he's off the pace this season. Hand has only 22 points in 15 games. :-)

Tony Hand's career stats are here. Oilers drafted him in 1986.
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17 comments:

  1. WoodguyFriday, December 30, 2011 at 7:21:00 AM MST

    MacT ruined his development.

    Sorry, had to.

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  2. hunter1909Friday, December 30, 2011 at 7:45:00 AM MST

    LOL

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  3. Bos8Friday, December 30, 2011 at 7:53:00 AM MST

    I'm pissed again. Edmonton has two top wingers that could be Stars on most teams in Hall and Hemsky. What's the thinking? Put them with Horcoff, the negative energy offensive weapon. They've cursed Hemsky's career with this anchor, let's do it with Hall.

    Anyone think of Lander, who happens to be on this team, playing with two ankle weights? Bloody brain dead thinking.

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  4. Bar QuFriday, December 30, 2011 at 8:07:00 AM MST

    Thanks for that non-sequitur Bos8.

    I remember how angry Sather was with Hand when he wouldn't come to Edmonton. "I guess he'd rather be a big fish in a small pond" is the quote that comes to mind.

    Thanks for an update on a piece of interesting history, LT.

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  5. Bos8Friday, December 30, 2011 at 8:09:00 AM MST

    My apologies, lost my head for a moment there, my bad.

    As you were - carry on chaps.

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  6. LowetideFriday, December 30, 2011 at 8:10:00 AM MST

    No worries. I'll have another post up soon for ventilator blues. :-)

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  7. Bos8Friday, December 30, 2011 at 8:15:00 AM MST

    Okay, you got me with ventilator blues.

    Good on ya, mate. Oops, Aussie

    Bloody pommies

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  8. EasyOilFriday, December 30, 2011 at 8:24:00 AM MST

    Gotta love Tony Hand, such a shame as he could have been the one legit (other than maybe Colin Shields) British hockey player that my country can really be proud of! That's not to say he isn't already a treasure amongst the British ice hockey community, but to have made the NHL would be the icing on the cake. A whole lot of "what ifs" though.

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  9. ClarkensteinFriday, December 30, 2011 at 8:42:00 AM MST

    Too bad Hand never got here. I'm sure Principe would have worked "hand job" in there somehow.

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  10. LowetideFriday, December 30, 2011 at 8:47:00 AM MST

    lol.

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  11. etownmanFriday, December 30, 2011 at 9:35:00 AM MST

    All I can say is I hope Tony is a better coach when he's standing behind the bench rather than when he's on the bench as a player!

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  12. RibsFriday, December 30, 2011 at 11:45:00 AM MST

    Does he know that he will actually have to go to Slovenia to do this?

    Isn't he worried of becoming homesick?

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  13. Greg SaintFriday, December 30, 2011 at 1:56:00 PM MST

    GP G A TP
    35 105 111 216

    ???

    He scored three goals a game and assisted on another three a game? So each game he played in his team scored at least 6 goals? WTF?

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  14. RibsFriday, December 30, 2011 at 2:47:00 PM MST

    MVP! MVP! Hah. What a waste.

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  15. Oiler MagSaturday, December 31, 2011 at 3:17:00 AM MST

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  16. Oiler MagSaturday, December 31, 2011 at 3:23:00 AM MST

    Being a Whitley Warriors man, I'm probably the only guy on here who has a deep hatred of Hand, and his brother - who is chiseled out of granite and knew how to stick up for Tony.
    I remember his being drafted was a massive event in British hockey, which exploded during the eighties with league attendences above traditional sports such as cricket and rugby and coverage on national TV.
    I think if he'd made it, then the NHL might have taken off over here in a big way as the support was there.
    Kudos to the guy for still playing - he had some vision on the ice and a shot that was too hot for most keepers in that league.
    Just to add an extra Oilers connection, in the 87-88 season played against Garry Unger who was playing his last season.

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  17. Oiler MagSaturday, December 31, 2011 at 3:41:00 AM MST

    GP G A TP
    35 105 111 216

    ???

    He scored three goals a game and assisted on another three a game? So each game he played in his team scored at least 6 goals? WTF?

    Yeah - weird times. You had guys like Fred Perlini, Garry Unger, Todd Bidner who had NHL experience while a lot of the other guys were out of the AHL looking for a good time and a paycheck. While the goalies were local lads, never Canadians, so the goals flowed.
    I'd love it if Mike Babcock put a little section in his autobiography about his year with the Warriors. Some of the tales about night-time high jinks were legendary!

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