Baycrest

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DEDICATED FANS Sittler said he feels "rewarded and satisfied" every time he hears how moved people are when they see him involved with the Pro-Am and get a chance to tell him their stories. For example, Sittler referenced the co-chairs of the Pro-Am, Joey Arfin and David Lewenberg, whom he's befriended over the years. Both Arfin and Lewenberg lost loved ones to dementia. "I was Joey's childhood idol and his father's favourite Leaf. And David's father spent the last few years of his life fighting dementia at Baycrest. So this cause is very dear to their hearts as it is to everyone participating," he said. Sittler notes how impressive it is that many of the participants he's played with at the Pro-Am over the years have passed on their passion for the cause to their children, who are now starting to join their parents at the event. "It's a responsibility to give back and be involved in the charity. To me, that's a big part of this event. As a player, you just appreciate that you can play a part in keeping this legacy alive and help the cause," he said. ABOUT THAT 10-POINT RECORD… BrainMatters asked Sittler if he knew at the time that he had broken a longstanding record (eight points in one game) held by Montreal Canadiens' legend Maurice "Rocket" Richard, first set in 1944, and how he felt about it. First, a little Sittler-Habs history: "Growing up in St. Jacob's, Ont., believe it or not, I was a Montreal Canadiens fan. Jean Béliveau was my childhood idol," Sittler confesses. "When the Leafs drafted me in 1970, I was 20. I soon found myself playing in the Montreal Forum. I remember looking up and facing-off against Béliveau. He was 41 at the time. That's a very vivid memory for me." "My 10-point night on Feb. 7, 1976 was against another Original Six team – the Boston Bruins. I was sitting at seven points by the end of the second period. I had no idea what the record was, but Stan Obodiac, the Leafs' statistician, came down from the press box in the intermission, comes over to me, says: 'Darryl, if you get one more point, you tie The Rocket's record from the 1940s [Dec. 28, 1944].' That was the first I heard that eight points was the record. I went on and scored three more goals in the third period." Sittler continues: "That was 43 years ago. I always thought that possibly in the 1990s, when Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky were getting 200+ points a year, that one of them might break it. But here we are, more than 10,000 games played in the NHL since that night and no one's done it. I'm so honoured and privileged to have set that record in a Maple Leafs uniform as an Original Six team member." Sittler said he misses the days when the Leafs and Habs would regularly meet in the playoffs. He hopes to see a "401" playoff rivalry rekindled. "It's been 40 years since the Leafs and Canadiens played a playoff series against each other. Hopefully it'll happen again soon." For more information about the Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimer's in support of Baycrest, visit www. Baycrestproam.ca. To make a donation to the Baycrest Foundation, visit www.baycrestfoundation.org. "I'm so honoured and privileged to have set that record in a Maple Leafs uniform." BrainMatters SPRING/SUMMER 2019 7

• Cover