It has been 25 years since Eddie Belfour won the Stanely Cup in 1999 and brought it to Carman for a summer celebration.
So, I (Dennis Young) asked him to reflect on his career and the celebration. Here is what Eddie the Eagle had to say:
Q. We know how you ended up in Winkler for Junior and UND for College, but how did you end up in Chicago to start your NHL career?
A. Several teams looked at me after the 1986-87 NCAA UND Fighting Sioux Championship. The Black Hawks were my favourite team growing up, so thank Heaven they were one of them. I was undrafted, so it was thanks to John Marks of UND for promoting me to their Scout Jim Pappin, who in turn convinced Bob Pulford to sign me. I could not have asked for better coaching in Mike Keenan, Darryl Sutter and Vladislav Tretiak.
Q. You played in Chicago for nine years, stopping in San Jose before the Dallas Stars years. How did all that come about?
A. It was the saddest day when the Hawks traded me to the Sharks, but after just two seasons in Texas, I was in the Cup final! I recall that moment. Hully scored the winning goal, and I looked at the bench thinking…. Oh my gosh, did we really win? Then it was full speed, grabbing each other in mid-air, rolling around on the ice, hugging each other. An amazing moment!
Q. What stands out for you the most once it sunk in that the Stanley Cup was yours?
A. We probably spent hours in our underwear drinking champagne and telling stories. The two guys who have always been there for me since the Carman days, Buddy Voth and Jeff Friesen, I think we cried for about an hour, lol. Then I phoned my family. They were so excited, and we had so many fun flashbacks. I mean, gosh, my parents did whatever it took to get me where I wanted to be…on the ice.
Q. I know you thanked a lot of people from back home then too. So, you got to have the Cup for two days. How did that go?
A. Buddy was my manager, and he organized everything. It started in Grand Forks, when the Cup and I attended the huge groundbreaking ceremony of the new Ralph Englestad Arena. Then, I was off to Carman with six of my Fighting Sioux teammates, but only after border guards stopped us for some pix.
At Memorial Hall, there was a brief ceremony before Belfour shared the Cup with former Stanley Cup and Calder winner Jim McFadden. To think two players from Carman both won the Cup. McFadden had never seen his name on the Cup until that day—wow!
Next, at the BigHall, over 900 people passed through a gallery of my memorabilia before grabbing a picture with the Cup. I hosted many of my former minor, junior, and college teammates and coaches for supper. The Carman mayor presented me with a “key to the city” and the Dufferin reeve, the lock to fit. I still have them to this day.
Then it was off to my old bed with the Cup. Come morning, I ate Raisin Bran out of it before hitting the road for Chicago and another celebration with so many people, including former teammates, my booster club and even Tretiak flew in!
Q. What other interests did you have while playing?
A. I have always loved cars, so around 1993, I opened Carman Customs Inc. in Saginaw. With Jeff as manager, we restored and built muscle cars and street rods. We shut it down in 2013.
Q. Who were you cheering for in this year’s Stanley Cup finals?
A. Well, I played for Florida, and I know there are still people involved there, but in the end, I wanted to see a good series and the refs not ruin it.
Q. So, what’s up these days?
A. I have called Dallas home since 1997 but am moving to Missouri to further my Belfour Spirits business. Since our launch in 2019, we have been expanding into new markets, so there is a lot to do. Our 106-proof rye won Double Gold in 2021 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition!
Q. Do you venture home much?
A. I sneak in and out and drop by the golf course. Hey, it was a sad day when I heard the grandstand burnt down, as that was my workout back then. I still run the existing grandstand, though, and the hills that Lyle Myers had me run.
Q. Anything you wish to convey to readers?
A. Well, my life has been a dream come true, and I would like to build a business to give back. Paul Newman, through his charity work, was one of my heroes, so I would love to leave this earth doing something like that.
You know, I made it to the big leagues and had such an amazing career despite being pegged as a long shot. But I would not have had that career if it wasn’t for the teachers, coaches, and friends who helped me along the way. Carman was great for me, as everyone was on the same page when it came to achieving my goals and controlling that Belfour temper, lol. I was blessed, to say the least.
I knew I had a God-given talent, but I never gave up, never quit and always gave 110 percent.
The Puck Stops Here:
– Zone 4 hockey Champion and Jack Bates Memorial Trophy recipient as Most Determined Player.
– #20 is retired by both the Carman Cougars.
– The Eddie Belfour Varsity Male Athlete and Scholastic Athlete of the Year is awarded annually.
– #29 is retired by Winkler Flyers, where he was named All-Star and Top Goaltender in two seasons. The MJHL still awards the Ed Belfour Top Goaltender Trophy annually.
– WCHA First All-Star Team, Top Goalie and NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team in 1986-87 with UND Fighting Sioux.
– 1987-88 IHL First All-Star Team and Rookie of the Year with Chicago’s farm team in Saginaw.
– Played for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup and the Canadian Olympic Development team in 1989-90.
– In 74 of 80 games for Chicago in 1990-91, led the NHL in wins (43 is an NHL rookie record and Hawk franchise record) and save percentage (.910). Named to All-Rookie Team, First All-Star Team, won Calder, Vezina and the Jennings for fewest GAs 2.47. Runner up to Jaromir Jagr for NHL MVP.
– All-time records in a Hawk uniform are 3rd GP 415, 3rd wins 201, 4th shutouts 30, 2nd assists 17 and 1st PIM 242.
– Career NHL of 484-320-125 and a 2.50 AVG. Currently ranks 5th all-time in wins 320, 6th in games by a goalie 963, 11th in shutouts 76, 4th in 30+ wins/season 9, and 8th in save percentage .906.
– Inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, the NHL Hockey Hall in 2011 and the Dallas Stars Hall of Fame in 2023.
– Just one of two players to win a NCAA Championship, Olympic Gold, and a Stanley Cup and might be the only one to win those plus a Canada Cup.
Eddie was also very generous with his fame. In addition to the thousands of autographed memorabilia he donated and personally paid for, he built a Fund to help local kids who wanted to play sports or go to camps. He financed it for families that may not have the finances to make it happen. The Fund ran for six years and was overseen by a Carman board.
– The Ed Belfour Golf Tournament was held in Carman from 1992 to 1998, raising $50,000 for Carman and District HealthCare Foundation Inc.
– The Carman Minor Hockey Trip to Dallas fundraiser was sponsored by Eddie for four years.
– The $25,000 he won for his Roger Crozier Award went half to Carman Minor Hockey and half to Carman Collegiate.
All of us should be as proud of what he accomplished as he is proud of what got him there.
