Fleming College

All are welcome to attend the Haliburton launch of David Ward’s new book The Lost 10 Point Night on Tuesday, Nov. 25 from 7-9 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Haliburton Campus. Read on to learn more about the book and its author.

Searching for a childhood hero turned into a cathartic journey – and a published book – for Fleming alumnus and faculty member David Ward.

The Lost 10 Point Night – Searching for My Hockey Hero – Jim Harrison, tells the story of hockey player Jim Harrison who, in one night on January 30, 1973, had a record 10-point game with three goals and seven assists.

Through the book, David tells Harrison’s story – the good and the bad. Harrison grew up on the prairies and played pro with the Bruins, Leafs, Hawks and Oilers. He also faced a number of challenges: an agent who stole from him, pedophiles who preyed on him and other young players, injuries he suffered, the loss of his wife to breast cancer, and friends made and lost – Bobby Orr and Darryl Sittler among them.

This is not only a book about Harrison; it frames his life against David’s search for his childhood hero.

“All along I wanted to write something that was part biography, part memoir, and all cathartic,” says David. “When I decided I wanted to explore my childhood – to try and relive some of the childlike joy that adulthood had beaten out of me – it only made sense that I go in search of one of my first heroes.”

The idea for the book, David’s first, evolved seven years ago.

“It took a couple of years for me to get the ball rolling — to create space in my life to write — but the idea first came to me, and I first contacted Jim in the summer of 2007.”

David says the writing process was “scary at times” as he doesn’t see the written word as his area of expertise.

“The entire process of writing this book was a ‘one foot in front of the other’ sort of adventure. I just kept doing what felt right to me, and when I got stuck, I turned to the work of the masters to see what they might have done under the same circumstances,” he explains. “But the whole time you never really know if someone else is going to want to read what you’ve written. So I really had no other choice but to follow my heart. “

And doing just that has led to numerous accolades. David says his book has been well-received by critics and he has heard from readers from around the world – including some famous names from the sports world. He has also heard from old friends and the book has opened up other writing possibilities for him.

“Every day something spectacular happens as a result of this book. Truly.”

So what was it that drew 11-year-old David to Harrison as a childhood hero?

David explains that even though Harrison had a low profile as a third line centre and a fighter, he held him in high regard.

“He was really tough… I was drawn to the guys who fought on behalf of smaller teammates, and sacrificed ice time and publicity in the best interest of the team.”

Harrison, who sported a mop top haircut and big bushy sideburns, used a Scandinavian hockey stick in an era when most players didn’t, adds David.

“I found him really appealing and hugely adventurous.”

Yet, despite being the first player to have a 10-point game, Harrison didn’t receive the same recognition as others of his era. David explains that Harrison played in the WHA at the time, which was not as well covered as the NHL.

“There was no TV coverage of his achievement. I read about it in The Hockey News – a weekly that usually came out a couple of weeks after the events it covered. And while the players knew the WHA was a great league, and there was a group of hard core fans who valued the WHA, the NHL was still seen by many to be the premiere league at the time.”

Also, he says, at the time it didn’t occur to many that no one had scored 10 points in a single game until Harrison did it.

“Then Darryl Sittler did on national TV and the entire hockey world went crazy over the idea.”

David adds that Harrison’s journey was no different than that of the vast majority of pro hockey players.

“Jim’s path didn’t differ greatly from the path they all took in that era. They really didn’t have much control over their own destiny. And so many of them paid dearly for that.”

In relation to his own personal journey, David has some words of advice to others searching out their childhood heroes: it comes with risks.

“To meet, as an adult, someone you worshipped as a child can lead to tremendous disappointment. Let’s face it, seeing a person’s imperfections – in contrast to the dreams of your youth – is not always fair to your childhood hero.”

But for David, it has been a happy ending.

“It turns out that Jim is a bigger hero to me today, than he was when I was 11 years old -not because he played pro hockey, but because of what he has accomplished in spite of the business that hockey is,” he says. “Jim has suffered considerable losses. But if you could see him today, you would see that he has done an amazing job of climbing above those challenges, landing on his feet, and still choosing to fight the good fight. Jim, in his late 60s, really is something special, and tough as ever.”

Moving forward, David, who taught for several years at the Haliburton Campus, is returning next semester to teach the Creative Journey course at the Haliburton School of The Arts. The course will include learning how to survive self-sabotage and helping learners see that the art-making process can – for the artist – be just as important as the final product is, says David.

He is also writing a memoir about his time in Newfoundland – where he’s been living for the past five years.

“And then I think I have another hockey book in me,” he says. “Seeing such joy in the faces of fans has been so satisfying. A hockey book is a good way to connect with many Canadians.”

 

For more information about the book launch, contact Ted Brandon at ted.brandon@flemingcollege.ca