Reggie Joseph Leach, The Riverton Rifle

I can’t speak for all of Canadian people, but one thing we Canadians are a natural in and that’s hockey. Today we celebrate a legend of hockey Reggie Joseph Leach. He is an aboriginal Canadian who grew up in Riverton, Man, and was born on this day in 1950. Leach was raised by his paternal grandparents. One of the greatest scorers in the history of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, after graduating from junior, Leach was the third player claimed in the 1970 Amateur Draft when the Boston Bruins called his name.

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Nicknamed "The Riverton Rifle", Leach was drafted third overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft. He played 934 career NHL games, scoring 381 goals and 285 assists for 666 points. His best season was the 1975–76 season, when he set career highs in goals (61), points (91), game-winning goals (11), and plus-minus with a +73 rating. Those 61 goals gave him the goal-scoring title (now the Richard Trophy) for the season. The Beantowners were in the midst of winning the Stanley Cup twice in three years and were too deep in talent to give the youngster a fair shot at the pros. His life was about to change. On Feb. 23, 1972, Leach was part of the package sent by Boston to California to acquire Carol Vadnais. The Golden Seals were blatantly over-matched most nights, but Leach's talent began to shine through the depression of losing. In 1972-73 and 1973-74, he recorded consecutive 20 goal seasons. In the second of these years, he formed the team's top line with Walt McKechnie and Joey Johnston. A few days after winning their first-ever Stanley Cup, the Philadelphia Flyers took a giant step toward repeating the triumph when they fleeced the Seals in a deal for Leach. In 1974-75, Leach teamed with Clarke and Bill Barber to score 45 goals and earn the respect of the tough fans in the City of Brotherly Love. While helping the Flyers repeat as Cup winners, Leach scored eight goals in 17 post-season games. It was in the Flyers' failed attempt at a third triumph in the playoffs that Leach's star shone the brightest. During the 1975-76 season, he scored 61 regular-season goals but saved his best for the post-season. Leach's 19-goal effort in 16 games earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy even though the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup finals swept his team. Of further significance was the fact that the Riverton Rifle scored 80 combined goals (regular-season and playoffs) to break Phil Esposito's standard set in 1970-71. Incredibly, in 1979-80 the wily veteran scored 50 times and helped the Flyers set an NHL record by going undefeated in 35 consecutive games from Oct. 14 to Jan. 6. More important, Leach took on defensive responsibilities and killed penalties for the first time in his career. He also scored 16 points while helping Philly reach the Stanley Cup finals, where they lost to the New York Islanders in six games. The fleet winger registered 60 goals during his last two seasons in Philadelphia before joining the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent prior to the 1982-83 season. Leach scored his last 15 NHL goals wearing the famous winged wheel. In 1983-84, he skated for the Montana Magic of the Central Hockey League before bringing his pro career to a close. Leach finished with 381 goals in 934 regular-season games while earning a reputation as one of the top snipers of his day. He is best remembered as being one of very few players to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs from the losing team in the Stanley Cup finals, a distinction he achieved while playing for the Philadelphia Flyers, as they were defeated by the Montreal Canadians in 1976. In late 2007, Leach joined the Manitoulin Islanders of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League as an associate coach. No matter what nationality we are or what country we came from, Canadians are some of the best of the best when it comes to sports, politics or anything that can be dreamt of in a place we call Canada.