Ace Burpee–Humanitarian, humorist, community advocate, media personality, skateboard enthusiast, friend to many, HOCKEY LOVER! The Believe in the Goal Foundation is honored to consider amongst its special friends, Mr. “Ace” Burpee of HOT103 FM. Always at the ready when called upon to emcee or host a B.I.G. event or fundraising activity, Ace is now going public with his “Favourite 34 Hockey Players of All-time!” Come back each week throughout the year for a sneak peek into the mind of a true Canadian hockey afficianado, prognosticator and historian... and soon to be, new GM of the returning Winnipeg Jets!
Dave "Tiger" Williams
Tiger is a classic. He spent almost 4,000 minutes in the penalty box in NHL, which you are only allowed to think is awesome if you also know that he also once scored 35 goals in a season (3 more than Alex Ovechkin scored this past year). Tiger could play. He was also afraid of nobody, and people LOVED him. I learned a few years ago what it was that made Tiger Williams Tiger Williams. In fact it was two years in a row that I met him at the same charity hockey tournament. For starters, even 15 years after retiring from hockey, Tiger Williams was still the toughest guy in any room, anywhere, any time. We were getting ready for one of these charity hockey games, and in storms Tiger, throws down his super old hockey bag, and rips off his shirt to get ready. Well, his arms looked like that friend you have who does curls 5 times a week at Shapes and takes all those supplements... except more ripped. Seriously. Tell your buddy to give it up. He ain't Tiger Williams. Then we get on ice. I'm on the opposite team as Tiger, and by some stroke of luck I lift his stick and take the puck away as he's skating into our end. Feeling pretty proud, I turn and head up ice. What do I get? A two-hander on the leg harder than any slash I've ever received before. The slasher? Tiger Williams. Best game ever. I was so proud, and it was all so clear to me the brilliance of Tiger. As in, what am I going to do about it? Nothing. He's Tiger Williams. He's always ready. Always has been. Always will be. Awesome. The next year, I got a friend on mine to play in the game instead of me. He, the guy I know, was walking around the dressing room before the game wearing a bathrobe... something he does all the time. Tiger, who is in the game again, sees this... and points out that he thinks my friend looks like an idiot. They play the game, they come back into the dressing room, and my friend once again puts on his robe. He turns to head to shower, and little does he know but the ass has been cut out of his robe. Tiger did it. Classic. Dave "Tiger" Williams. The greatest "Tiger" in the history of sports. Period.
