High Above Maple Leaf Gardens
Going to sleep with thoughts of being high above the ice in the gondola
Every Wednesday and Saturday night at eight pm, Joe Black was at home with his wife and son Jeffrey. It was important that he watch the Toronto Maple Leafs play hockey. It was even more important that he watched the games with his six-year-old son by his side.
Joe had a construction business and was gone every morning at five a.m., usually getting home around eight p.m. However, he made a commitment to be home to watch professional hockey with his son. He felt it was a bonding time, and Jeffrey couldn’t wait for the chance to be with his Dad.
It was 1967, and Jeffrey’s Mom, Marion, always made sure to make "the boys" snacks for intermission. She mixed it up with popcorn, some games, potato chips, and sometimes when it was a big game, fresh-made chocolate cake or chocolate chip cookies.
Joe would teach his son stuff about the game, and Jeffrey always thought his Father could have been an excellent Coach. At the start of each game, the announcers would be standing on a narrow-looking walkway, and they’d start the broadcast. ‘’I’m Foster Hewitt, Welcome to Hockey Night In Canada. We’re High Above the ice in the Gondola at Maple Leaf Gardens where tonight the Leafs are playing…’’
