“And the neat thing,” he says, with a big, goofy smile, “is I’m the best player!”
It hasn’t been a year since Scott captured the hockey world’s attention, first by playing in the NHL all-star game, and later enjoying a storybook finish to a 10-year pro career — seven of those in the NHL — with one final twirl in the big leagues, in a Montreal Canadiens jersey on the Bell Centre ice.
Scott played 27 games for the St. John’s IceCaps last season, following the Canadiens’ much-ballyhooed trade with the Arizona Coyotes.
And here was on Saturday night, back in Newfoundland as a retired NHLer, dressing for the Canadiens’ Alumni squad — one game wearing the CH technically makes him part of the alumni — for a game in Paradise. Scott, Stephane Richer, Patrice Brisebois, Chris Nilan and Co. played in Mount Pearl Friday night and Harbour Grace Thursday evening.
In many respects, it seems like a million years now since Scott made big headlines — he was the lead story on major media outlets like ESPN, USA Today, The New York Times and Canada’s cable sports networks — by playing in the all-star game in Nashville.
If you recall, Scott was supposed to be an NHL all-star joke, the bearded lady on skates.
He had collected the most all-star votes by fan balloting, but it was a hoax, really. Even a league official even asked Scott to withdraw, to which he told him to stick it, that he was going to Nashville.
The Arizona Coyotes didn't want Scott in the game, so they traded him. Neither did the Canadiens, who inexplicably took him off Arizona’s hands (conspiracy theories abounded on that one).
National Hockey League suits in New York positively cringed at thoughts of the big man — who made a living pounding skulls in the NHL — skating on the same Nashville ice as Patrick Kane and Alex Ovechkin.
But Scott said to hell with them all, and proceeded to waltz into Tennessee and have himself a ball.
He even had T-shirts designed to hand out to teammates, with the words: “Thanks for believing in me. Love always, The Captain.”
Along the way, he became a cult hero, won a truck while the fans chanted 'MVP! MVP!'
He was the kind of hockey player construction workers and cabbies rooted for.
“Honestly, it was cool playing with those guys, cool having my family there and the kids, experiencing an event I never, ever thought I’d get to experience,” he said over the weekend.
“But it seems like a long time ago now. I don’t think too much about it. I get reminded about it here and there, but it’s part of the past. I’m so busy nowadays with the kids, I don’t have time to think about anything.”
Scott’s 34 now, and a free agent. And while he spoke last year of it being nice to return to St. John’s, he knew deep down this was it.
There’s not a big market out there for 34-year-old fighters.
And besides, he was ready to walk away.
“You know, I really don’t miss playing,” said the 6-8 hockey player, towering over this 6-6 sports writer. “It was time. I’m glad I’m not playing anymore.
“I’ve turned the page and moved on to doing different stuff … life stuff, like chasing around the kids.”
There are four youngsters in the Scott household, including the twins born shortly after the all-star game.
They’re the reason why Scott elected to go home after the Montreal game rather than come back to St. John’s and close out the year.
And what a way to go out. Every hockey player should be so lucky.
Wearing Steve Shutt’s old No. 22 against the Florida Panthers, Scott stood on the blueline with the rest of the Canadiens’ starters and stared upwards towards the Bell Centre’s rafters, where the white banners honouring the 24 Stanley Cup championships hung.
He peered at the retired numbers — at Rocket Richard's No. 9, the No. 4 Jean Beliveau wore. Jacques Plante’s No. 1.
And he asked himself: “Is this really happening?”
Again?
It was Montreal’s management way of saying, ‘sorry about that’, for the crap he'd put up with over the whole all-star thing.
“That was fun,” he said, “very cool. Not a whole lot of guys get to go out the way I did.
“Naturally, I’m glad it happened. It was almost like a farewell game and I was very appreciative to Montreal that they let me come up and play.”
As for the future, Scott is taking it as it comes. He did some work for TSN on its free agent coverage in July, and a movie based on his story is proceeding ahead. Mitch Albom has finished the script, and next he figures a search will be on to find actors.
“Right now,” he said, “I’ve got a few months off and I’m enjoying doing nothing. We’ll start to figure out things in the new year.
“I’m happy where I’m at now, happy playing husband and dad.”
Of course, there is one more thing that needs tending.
When he went home for good last spring, he spoke of having to put in a new downstairs bathroom.
Scott happily reports it’s done, a bang-up job.
Bu the ceiling might need another coat of paint.
“I’ll get at it one of these days,” he shrugs. “I’ve got lots of time.”
Robin Short is The Telegram’s Sports Editor. He can be reached by email at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter @TelyRobinShort
“And the neat thing,” he says, with a big, goofy smile, “is I’m the best player!”
It hasn’t been a year since Scott captured the hockey world’s attention, first by playing in the NHL all-star game, and later enjoying a storybook finish to a 10-year pro career — seven of those in the NHL — with one final twirl in the big leagues, in a Montreal Canadiens jersey on the Bell Centre ice.
Scott played 27 games for the St. John’s IceCaps last season, following the Canadiens’ much-ballyhooed trade with the Arizona Coyotes.
And here was on Saturday night, back in Newfoundland as a retired NHLer, dressing for the Canadiens’ Alumni squad — one game wearing the CH technically makes him part of the alumni — for a game in Paradise. Scott, Stephane Richer, Patrice Brisebois, Chris Nilan and Co. played in Mount Pearl Friday night and Harbour Grace Thursday evening.
In many respects, it seems like a million years now since Scott made big headlines — he was the lead story on major media outlets like ESPN, USA Today, The New York Times and Canada’s cable sports networks — by playing in the all-star game in Nashville.
If you recall, Scott was supposed to be an NHL all-star joke, the bearded lady on skates.
He had collected the most all-star votes by fan balloting, but it was a hoax, really. Even a league official even asked Scott to withdraw, to which he told him to stick it, that he was going to Nashville.
The Arizona Coyotes didn't want Scott in the game, so they traded him. Neither did the Canadiens, who inexplicably took him off Arizona’s hands (conspiracy theories abounded on that one).
National Hockey League suits in New York positively cringed at thoughts of the big man — who made a living pounding skulls in the NHL — skating on the same Nashville ice as Patrick Kane and Alex Ovechkin.
But Scott said to hell with them all, and proceeded to waltz into Tennessee and have himself a ball.
He even had T-shirts designed to hand out to teammates, with the words: “Thanks for believing in me. Love always, The Captain.”
Along the way, he became a cult hero, won a truck while the fans chanted 'MVP! MVP!'
He was the kind of hockey player construction workers and cabbies rooted for.
“Honestly, it was cool playing with those guys, cool having my family there and the kids, experiencing an event I never, ever thought I’d get to experience,” he said over the weekend.
“But it seems like a long time ago now. I don’t think too much about it. I get reminded about it here and there, but it’s part of the past. I’m so busy nowadays with the kids, I don’t have time to think about anything.”
Scott’s 34 now, and a free agent. And while he spoke last year of it being nice to return to St. John’s, he knew deep down this was it.
There’s not a big market out there for 34-year-old fighters.
And besides, he was ready to walk away.
“You know, I really don’t miss playing,” said the 6-8 hockey player, towering over this 6-6 sports writer. “It was time. I’m glad I’m not playing anymore.
“I’ve turned the page and moved on to doing different stuff … life stuff, like chasing around the kids.”
There are four youngsters in the Scott household, including the twins born shortly after the all-star game.
They’re the reason why Scott elected to go home after the Montreal game rather than come back to St. John’s and close out the year.
And what a way to go out. Every hockey player should be so lucky.
Wearing Steve Shutt’s old No. 22 against the Florida Panthers, Scott stood on the blueline with the rest of the Canadiens’ starters and stared upwards towards the Bell Centre’s rafters, where the white banners honouring the 24 Stanley Cup championships hung.
He peered at the retired numbers — at Rocket Richard's No. 9, the No. 4 Jean Beliveau wore. Jacques Plante’s No. 1.
And he asked himself: “Is this really happening?”
Again?
It was Montreal’s management way of saying, ‘sorry about that’, for the crap he'd put up with over the whole all-star thing.
“That was fun,” he said, “very cool. Not a whole lot of guys get to go out the way I did.
“Naturally, I’m glad it happened. It was almost like a farewell game and I was very appreciative to Montreal that they let me come up and play.”
As for the future, Scott is taking it as it comes. He did some work for TSN on its free agent coverage in July, and a movie based on his story is proceeding ahead. Mitch Albom has finished the script, and next he figures a search will be on to find actors.
“Right now,” he said, “I’ve got a few months off and I’m enjoying doing nothing. We’ll start to figure out things in the new year.
“I’m happy where I’m at now, happy playing husband and dad.”
Of course, there is one more thing that needs tending.
When he went home for good last spring, he spoke of having to put in a new downstairs bathroom.
Scott happily reports it’s done, a bang-up job.
Bu the ceiling might need another coat of paint.
“I’ll get at it one of these days,” he shrugs. “I’ve got lots of time.”
Robin Short is The Telegram’s Sports Editor. He can be reached by email at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter @TelyRobinShort
