DB: You had one of the most interesting and successful careers in Toronto sports history. Is there a day that goes by you are not asked about 1967?RE: Well, yeah there are a few days that go by, but it was a long time ago. It was certainly a highlight for me, it was only my third year in the league, I was with the Maple Leafs, I was a young guy on the team, so it was a very special dream come true. The Leafs had won three in a row in the early 60s, so for most of our veterans, it wasnt quite as exciting. But I must say, the one that I really get a lot of questions about, is the Summit Series in 1972. Thats the one that people ask me about because it had such an impact on hockey fans all across the country.DB: So, we hear all about the 1972 Summit Series and we hear all about you, Henderson and Esposito from that series, whose efforts and accomplishments dont we hear about more?RE: Yes, we as a group felt that Gary Bergman was, if you like, an unsung hero. Gary was teamed up with Brad Park and he had an exceptional tournament against the Russians and we all felt as a team that this is the guy that should have gotten more accolades for what he accomplished.DB: Your initial retirement at age 30 would have been all over the internet and talk radio if it happened today. Take us through why you retired so young and then ultimately returned to the game?RE: Well to be honest with you, it had something to do with concussions. Now, I know about it and look back at what was going on at that time in my life and I suffered a couple of concussions early in my career and that brought on some problems with depression. I didnt realize at the time that thats what it was, I just knew that I couldnt play at the level that I expected from myself. I never closed the door on returning to the Leafs, but I knew at that point it would be better for the team if I wasnt playing. Im a team guy and I knew that if I was in the line-up and out of the line-up, well I know how important chemistry is and so I thought it was best for the team if I stepped aside. But I was able to make a comeback two years later. (vintageleafs.blogspot.ca)DB: You played in an era that was less intrusive than today. There was no Twitter or mass social media. Was Toronto as hockey crazy then, as it is now or how did you find it?RE: (Laughs) Yes, I think Toronto is always going to be hockey crazy. When I started in the league, there were only six teams and so, other than Montreal, it was Toronto, which meant that Toronto was pretty much Canadas team. So, it was definitely hockey crazy, but nothing like today, as you said, with technology, Facebook, the players getting involved, all the replays you see today, that wasnt part of the game when I first started. Its come a long way and I believe technology has made the game better.DB: What would you say to players today who dont want to play for a hockey crazy market like Toronto?RE: Well, Toronto, as far as Im concerned, is a wonderful place to play, particularly, if you want to make your home here. I was fortunate enough to play my whole career in Toronto and my wife and I have been able to live in the Toronto area for all of these years. All I can say is, if our Leafs here put it all together and win a Stanley Cup, whoevers on that team is going to be enshrined. It would be a wonderful experience for whoever is part of that. I would say to young players today, if you really want to have a magic moment in your career, consider Toronto and help build this team, help make it competitive. Because when they win here, it will be special.DB: Hockey slang is a big part of the game today, words like "bardown," "ginos," "dangles," etc. Was there any hockey slang back when you played and what were some examples?RE: Well Im not really up to date on all of the slang today (laughs). We were pretty well, back in the 60s and early 70s, we were all from small-town Canada, small-town Ontario and we just came to do our job. There was very little of that going on.DB: So, I really enjoyed the many looks you had in your playing days. From the buzz cut to the long locks, but the mustache may have been the best. Which Ron Ellis do you think people remember the most?RE: (Laughs) Well, I sort of just went along with the tradition of the time. Again, in the 60s, the majority of the players in the league had the crewcuts. Thats the way it was. And then, in the 70s, you started to see the change with the sideburns and the longer hair, so I decided to leave it long and give that a go and join the rest of the guys. It took a while, though. I had that crew cut for so many years, it took a long time to turn over. But the mustache years, that basically started just to cover up quite a bad scar I had on my lip, so until I healed that properly, I just covered that up. And my wife seemed to say, “Hey, that looks pretty good," so I kept it on for a few more years, but then I took that off, as well. But youre right, Ive had a few different looks. And now, my friend, I dont have any hair, so there you go! (laughs).(thewantlist.ca)DB: The statues the Leafs are unveiling now for former Toronto heroes is a nice tribute to the past. Without naming yourself, who do you think the next player on "Legends Row" should be?RE: I think youre going to see someone like Syl Apps. I thought Ted Kennedy was a wonderful choice and then they looked at two other eras, but I think theyre going to have to go back and start again, maybe the same kind of format. But I think Syl Apps could be the next guy.DB: Whats it like watching a Leafs game with Ron Ellis?RE: Well, around our house, I tend to not get too excited. You know, I certainly enjoy watching the games, but I try to follow players. Ill follow a player for a whole shift, just to see what theyre doing at certain points in the game, how theyre playing at both ends of the rink. When the Leafs score a goal, Im happy, but Im not the kind of guy whos going to jump up and down and yell and scream. I guess Im more of a student of the game and thats how I enjoy watching and being down at the Air Canada Centre, whenever I get the opportunity.DB: So, this Saturday Stopconcussions is teaming up with Source for Sports for the seventh-annual Skate Sharpening Day, where participating Source for Sports locations will be donating $5 for every pair of skates sharpened to the Stopconcussions Foundation. Tell us a little more about this initiative and why its such an important cause.RE: Stopconcussions.com is wonderful grassroots work. Keith Primeau is the key person behind it. Wayne Primeau, his brother, is also heavily involved and a very good friend of mine, Kerry Goulet, who played a lot of his hockey in Europe, is sort of the person who manages the programs. But Stopconcussions is a grassroots work. They work with the coaches, the parents, the players, the referees and theyre just trying to not change the game, but change the mindset of people who play the game and who are involved in the game. There are going to be concussions in sport. There are concussions in life, as we know a person can fall off of a bicycle or whatever or off of a swing set. But Im an advisor for Stopconcussions.com. Im on their advisory committee, because I really believe in what theyre doing. And what this program is, this coming Saturday, the Skate Sharpening Day...Source for Sports have been wonderful partners with Stopconcussions.com for some time now. For that one day, we encourage folks, if you need those skates sharpened up - cause you gotta take care of those skates, you know. You gotta take care of the tools, the skates and the stick - but the proceeds will go to Stopconcussions.com on that day to help them facilitate their programs. And this has been going on now for seven years and, last year, there were over 5,000 skates sharpened across the country and were hoping were going to go past that this year. I believe there are about 84 participating Source for Sports stores across the country that are involved and were really pleased about the partnership and the fundraising that helps support the program.DB: Can you still go BarDown?RE: Well, mine is more like "post-in" now (laughs). And its important you hit the inside of that post, not the outside! Mel Stottlemyre Jersey . Bryant underwent an operation in December to correct an irregular heartbeat. His season ended with four games left because of a rapid heartbeat, a condition he has known about for several years and had been treated for in the past. 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