John K. Samson PO Box 83‐971 Corydon Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3M 3S3 February 23, 2013 Mr. Bill Hay, Chairman of the Board, and Members of the Selection Committee The Hockey Hall of Fame 30 Yonge Street Toronto, Ontario M5V 1X8 Dear Mr. Bill Hay, Chairman of the Board, and Members of the Selection Committee, Hockey Hall of Fame; In accordance with the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Policy Regarding Public Submission of Candidates Eligible for Election into Honoured Membership, please accept this bona‐fide submission putting forth the name Reggie Joseph Leach for your consideration. A member of the Berens River First Nation, Reggie Joseph Leach was born in 1950 in Riverton, Manitoba. While facing the injustices of racism and poverty, and playing on borrowed skates for much of his childhood, Leach’s terrific speed and honed shooting skills earned him the nickname “The Riverton Rifle.” He went on to become one of the most gifted and exciting hockey players of his generation. His pro‐hockey accomplishments are truly impressive: two‐time NHL All Star, Conn Smythe Trophy winner (the only non‐goalie from a losing team to ever win it), 1975 Stanley Cup winner, 1976 Canada Cup winner, and Regular Season Goal Scoring Leader, to name a few. His minor league record is remarkable, too. As a legendary member of the MJHL/WCJHL Flin Flon Bombers, Mr. Leach led the league in goal‐scoring twice, and was placed on the First All‐ Star team every season he played. The statistical analysis in the pages that follow, prepared by Phil Russell of Dozen Able Men Data Design (Ottawa, Ontario), makes a clear and persuasive case that Mr. Leach’s numbers as an MJHL, WCJHL, International and NHL player qualify him for induction as an honoured member. Although statistics often provide the tune to which we set our ambitions, we are taught that, in the end, a person should only be judged by the content of his or her character. Reggie Leach’s most impressive feat may therefore be his continued battle against alcoholism. Mr. Leach has dedicated much of his time speaking to young people, with admirable honesty and directness, about how alcohol injured every aspect of his life. The value of his ongoing service as a mentor is incalculable. As a songwriter, I’ve expressed my belief that Reggie Leach should be inducted into the hall of fame with a song that takes the form of an online petition, called www.ipetitions.com/petition/ rivertonrifle/. On the next page you will find the lyrics, and a link to thousands of signatures that have been collected from people all over the world. Above all, the letters of support included in this submission, many of them from First Nations people, are the most abiding proof that Reggie Joseph Leach has inspired and encouraged people both in and far beyond the world of hockey, and therefore deserves to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as an Honoured Member. Thank you for giving this submission your thoughtful attention. Yours truly, John K. Samson !!!"#$%&#&#'()"*'+,$%&#&#'(,-#.%-&'(-#/%, Whereas Reggie Leach Was born and played minor hockey back in my hometoWn. The Rifle fired his first 500 here, slapped his Way into the NHL. Whereas some of us Weren’t alWays fair to the Native kid on borroWed skates—chippy Goolies and Ukranians in the corners With our elboWs up. Whereas Reggie on a play‐off run could make a dad go buy the neW TV, and put his youngest by the WindoW, place the split antenna in her tiny hands. Whereas photos from the old Tribune of Reggie smiling With the Stanley Cup curled their corners, dropped off bedroom Walls, left a square of Where they used to be. Therefore We, the undersigned, put forth his name to the Hockey Hall of Fame. (Please visit WWW.ipetitions.com/petition/rivertonrifle/ to view the signatures.) Career Statistics Career Highlights In the 1975‐76 season, Reggie scored a then‐record 80 goals; 61 goals in the regular season and 19 more in the playoffs. Reggie set the record for most goals in a single playoffs, scoring 19 in the 1976 post‐season. The record was equalled by Jari Kurri in 1985. Kurri achieved this feat in 18 games, Reggie in just 16. Only five players from the losing team have won the Conn Smythe Trophy. Four of them were goalies. The fifth? Reggie Leach, the only skater from a non‐Stanley Cup winning side to be named as the championship’s most valuable player. On May 6, 1976, Reggie scored 5 goals in a playoff game against the Boston Bruins. Only four other players in NHL history have accomplished this feat—all are Honoured Members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Reggie Leach Career Stats in Comparison Most Goals in a Season Regular Season & Playoffs 100 Honoured Member 80 GOALS 80 60 40 20 GOALS Jari Kurri (85‐86) Jari Kurri (84‐85) Brett Hull (90‐91) Brett Hull (89‐90) Brett Hull (91‐92) Pavel Bure (93‐94) Mike Bossy (80‐81) Mike Bossy (81‐82) Mike Bossy (82‐83) Mike Bossy (78‐79) Guy Lafleur (77‐78) Phil Esposito (70‐71) Phil Esposito (73‐74) Phil Esposito (71‐72) Jaromir Jagr (95‐96) Luc Robitaille (92‐93) Steve Yzerman (88‐89) Mario Lemieux (88‐89) Mario Lemieux (87‐88) Mario Lemieux (95‐96) Mario Lemieux (92‐93) Bernie Nicholls (88‐89) Wayne Gretzky (83‐84) Wayne Gretzky (81‐82) Wayne Gretzky (84‐85) Wayne Gretzky (82‐83) Teemu Selanne (92‐93) Alexander Mogilny (92‐93) REGGIE LEACH (75-76) Source: www.hockey-reference.com Most Goals in One Playoff Season Honoured Member 20 19 GOALS 15 GAMES PLAYED Leach 16 Kurri ’85 18 Sakic 22 Bossy ’81 18 10 Gretzky ’85 18 Payne 19 Bossy ’82 19 Bossy ’83 19 Stevens 16 5 Lemieux ’92 15 Neely ’91 19 Mullen ’89 21 Simpson ’90 22 Lemieux ’91 23 Bure ’93 24 Messier ’83 15 Cournoyer ’73 22 Kurri ’87 23 Joe Sakic GOALS Crosby ’09 24 Pavel Bure Steve Payne Gretzky ’93 15 Jari Kurri ’85 Jari Kurri ’87 Mark Messier Kevin Stevens Sidney Crosby Joe Mullen ’89 Mike Bossy ’81 Mike Bossy ’82 Mike Bossy ’83 Cam Neely ’91 Yvan Cournoyer REGGIE LEACH Mario Lemieux ’92 Mario Lemieux ’91 Source: www.hockey-reference.com Craig Simpson ’90 Wayne Gretzky ’85 Wayne Gretzky ’93 Ace Bailey Punch Broadbent Regular Season Goals by Wingers Bobby Bauer Honoured Members† & Reggie Leach Babe Siebert †Minimum of 200 games played Lynn Patrick Herbie Lewis Gordie Drillon Bun Cook Bert Olmstead Bryan Hextall Hooley Smith Sweeney Schriner Woody Dumart Doug Bentley Charlie Conacher Roy Conacher Dit Clapper Bill Cook Toe Blake Harry Watson Syd Howe Bob Gainey Busher Jackson Cy Denneny Bill Mosienko Dickie Moore Aurele Joliat Bob Pulford Dick Duff George Armstrong Clark Gillies Andy Bathgate Ted Lindsay REGGIE LEACH 381 GOALS Bernie Geoffrion Cam Neely Rod Gilbert Bill Barber Steve Shutt Yvan Cournoyer Pavel Bure Glenn Anderson Lanny McDonald Joe Mullen Frank Mahovlich Maurice Richard Michel Goulet Johnny Bucyk Guy Lafleur Mike Bossy Jari Kurri Dino Ciccarelli Bobby Hull Luc Robitaille Mike Gartner Brett Hull Gordie Howe GOALS 200 400 600 800 Data source: www.hhof.com Joe Primeau George Hay Edgar Laprade Regular Season Goals by Forwards Ace Bailey Punch Broadbent † Bobby Bauer Honoured Members & Reggie Leach Harry Oliver Ebbie Goodfellow †Minimum of 200 games played Billy Burch Frank Nighbor Buddy O'Connor Babe Siebert Lynn Patrick Herbie Lewis Gordie Drillon Bun Cook Frank Boucher Clint Smith Reg Noble Igor Larionov Cooney Weiland Bert Olmstead Bryan Hextall Sid Abel Marty Barry Bill Cowley Hooley Smith Syl Apps Babe Dye Sweeney Schriner Woody Dumart Elmer Lach Doug Bentley Charlie Conacher Roy Conacher Dit Clapper Milt Schmidt Bill Cook Ted Kennedy Toe Blake Harry Watson Syd Howe Bob Gainey Busher Jackson Max Bentley Cy Denneny Bill Mosienko Dickie Moore Aurele Joliat Howie Morenz Red Kelly Bob Pulford Dick Duff George Armstrong Clark Gillies Nels Stewart Adam Oates Andy Bathgate Bobby Clarke Henri Richard Jacques Lemaire Bernie Federko Ted Lindsay REGGIE LEACH 381 GOALS Bernie Geoffrion Cam Neely Dave Keon Rod Gilbert Bill Barber Steve Shutt Yvan Cournoyer Pavel Bure Peter Stastny Doug Gilmour Alex Delvecchio Pat LaFontaine Denis Savard Darryl Sittler Norm Ullman Jean Ratelle Glenn Anderson Lanny McDonald Joe Mullen Jean Beliveau Gil Perreault Dale Hawerchuk Bryan Trottier Frank Mahovlich Stan Mikita Maurice Richard Michel Goulet Ron Francis Johnny Bucyk Guy Lafleur Joe Nieuwendyk Mats Sundin Mike Bossy Jari Kurri Dino Ciccarelli Bobby Hull Joe Sakic Luc Robitaille Mario Lemieux Steve Yzerman Mark Messier Mike Gartner Phil Esposito Marcel Dionne Brett Hull Gordie Howe Wayne Gretzky GOALS 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 Data source: www.hhof.com Ace Bailey Punch Broadbent Playoff Goals by Wingers Babe Siebert Honoured Members† & ReGGie Leach Bryan Hextall †Minimum of 20 playoff games Aurele Joliat Doug Bentley Lynn Patrick Bill Mosienko Hooley Smith Bobby Bauer Woody Dumart Dit Clapper Bill Cook Herbie Lewis Bun Cook Roy Conacher Bert Olmstead Harry Watson Cy Denneny Syd Howe Charlie Conacher Busher Jackson Sweeney Schriner Andy BathGate Bob Gainey Bob Pulford Toe Blake George Armstrong Gordie Drillon Dick Duff Rod Gilbert Pavel Bure Michel Goulet Johnny Bucyk Mike Gartner Lanny McDonald Dickie Moore Clark Gillies Ted Lindsay REGGIE LEACH 47 GOALS Steve Shutt Frank Mahovlich Bill Barber Cam Neely Luc Robitaille Bernie Geoffrion Guy Lafleur Joe Mullen Bobby Hull Yvan Cournoyer Gordie Howe Dino Ciccarelli Maurice Richard Mike Bossy Glenn Anderson Brett Hull Jari Kurri GOALS 20 40 60 80 100 120 Data source: www.hhof.com Ace Bailey Frank Nighbor Punch Broadbent Playoff Goals by Forwards Joe Primeau Babe Siebert † Ebbie Goodfellow Honoured Members & Reggie Leach Bryan Hextall Nels Stewart