I love it when the most random stuff shows up in my Google Alerts for “Maple Leafs”. This time it’s about a movie called The Christmas Cure, which premiered on the Hallmark Channel last night.

Yes, a Christmas movie. In July.

But, one would expect the kind of person who pays for the Hallmark Channel (I didn’t even know it existed) would also be the type who watches made-for-TV Christmas movies in July, right? It’s the type who is really into Christmas traditions to the point they already have a shopping list, which includes the mailman, second cousins they haven’t seen in 30 years that live in other countries, etc.. They are literally out this morning getting some Christmas shopping done. After all, it’s only five months away.

An emergency room doctor returns home for Christmas after many years to find that her father, a doctor himself, has decided to retire. After reuniting with her high school sweetheart and spending an emotional Christmas with her family, she must decide if she will stay in her hometown and takeover her father’s practice.

Substitute ‘doctor’ for nurse, teacher, banker, astronaut, whatever, this is basically the plot outline to every Hallmark Christmas movie ever.

What caught this in my news filter was a reference about the star actress of the movie, Brooke Nevin. The material notes that her father played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Curious, I did some research and it is one Bob Nevin. He played for the Leafs from 1957-58 to 1963-64, winning two Stanley Cups, before moving on to several other teams.

Ultimately he had a 20 year pro-hockey career, followed by a stint as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Kings. Bob must have been a nice guy too. In the 1972-73 season he played in 66 games and finished with 0 PIM.

At 79 years old, he’s apparently still doing well, appearing at events as recently as two years ago. He was born in South Porcupine, Ontario, which, first, yes, that is a place, and, it  so sounds like the name of a town where they would set a Hallmark made-for-TV movie. They named it something else in the movie though, which is too bad.

Leafs News

Marlies sign Joshua Winquist and Matias Cleland to two-way deals - Nafio
Solar Bears fans may want to pay attention.

Summer hockey where everybody knows your game - The Star
NHL  journeyman Steven Oleksy owns, operates and stars in Eastside Elite  Hockey, the training camp before training camp for many familiar names.

Patrick Marleau: Symbol of A New Mentality - The Blue and White Brotherhood
Signing Marleau was a polarizing move, as many fans were caught between the dichotomy of his all-star reputation and his age.

Other News

Flyers sign remaining RFA’s Bardreau, Lyon and Stolarz. - Broad Street Hockey
Stolarz & Lyon ink 1 year deals, Bardreau back for 2 more.

Sharks sign Czech goaltending prospect Korenar- Fear The Fin
San Jose now has five goaltenders under contract, including Korenar and Bibeau.

Golden Knights sign Leipsic and Reinhart - Knights On Ice
[Species: That first name sounds familiar.]

Nassau, Suffolk lawmakers urge Isles to return to Coliseum - Newsday
Nassau Legis. Arnold Drucker (D-Plainview) said Bettman, who was born in Queens and grew up an Islanders fan, “is totally wrong” and “doesn’t have any clue” what Long Island fans want.

Blackhawks’ possible interest in Franson makes a lot of sense - Second City Hockey
Cody Franson could be invited to training camp, which would be a smart move by Chicago.

From The Branches