Mike Who? My Favourite Maple Leaf

© Copyright 2011, Rick Walsh

To someone growing up outside of Toronto, or perhaps Washington, D.C., the name Mike Palmateer might not evoke any memories of an all-star athlete. In fact, the name might not mean anything to many people. Palmateer never won a Stanley Cup and never won a Vezina Trophy for best goaltender, but to me, he epitomized the struggle of the “little guy” to make it in the big leagues!

I grew up in Toronto in the 1960’s and 1970’s. I actually DO remember the Maple Leafs’ last Stanley Cup Championship back in 1967! My mother was an avid Leafs fan and we would watch Hockey Night In Canada together on Saturday nights to follow the exploits of our beloved boys in blue. When television broadcasts weren’t available for out-of-town games, we would listen to the play-by-play call on radio. Many nights I went to bed and dreamed of one day playing for the Leafs. Well, I never did play for the Leafs, but that didn’t deter my enthusiasm.

Enter the 1970’s and a new “youth-movement” was enveloping the Toronto Maple Leafs. Gone were the veterans like Larry Hillman and Allan Stanley. Joining the “big team” were fresh faces like Lanny McDonald, Darryl Sittler, Errol Thompson and a young goaltender from the Toronto Marlboros junior team, Mike Palmateer.

Now a teenager myself – and considered pretty “fresh-faced” too – I was a Marlie fan as well. As a member of the Marlboro fan club, I received player pictures, information and special ticket pricing for the Sunday afternoon games at Maple Leaf Gardens. The Marlies were great back then – Bill Daily and the Howe brothers on defence, Dave Gardiner, Billy Harris and Steve Shutt were the top line in the O.H.L. and of course, Mike Palmateer was their goaltender!

After playing for the Young Nationals – a team I also followed, who often played out of my home arena, North Toronto Memorial Gardens – Palmateer made it to Junior A! Not a very big guy and a little on the chunky side, he reminded me of, well me! He may have been small in stature, but boy could he stop a puck! His acrobatics were reminiscent of another N.H.L. favourite – Roger Crozier. I was vicariously living the life of Mike Palmateer, so when he made it to the big leagues, I felt like I had made it too.

It was at this time that the painting of goalie masks became an acceptable form of expression. Some say it was done to intimidate or distract the shooters, while others thought it was merely an artistic representation of the goaltenders’ lives or ambitions. The practice caught on with the fans though and at 16-years of age, I began designing and painting my artwork on local goalie masks. For the princely sum of $20.00, I would consult with the goalie, create three or four designs for the prospective client to choose from and then paint the chosen artwork on his mask.

When Mike finally made it to the Leafs, I felt that his rather well-worn mask had seen better days. If I – check that, he – was going to play in the N.H.L., he needed to wear something new, fresh and exciting on his face. Without direct consultation (who knew Mike better than me?), I feverishly sketched out six different designs for Palmateer’s mask and mailed them off to Maple Leaf Gardens. Who would have guessed that within a couple of weeks, I would receive a personally-written letter from Mike Palmateer himself, thanking me for my drawings and saying that he had chosen one of them to adorn his mask! WOW – I was blown away! From that moment on, Mike Palmateer became my all-time, all-sports living legend and idol!

We actually kept in touch for awhile, mostly by letter. Mike would always send me his latest individual Maple Leaf picture, autographed of course, a brief note and pictures of the entire team as well. These items I still have and cherish to this day. It was heartbreaking when Palmateer was traded to the Washington Capitals, but in my heart he will always be a Maple Leaf – my favourite Maple Leaf!